This weekend, a tragic and chilling event unfolded in Minnesota that should serve as a wake-up call for all of us—especially here in Waterbury.

Minnesota State Rep. Melissa Hortman, a former Speaker of the House, and her husband were murdered in their home. A state senator and his wife were also shot in what authorities describe as targeted, politically motivated attacks. The suspect—impersonating a police officer—is still on the loose.

This is not a random act. It’s the result of a dangerous climate of rhetoric gone unchecked.

We in the public eye—politicians, activists, commentators, and influencers—have a moral obligation to recognize the power of our words. When we play to anger, when we fuel fear, when we stoke divisions, we are playing with fire.

To Waterbury’s political leaders and public figures:

🔺 Tone it down.
🔺 Lead with responsibility, not reaction.
🔺 Disagree without dehumanizing.
🔺 Debate without turning citizens into targets.

We are not immune here in Connecticut. The heat in our own local politics is rising, and if we’re not careful, words can escalate to violence. We must not allow that to happen.

The cost of carelessness is now being counted in lives lost. Don’t let Waterbury become the next headline. Let’s be better—for the city, for the state, and for the sake of basic human decency.

Leadership is not just about power. It’s about restraint.