Pennsylvania Uniters Call for Collective Action to Prevent Political Violence

Pennsylvania Uniters is a politically diverse group of 23 community members in South-Central Pennsylvania committed to embracing our shared values and working across our differences to prevent targeted violence, including political violence such as physical attacks against people because of their party affiliations or viewpoints.

We were selected through a competitive application process for the Uniting to Prevent Targeted Violence in South-Central Pennsylvania (UPTV) program, an 18-month, non-partisan civic engagement program led by Urban Rural Action.

As we move into 2024, we are concerned about the rising incidents of political violence, including escalating harassment and threats of violence against public figures. In a recent survey by the National League of Cities, 81% of local public officials surveyed said they had experienced harassment, threats, or violence in recent years. In addition to posing a serious threat to our communities’ safety, political violence prevents our democratic processes from working well. 

Preventing political violence starts with us. Multiple polls have found that the overwhelming majority of Americans do not believe that violence is necessary to “save our country.” We stand with them.

Both Democrats and Republicans imagine that the number of members of the other party who hold views they consider “extreme” is almost twice what it actually is. This significant perception gap among Americans may explain why more than 70% of partisans believe that the other party “poses a threat that if not stopped will destroy America as we know it.”

Therefore, we call on our fellow Americans to join us by committing to:

• Embrace curiosity about different political views rather than rejecting those views outright;
• Respect political views with which we disagree;
• Separate the people who hold views we disagree with from the views themselves; and
• Appreciate the humanity of those on the other side even as we rally for our causes and preferred candidates.

Political candidates wield significant influence over their supporters. Therefore, we call on public officials and candidates to:

• Account for the needs of all your constituents, not just your supporters;
• Avoid provoking public anger towards identity groups;
• Seek out opportunities to collaborate, not just compete, with elected officials on the other side; and
• Support our democratic processes, even when your preferred outcome may not be realized.

The information we consume shapes how we view those different from us, including our perception of the threats they pose. We’ve learned from the News Literacy Project the importance of separating news from opinion and recognizing media intended to manipulate or provoke us. We commit to assessing the credibility of information before sharing it with our networks. 

We call on news reporters and opinion journalists to do your part by:

• Avoiding inflaming hate and division by focusing only on negative stories, assigning group blame for individual behavior, and/or exaggerating the scope of a problem;
• Showcasing efforts aimed at solving problems, as demonstrated by the Solutions Journalism Network; and
• Exploring new ways of covering conflict that illuminate rather than inflame.