'This cannot be the norm': Minnesotans struggle with surge in political violence

Minnesota House Democratic Leader Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were fatally shot at their home in Brooklyn Park early Saturday. A second Democratic lawmaker, state Sen. John Hoffman, and his wife Yvette, were also shot and wounded at their home in Champlin.

Gov. Tim Walz said the shooting “appears to be a politically motivated assassination.” On Sunday, he pleaded for civility in American life. “This cannot be the norm,” he said. “It cannot be the way we deal with our political differences.”

Angela Davis and her guests talk about how Minnesotans are processing the news, the history of political violence in the United States and how it’s changing. 

Guests:

• Yohuru Williams is a distinguished university chair, professor of history and founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the University of St. Thomas. 

• Larry Jacobs is a political scientist and founder and director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the University of Minnesota. He is also the author of “Democracy Under Fire: Donald Trump and the Breaking of American History.”  

• Ryan Sabas, Mayor of Champlin, Minn.

• Steve Simon, Minnesota’s Secretary of State.

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Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.