Gov. Hochul hosts bipartisan coalition against political violence

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Gov. Kathy Hochul held a press conference in Albany on Monday alongside bipartisan elected leaders discussing a heightened push against political violence. State officials received a security briefing from the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services regarding the connection between provocative rhetoric and threats of violence.

“Incidents of political violence in America are not isolated, and here in New York, we are advancing the critical conversation addressing the disturbing rise of these political attacks,” Hochul said. “Today I convened a bipartisan group of leaders to discuss what is truly necessary in this moment: reducing the temperature of inflammatory rhetoric that leads to violence and ensuring our communities are safe and tolerant places for all. We can debate our differences without demeaning each other.”

The briefing advocated for actionable changes that could reduce polarization, including encouraging the healthy expression of differences in opinion, condemning all acts of political violence regardless of motivation, and using respectful language when referring to victims. Monday’s conference follows the assassination of political commentator Charlie Kirk on September 10 at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.

“Condemning the violence is not enough, our leaders must also condemn the dehumanizing, radicalizing rhetoric that leads to violence,” Commissioner of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Jackie Bray stated. “Today, we took time to walk through some of the worrying information and data that people in jobs like mine all over the nation use. It is my hope that this will better equip all of our elected officials here in New York, whether they are Democrats or Republicans, so that we can join together to be a part of the solution and not part of the problem.”

“The only way to stop political violence that has plagued our country is to work together as Americans,” Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus said. “I am committed to working alongside all my colleagues in elected office to put it into this violence.”