The vicious tone of national policy pollutes Minnesota after shooting

Jesse Eberz kept tears as she stood in front of a makeshift memorial, in honor of democratic politician Melissa Hortman and her husband, who were killed last week.

“Minnesota felt a bit like a safe haven,” said G -Ja Ebert, a civil servant who lives in the capital of the country, “because we were able to keep our atmosphere to respect each other here.”

“This blown this out of the water.”

Hortman’s death and her husband Mark sent a shockwave through the country. They were shot dead early on Saturday morning by a man concealed as a police officer.

Democratic MP John Hoffman and his wife were also injured – they are expected to survive.

But the attacks that seem politically motivated have poorly shaken confidence in the state’s reputation for courtesy, kindness and respect, an attitude that has its nickname and Wikipedia page: “Minnesota nice.”

Prosecutors say the suspect Vance Belter visited two other homes early Saturday, looking for politicians.

The largest at the beginning of the country ended at the end of Sunday, when Bolter was captured near his home in a rural area, full of farms, gravel roads and small villages about an hour from the twin cities of Mineapolis and St. Paul.

Many have stressed that G -Ja Hortman has been known for her ability to work with republican counterparts, including recently to pass a vote on the state budget.

On Monday, the local WCCO radio station overplayed one of her recent interviews, jointly with Republican counterparts, where, among other things, they discussed what they could do if they spent some time together.

The idea that this friendly state in the upper Midwest can avoid political malice, which is more often turned into violence elsewhere, is an illusion, says Jenna Stoker, editor of “Thinking of Minnesota”, a publication presented by the conservative center of the cerebral Trust of the American experiment.

The center service was hated last year in what Think Tank employees called a politically motivated attack. No one is accused of the crime.

“Some people even here in Minnesota have really left politics to lead their thinking and how they feel about their neighbors, their friends and their relatives,” says G -Jen Stocker.

In extreme cases, this led to extreme actions. Several recent studies have shown that political violence has grown in the United States, reaching a level that has not been observed since the 70s.

Reuters has collected more than 300 cases of politically motivated violence since January 2021. The Capitol rebellion. A survey of 2023 from the Brennan Justice Center, the Left -High Institute, found that 40% of state legislators had experienced threats or attacks in the three years before.

Despite the broad fears, nourished in part by two attempted murder against Donald Trump and the US Capitol rebellion in 2021, there is no large -scale violence during the November 2024 presidential election.

But the relationship has become tense after this vote.

In April, the residence of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Democrat, was set on fire. It seems that politics has motivated the alleged killers of a health leader in New York and two Israeli Embassy officials in Washington.

In Washington, members of the US Congress were ready to receive emergency security briefings this week.

In the meantime, in Minnesota, many people have mourned what the attacks against state politicians meant in a place, which is proud of its openness and the ability to avoid the breath of national politics.

Despite the harshness of recent attacks, there were few visible signs of heavy security inside the Capitol building – and without metal detectors – on Monday afternoon.

Among the mourners, several of Hortman’s relatives laid flowers in front of the House of the State House, where mass was loaded with bouquets and signs that read “change of demand” and “rest in power.”

Between news cameras and flowers, a group wandered around the guide tour and legislative staff began their work in a sinister blow.

But as the people here mourned, on a national scale the guerrilla arguments continued.

President Trump on Tuesday said he would not call Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the democratic vice president of the nominee for last year’s election, calling him a “mess”.

“The man has no idea,” he told reporters.

As a result of the attacks, some of Trump’s best supporters and allies – including Utah Senator Mike Lee, Elon Musk, conspiracy theoretist Laura Lomer and activist Charlie Kirk – tried without evidence to connect Walz and democratic legislators to the killings.

Lee writes, “This happens when the Marxists don’t make their way,” while Musk again sends a message, including the order of attacks with the comment “The distant left is murderously violent.”

Both men who did not respond to requests for comment seemed to have been sucked out of conspiracy theories floating online.

Many have indicated the fact that Walz and previous democratic governor have appointed suspects in the State Economic Council.

However, Bolt was a supporter of President Trump, who held conservative views, according to interviews with friends and neighbors. According to evidence revealed by the authorities, his long list of target includes democratic and progressive legislators, and he had flyers with information about anti-thrump rallies “Without Kings” that happened in St. Paul and other cities in the country on Saturday.

Although the exact motive is still being investigated, evidence shows that the suspect is aimed at opponents of the president and politicians of left and democratic parties.

“It’s horrifying,” said Cameko White, a neighbor who lived near one of the suspect’s homes in Northern Minneapolis, which was attacked by police on Saturday.

“I saw this man every day in his yard,” said Dzha White. “The other day I saw him out and write something in a notebook.”

While the capture of the Bolter gave some measure of relief here, the discussions about the ether in Minnesota have focused on what can be done to cool the political temperature and prevent future attacks.

D -Ja Stocker, editor of “Thinking of Minnesota,” said “there are good people here” and noted that the bigger part of the Minnesotans reject the violence.

However, the increase in “others” and heated rhetoric makes it pessimistic about the chances of peace soon.

“It will take a whole generation of people to say that we will no longer accept this and we just have to stop,” she said.

“I think we need young people to rise and say we just won’t stand up.”

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