Democracy Under Siege: Political Violence Surges 800% as Officials Don Bulletproof Vests

Paul Riverbank, 6/17/2025Political violence against officials surges 800%, threatening American democracy as threats become commonplace.

The Murder of Democracy: America's Rising Tide of Political Violence

I've spent decades covering American politics, but nothing quite prepared me for what landed on my desk last week. The murder of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman wasn't just another headline – it was a chilling reminder of how far we've strayed from civil discourse.

Let me be clear: we're witnessing something unprecedented. Back in 2016, threats against elected officials barely hit 1,000 annually. Today? That number has exploded to 9,000. I've watched local council members – people who volunteer to fix potholes and manage school budgets – showing up to meetings in bulletproof vests. This isn't the America I recognize.

The violence doesn't discriminate by party lines. State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife. UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Israeli Embassy workers. Each attack tears another hole in our civic fabric. I spoke with a county commissioner last month who resigned after someone threatened his children. "It's not worth it anymore," he told me, voice breaking.

Some, like MSNBC's Ayman Mohyeldin, suggest this violence stems from systemic failures. Bill de Blasio points to historical correlations between social conditions and unrest. They're not entirely wrong – but they're missing something crucial. I've covered enough revolutions and uprisings worldwide to know that violence rarely solves the problems it claims to address.

The swift capture of suspect Vance Luther Boelter shows our law enforcement remains capable. But we're kidding ourselves if we think arrests alone will fix this. I remember covering the 1960s – those were dark days, but even then, most Americans believed in working through the system, not burning it down.

What keeps me up at night isn't just the violence – it's how it's reshaping our democracy. When a city council member changes their vote because their family was threatened, we've lost something precious. When qualified candidates refuse to run for office out of fear, democracy dies by a thousand cuts.

Yet I remain cautiously optimistic. Throughout my career, I've watched America weather countless storms. Our institutions bend but don't break. The key now is remembering what makes democracy work: the willingness to disagree without becoming enemies.

The path forward isn't mysterious – it's just difficult. We need to strengthen our democratic institutions while keeping them accessible. We must condemn violence unequivocally while addressing legitimate grievances. Most importantly, we need to remember that our political opponents aren't our enemies – they're our neighbors.

The choice facing America isn't between left and right – it's between democracy and chaos. I've seen enough of both to know which I prefer.

The Murder of Democracy: America's Rising Tide of Political ViolenceI've spent decades covering American politics, but nothing quite prepared me for what landed on my desk last week. The murder of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman wasn't just another headline – it was a chilling reminder of how far we've strayed from civil discourse.Let me be clear: we're witnessing something unprecedented. Back in 2016, threats against elected officials barely hit 1,000 annually. Today? That number has exploded to 9,000. I've watched local council members – people who volunteer to fix potholes and manage school budgets – showing up to meetings in bulletproof vests. This isn't the America I recognize.The violence doesn't discriminate by party lines. State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife. UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Israeli Embassy workers. Each attack tears another hole in our civic fabric. I spoke with a county commissioner last month who resigned after someone threatened his children. "It's not worth it anymore," he told me, voice breaking.Some, like MSNBC's Ayman Mohyeldin, suggest this violence stems from systemic failures. Bill de Blasio points to historical correlations between social conditions and unrest. They're not entirely wrong – but they're missing something crucial. I've covered enough revolutions and uprisings worldwide to know that violence rarely solves the problems it claims to address.The swift capture of suspect Vance Luther Boelter shows our law enforcement remains capable. But we're kidding ourselves if we think arrests alone will fix this. I remember covering the 1960s – those were dark days, but even then, most Americans believed in working through the system, not burning it down.What keeps me up at night isn't just the violence – it's how it's reshaping our democracy. When a city council member changes their vote because their family was threatened, we've lost something precious. When qualified candidates refuse to run for office out of fear, democracy dies by a thousand cuts.Yet I remain cautiously optimistic. Throughout my career, I've watched America weather countless storms. Our institutions bend but don't break. The key now is remembering what makes democracy work: the willingness to disagree without becoming enemies.The path forward isn't mysterious – it's just difficult. We need to strengthen our democratic institutions while keeping them accessible. We must condemn violence unequivocally while addressing legitimate grievances. Most importantly, we need to remember that our political opponents aren't our enemies – they're our neighbors.The choice facing America isn't between left and right – it's between democracy and chaos. I've seen enough of both to know which I prefer.