U.S. elected officials face waves of violence that prompt calls for security | American politics

This week, a wave of violent threats and incidents against elected officials broke out, prompting more urgent requests for safety measures a few days after a killing Minnesota Shooting by a state legislator and another person.

The latest incidents include death threats against Zohran Mamdani in a series of attacks involving federal and local officials New York The mayoral candidate is a road anger attack on Ohio State Congressman Max Miller and is also suspected of a kidnapping attempt against Memphis Mayor Paul Young.

New York Police Department (NYPD) Hate Crime Task Force Is Investigating Multiple Death Threats Against Mamdani Muslim democratic socialist candidate In the last part of his campaign and was recognized by national figures Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The intimidation includes threats to blow up his car and Islamic voicemails left at Mamdani’s office in Queens in the city.

“It seems that the violence and specific language of the caller is shocking, and we are taking all precautions,” his campaign said Thursday, blaming the threat on “dehumanized, Islamic horror speech aimed at exerting and hating.”

Miller was contacted by a man “escape from the road” by a man who allegedly shouted “death to Israel.” Miller, Jewish US Holocaust Memorial Committeesaid the incident happened while driving in his congressional district, he knew the identity of his so-called attacker and he also threatened to kill his family.

A man was arrested for the incident earlier Friday afternoon.

The suspect was appointed Feras Hamdan, 36, of Westlake, near Cleveland according to Local media reports.

Meanwhile, Memphis police arrested Trenton Abston, 25, behind a wall at his alleged wall at Young’s residence in Tennessee, on suspicion of stalking and kidnapping, which police said was “a nervous behavior.” The officer recovered “taser, gloves, ropes and tape” from the suspect’s vehicle.

A series of events only a few days After the killing Melissa Hortman, a representative of Minnesota Democratic State, and her husband Mark, were injured in another attack on the same gun along with state Senator John Hoffman and his wife last Saturday with the same gunman in anti-Trump. “No King” protests In progress Millions nationwide. The suspect, 57-year-old Vance Boelter, was captured in a mass hunt, facing murder, reportedly Extremists And it’s pro-Trump and anti-abortion.

A popular list of “Double and Dozen” containing the names of democratic politicians was found in Boelter’s car, which brought new shock waves through the political community. Michigan Congressman Hillary Scholten cited security issues and canceled public city hall.

Elevated threats make MPs on both sides Ask for additional security funds And strengthened protections in recent days as people fear that political violence will become normalized in American politics. Capitol police demanded nearly $1 billion next year, while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said: “The violence and threat to elected officials have increased significantly” and asked for more money to protect lawmakers.

Capitol Police 9,474 threats were investigated Last year, it increased nearly 1,500 times for lawmakers and their families, while 2023 upgraded over the past five years but peaked in 2021. Eight convictions New York Representative Joseph Morelle sent it to the Justice Department Tuesday, according to a bipartisan letter from Wisconsin Representative Bryan Steil.

Mike Johnson links violence to broader political rhetoric. “What happened to Max [Miller] This morning, it was another outrageous example of the House Speaker inspired unstable people to threaten and attack elected officials. We must reject the temperature of this country. ”