Washington, DC – In a press conference held at the Democratic National Committee building in Washington, President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign urged voters to reject violence as a tactic in the current campaign cycle. The campaign specifically called out former President Donald Trump for his rhetoric and actions, emphasizing the need to prioritize civil discourse and nonviolent means of political engagement.
Former U.S. Capitol Police Sergeant Aquilino Gonell, District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Officer Daniel Hodges, and Biden-Harris Communications Director Michael Tyler took a stand against Trump’s approach to campaigning, highlighting the dangers of embracing violence in the political arena. Gonell expressed disappointment in Trump’s support for individuals involved in the January 6 attack on the Capitol, labeling them as “patriots” and “political prisoners.”
Hodges, who witnessed firsthand the violence of January 6 at the hands of pro-Trump extremists, condemned Trump for his continued encouragement of political violence. He criticized Trump’s contradictory stance of claiming support for law enforcement while also fueling and endorsing violent acts within the country.
The press conference coincided with Trump’s upcoming campaign events in Michigan and Wisconsin, prompting strong words from Gonell against the former president. Gonell warned against the danger of Trump’s willingness to resort to violence to achieve his goals of power and control, urging Americans to consider the implications of reelecting him in the upcoming election.
The officers present at the press conference also highlighted the importance of remembering and acknowledging the sacrifices made by law enforcement during the January 6 attack. They emphasized the severity of the events that unfolded that day, pushing back against attempts to downplay or distort the reality of the violence that occurred at the Capitol.
In the face of ongoing political tensions and the looming specter of further violence, the Biden campaign’s call for a rejection of violence serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding democratic values and peaceful means of political engagement. As the election season unfolds, the message to disavow violence remains a key imperative in safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process and protecting the foundations of American democracy.