In the early morning hours of Saturday, June 14, an armed perpetrator shot two Minnesota state legislators and their respective spouses in the suburbs outside of Minneapolis.  State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, died. State Senator John A. Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, survived and sustained injuries from the attack. The Governor of Minnesota called the events “an act of targeted political violence.”

The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) and the Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar Association (MNAPABA) unequivocally condemn these horrific attacks. We send our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the victims along with the people of Minnesota.

Our democracy must not tolerate acts of political violence. They are antithetical to the core values of our community and our Nation. The rule of law demands the peaceful resolution of our differences, whether it be through our institutions like the courts or at the ballot box. Despite the intensity of our public discourse, we cannot forget our common humanity.