By Hank Bartholomew
Bullet holes and property damage were recently discovered at a DNC Campaign office in Tempe, Arizona. After responding to reports of gunfire, police identified at least five bullet holes in the building’s windows and door. This is the third incident of vandalism of the building, with the first being damage by what is believed to be a pellet gun, and the second also by gunfire. The shooting marks another act in the storm of political intimidation and violence that is starting to plague America.
Currently, details of the case are still quite vague. No persons of interest have been identified, although the Tempe police department has identified 2008-2013 Toyota Highlander as the potential vehicle the suspect may have used. The shooting is believed to have occurred at some time between midnight at 1:00 AM. The office itself was located in a relatively populated area: a strip mall near a fitness center and a daycare. Some of the campaign office’s staffers have changed residences in response to the attacks. Tempe Police Sergeant Ryan Cook confirmed in a statement that “No one was inside the office during the overnight hours,” but added that the shooting “raises concerns about the safety of those who work in that building, as well as those nearby.”
Tempe is a battleground init of itself. Located just Southeast of Phoenix, Tempe is a key part of both campaign’s strategies. The college town, home to Arizona State University, is a key point in the overall battleground state of Arizona. ASU students will be a tightly contested demographic in the coming election–they number 57,000 in a state that President Joe Biden only won by about 10,000 votes last year. It’s no surprise that in such a politically tense environment, tensions have bubbled over into violence.
It’s no secret that political polarization–and political violence–are on the rise in the United States. With assassination attempts on former president Trump, juror intimidation, and bomb threats to government officials, a wave of political violence has begun to envelop the nation. It is easy to claim or believe that these incidents are isolated, actions by a few disgruntled individuals that do not reflect the overall beliefs of Americans. But the more political violence occurs, the more accepted it is as what is normal.
