Rep. Fleischmann,
I am sure you remember when a left wing Bernie Sanders supporter opened fire on you and wounded Republican baseball players. The Democrats, including Sanders and many other Dems, condemned the violence. I hope it made you feel some warmth and appreciation for your fellow representatives from across the aisle.
Why do you not return the decency for the state representatives murdered in a political assassination on Saturday? Remember, do unto others, and love thy neighbor.
Don’t worry about what to say because your party will guide you with another lame statement about not knowing anything about it or you're waiting for more information.
Dems responded the same day as your incident without knowing anything but the violence done.
You and your party need to speak up against political violence for our country and civility.
Gary Smith
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In response to Mr. Smith's letter calling for Congressman Chuck Fleischmann to speak up against political violence, the Congressman has indeed spoken up. On June 13, three days before Mr. Smith wrote his letter, Rep Fleischmann issued a statement condemning the violence on the streets of Los Angeles when political protests turned into riots, destruction of public and private property, and burning automobiles in the city streets. President Trump federalized the California National Guard in an attempt to quell the violence, and Rep. Fleischmann stated clearly that he supported the president.
On June 1, Mohammed Sobry Soliman, an immigrant who overstayed his visit by about 17 years, used a homemade flamethrower and some Molotov cocktails to attack a peaceful Jewish group that had gathered in a public park in Boulder, Co., hoping to bring awareness to hostages that were being held in Gaza. Twelve to 15 people were seriously burned and sent to the hospital. The attacker told police that he had planned this attack for almost a year, and he said he wanted to “kill all Zionist people.”
This attack took place just days after two young staffers were murdered in Washington, D.C., just for being Jewish. The governor of Kentucky, Josh Shapiro’s home was firebombed by an arsonist. Lee Zeldon, the administrator of the EPA, while campaigning for governor, was attacked by a radical with a knife. President Trump has had two assassination attempts on his life in less than one year.
It is safe to say that both political parties have violent extremists within their midst.
After the attack in Boulder, Rep. Gabe Evans from Colorado, introduced a resolution in Congress condemning the violent attack on a group that was peacefully protesting. It passed the House 280 – 113. Voting against the resolution were 113 Democrats.
Why? Why would anyone vote against this resolution? Rep. Dan Goldman, who voted against it and is a Democrat and is Jewish, told Rep. Evans (who was not in Congress last term) that several antisemitism resolutions has passed the House last year, but those who voted for them did so just to score political points.
Some people may fail to call out evil for fear that people might think one is just trying to score cheap political points. I don’t think that would enter Rep. Fleischmann thoughts either way.
To Fleischmann’s credit, when the Evans Resolution was voted on in Congress he faithfully voted to condemn political violence and to commend state and local law enforcement, including their federal counterpart in pursuing justice as a key to preventing future attacks. In fact, all Republicans from Tennessee voted to condemn the violence that took place in Boulder that day. (Rep. Mark Green was absent and did not vote.)
William Todd