Senate President McColley, Senate Democratic Leader Antonio, House Speaker Huffman, House Minority Leader Isaacsohn Release Statement Condemning Political Violence

COLUMBUS - Senate President Rob McColley (R-Napoleon), Senate Democratic Leader Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood), House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima), and House Minority Leader Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati) today released the following statement:

“In a free and democratic society, there is absolutely no place for politically motivated violence, nor should anyone encourage or celebrate this type of heinous criminal behavior.

As leaders from different sides of the aisle, we felt it was vital to join together to emphasize the significance of this message as we strongly condemn the assassinations of Charlie Kirk and Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman earlier this year.

A free democracy depends on the open and peaceful exchange of ideas. Political violence destroys the bedrock upon which that freedom of expression is built. When we are worried that our words or viewpoints might lead to political violence, we are no longer able to speak our minds or advocate for our priorities.

At the most basic level, we must put into practice a belief in each other’s humanity. We are people–fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, Ohioans and Americans– before we are anything else. The future of our country depends on never forgetting that basic fact.

Now more than ever, we must encourage respectful dialogue, starting here in the legislature, across both political parties, to bring about a brighter, more peaceful future here in Ohio.”