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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) today released the following statement on President Joe Biden’s United We Stand Summit. The summit will bring together experts, survivors, and community leaders from across America to discuss how to bring the country together to fight hate-based violence. 

“I stand strong with President Biden and his message on the importance of uniting this country against hate. For more than a year, I’ve warned of the vitriolic language, the hatred, and the fear being weaponized to divide us as a country. This extreme rhetoric is a real and significant danger to the foundations of our democracy. Language of violence has become too common and too easy. This is not a partisan issue – we must all come together to unequivocally reject hate-fueled violence. 

“We need to stop the fear-mongering and treat every person with respect, dignity, and civility. You can disagree, agreeably. Bullying, hostility, resentment, revenge, and nastiness are becoming too common and should be rejected by all of us. If we just take a minute, we can learn from each other and bridge our divides. Each of us has different life experiences and if we come together, share, learn and listen, we will be a stronger nation. Calls come into my office on a near daily basis that demonstrates the intense, ignorant hate towards our fellow Americans that too frequently has turned towards physical violence. 

“I recently received a voicemail from someone who disagreed with what I said during a cable interview this month. This message is graphic, offensive, and threatening. His language is an example of what is being normalized in this country. As a nation, we need to stand up and stand together against this kind of harmful rhetoric that is dividing us and driving violence across the country.”

To listen to the voicemail, please click here (WARNING: Contains graphic and offensive language).