To the Editor:

By the evening of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, the St. Lawrence County Democratic Committee had the following Facebook post:  “We unequivocally condemn all political violence.  The shooting of Charlie Kirk is an example of violent extremism and is unacceptable.”

We stand by that statement.  Our Democratic county legislators joined all Republican legislators in voting unanimously for a resolution condemning the assassination at the September 15th county legislature meeting.  Democrat Margaret Haggard said that, while she disagreed with Kirk’s politics, she condemned all political violence and called for unity.

Rep. Stefanik also rightfully condemned the murder, but then used the tragedy as one more stepping stone in her career path.  Showing disregard for the First Amendment Right to Free Speech in the Constitution that she swore an oath to uphold, she went after Gov. Hochul to investigate and punish any teacher or other school employee who has posted anything about Kirk that Stefanik deems objectionable or unprofessional.  

This act, along with Republican Rep. Higgans (LA) calling for people to lose business licenses, be blacklisted, and even lose driver’s licenses for posting things he objects to, to say nothing of the FCC Chair’s attempts to silence Jimmy Fallon, make this a chilling moment in our nation’s history.

Did we miss Stefanik's condemnation of anyone who spoke inappropriately about the assassination of the  Minnesota legislator and her husband? Or when Trump responded (unprofessionally) to a question on whether he intended to call Gov. Walz after those assassinations with, “(He is) so whacked out. I’m not calling him.  Why would I call him?....Why waste time?” 

Stefanik's statements are not principled; if they were, she'd call out her own party, too, like the over 80 Democrats who, along with Stefanik, called for Cuomo to resign in his moment of disgrace. 

No, her statements, which attack our First Amendment rights, are designed to exploit events like this as stepping stones in her career. Nothing more.

Mike Zagrobelny

Ginger Storey-Welch

Chair and Vice Chair of the St. Lawrence County Democratic Committee