During Passover, the Jewish people remember the liberation of their ancestors from slavery in Egypt.
It is a time of reflection and rejoicing. It is marked by solemnity and celebration.
On Saturday, Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family celebrated at the Pennsylvania Governor’s Residence with guests. At 6:07 p.m., he posted a picture of their festive, linen-draped seder table.
Around 2 a.m., the family was woken by banging and evacuated. The building was on fire.
“Thank God no one was injured and the fire was extinguished,” the governor posted at 10:30 a.m. Sunday.
Thank God, indeed.
Police quickly determined the incident was arson. Cody Balmer, 38, of Harrisburg has been arrested and charged with attempted homicide, aggravated arson, burglary, recklessly endangering another person, terrorism, aggravated assault, loitering and prowling and aggravated assault on designated individuals — specifically the governor and state troopers.
The investigation is ongoing. While police say Balmer filled Heineken beer bottles with gasoline from his lawnmower before heading to the governor’s residence armed with a sledgehammer, the question of why is less concrete.
What we do know is that it is unacceptable.
Violent attacks on our political and government leaders can never be tolerated. When we do not step up to decry them, we create a safe space for the ugliness that feeds them to grow.
It is incumbent upon every leader in Pennsylvania — and the nation — to speak out on such a potentially disastrous attack on a sitting governor. It is critical that every municipality, every legislative district, every congressional district —regardless of party — hear from their elected officials in lockstep that this is a bridge too far.
Politics has become more intertwined with physical threat, and that must hit a brick wall of opposition.
“Violence targeted at any political party or political leader is absolutely unacceptable. It has no place in Pennsylvania or the United States.”
That was Shapiro’s post at 6:46 p.m. July 13. It was 35 minutes after the shots were fired at Butler Farm Show grounds, injuring then-candidate, now-President Donald Trump and two others, and killing Buffalo Township firefighter Corey Comperatore.
Many other politicians and leaders have made their voices heard since the fire was put out Sunday. But these words cannot just be something said when violence happens before going back to fanning flames.
During the days and nights of Passover, Jewish families read the Haggadah, retelling the story of both their tragedy and triumph as they have done for thousands of years.
In the face of that, it seems little to ask for our political leaders and parties to discourage political violence and the rhetoric that leads to it.