The Vernon County Board of Supervisors debated, amended, and unanimously passed a resolution condemning political violence and inflammatory rhetoric at their Thursday, Sept. 18 meeting.
The resolution condemns all forms of political violence and intimidation, regardless of party or ideology. It calls on all elected officials at the local, state and federal levels to refrain from making inflammatory statements that may incite division or violence, and to set and example of civil, respectful discourse.
The resolution reaffirms its commitment to democratic principles, the constitutional right of free speech, the rule of law, and the safety of residents of Vernon County.
The move comes as the nation reels from the killings of Minnesota state legislator Melissa Hortman in June, and conservative activist Charlie Kirk in September.
The resolution affirms that the strength of American democratic institutions depends on civil discourse, mutual respect and the peaceful transfer of power. It asserts that acts of political violence, intimidation, and threats against public officials, candidates, election workers, and members of the public undermine the safety, security and stability of communities. It continues, stating that inflammatory statements made by elected officials or candidates can contribute to hostility, deepen divisions, and increase the risk of violence.
State Representative Tara Johnson, who represents Vernon County in the state legislature, spoke in support of the resolution:
“In the last few months as a member of the Wisconsin Assembly, I have had occasion to stand for two moments of silence - one for Melissa Hortman, and one for Charlie Kirk. Those moments really hang heavy on my mind today. I am encouraging your support of this of resolution 2025, 49 because I think that it sends an important message at an important time. I appreciate the spirit of the resolution, and am taking your words to heart. Your resolution in Vernon County is an opportunity for me to not just stand in moments of silence, but to commit myself to refraining from inflammatory rhetoric, and join you and all other elected officials at all levels of government to condemn political violence. I appreciate the work that you are doing, and the reminder for all of us of how important our words and our actions are.”
Vernon County Board Supervisor Wade Lawler spoke as an author of the resolution:
“So no matter where any of us come from, or how long we've lived here, or who we love, or how we worship, we as Americans believe that everyone is entitled to the same rights. Those of us in elected office took an oath to uphold the Constitution, which spells out those rights, and all of us in the room in saying the Pledge of Allegiance just affirmed our allegiance to one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. And yet, last week's shooting of a prominent conservative figure, which happened almost simultaneously with yet another horrifying school shooting, was just the latest in a series of events that seem to reveal a growing comfort in this country with using violence to express or settle our political differences. And if that wasn't bad enough, almost as soon as the news broke, some few elected officials started using their highly visible public platforms to pour gasoline on an already highly volatile situation, using language of vigilantism and revenge. They have scapegoated broad swaths of our society that do not share their politics, villainizing those who disagree with them, and threatening retribution. It wasn't long ago that in the aftermath of a horrific act of violence, we could count on our elected leaders to agree, if not to the solution to the problem, then at least to the fact that it is a problem.”
Vernon County Board Supervisor Martha Olson made this statement:
“I just want to commend you and thank you for bringing this forward. This is wonderful, and though we're a small county, it starts somewhere, and this is maybe the push that needs to be. This shooting last week, I think, really woke people up, and it's got to stop.”
Vernon County Board Supervisor Alycann Taylor spoke in support of the amended resolution just before it was passed unanimously by the board:
“I'm not certain if this is the first of its kind, but I anticipate it is pretty cutting edge. I commend you for this effort, that while we can't control what people do or say, we can set a standard and expectation that we all have a responsibility to do better. I just hope that if we pass this, it catches like wildfire, and goes all the way up to Washington.”
The resolution ends stating that the Vernon County Clerk will forward a copy of the resolution to the Governor of Wisconsin, Wisconsin’s two U.S. Senators, the U.S. Congressman representing Vernon County, and the Wisconsin State Senator and Assembly members representing Vernon County.
