Political violence is never justifiable.
Yesterday, during a session of the Milan City Council, I intervened to reaffirm this principle clearly. The chamber then observed a moment of silence in memory of all victims of political violence.
Violence, regardless of its ideological origin, is always an attack on democracy itself.
The Murder of Charlie Kirk and the Danger of Radicalisation
The murder of Charlie Kirk, which occurred on September 10 at Utah Valley University, shocked the world.
The alleged perpetrator, Tyler Robinson, 22 years old, does not appear to be linked to organised political groups. He rather seems to be a fragile young man, driven by anger, who took the worst possible path.
This does not change the substance of the matter: this was an extremely serious act that must be condemned without hesitation.
Political violence always strikes at the foundations of democratic life.
The Assassination of Melissa Hortman: A Blow to American Democracy
Only a few months before, another horrific crime had shook the United States: the killing of Melissa Hortman, former Democratic Speaker of the Minnesota House, assassinated together with her husband, Mark.
Two very different victims, with different political paths and identities, yet connected by the same thread: political violence spares no one.
A Universal Lesson: Defending Democracy Means Rejecting Violence
Whether the victim is a figure of the radical right or a progressive leader, the message remains the same.
Political violence is a poison.
It harms those who are killed, those who remain, and the entire political community. It weakens democratic institutions and erodes trust.
Further Reading & Sources
For further insight into political violence, radicalisation and the protection of democratic institutions, the following international sources offer reliable analysis and data:
- United Nations, reports on political violence and threats to democratic governance.
Read more: UN – Democracy and the rule of law - OECD, analysis on extremism, trust in institutions and democratic resilience.
Read more: OECD – Trust and democracy - Council of Europe, work on preventing political violence and safeguarding democratic values.
Read more: Council of Europe – Democracy and security - Brookings Institution, research on political polarisation and radicalisation in democratic societies.
Read more: Brookings – Political violence and extremism
Read the original Italian version
This article is based on a reflection originally written in Italian in the context of an institutional debate within the Milan City Council.
The original Italian version is available here:
Against political violence, always – Italian version