Many in Connecticut are asking how violence returned to U.S. politics

HAMDEN, Conn. (WTNH) – The heightened concerns of political violence have many looking back at past attacks of presidents and candidates in the United States.

“I am a little shocked in today’s day and age it results in an assassination attempt,” said Quinnipiac University Adjunct History Professor Philip Goduti Jr. PhD.

It had been over four decades since the last one, history proving it is still repeating itself in 2024 marking a dark moment in America.

“It struck me that when the rhetoric gets to a point it’s volatile that it does result in violence,” Goduti said.

Goduti says today’s divisive political landscape is similar to the 1960’s when President John F. Kennedy was shot while in a motorcade parade and died. The most recent assassination attempt was a shooting in 1981 targeting President Ronald Reagan. He was seriously injured and needed to undergo surgery.

“I felt we have moved forward and come a long way since the 1960’s and 1850’s when a great deal of violence got to the point where we ended up in a Civil War,” said Goduti.

“I heard my parents talk about the assassination of Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King when I was little and of course I’m old enough to remember the Reagan assassination attempt,” said Branford resident Laurie Wiegler.

These historical incidents become moments engraved in memory.

“That shocking image, I just got chills right now, of the blood on his face. It scared me to death.”

Political affiliations aside, people we spoke to agree violence is never the answer.

“The situation is crazy cause at the end of the day he’s a father, he’s a husband,” said Bridgeport resident Amanda Santiago.

“That’s not a solution to any problem,” said Connecticut resident Mak Sim.

“What happens in the next few days is vital,” said Goduti.

Goduti said to avoid further division leaders must set the tone, address issues and speak to each other with respect to unify Americans.

“This is a moment in history where the decisions are important moving forward because it can go two different ways. It can move to more of a unity throughout this nation and understanding one another or it can separate us even further and it can divide us to the point where it would be very difficult to come back as a nation,” said Goduti.

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