When we asked Boise Mayor Lauren McLean to share her thoughts on the rise of political violence, she needed a moment.
“This strikes close to home … the threats I’ve received over the years, the experience my family has had in this,” she said, taking another pause. “This pitched culture of gun violence, of political violence, the dehumanizing that’s occurring of … people with whom we disagree.”
McLean added, “The assassination of Charlie Kirk on a college campus … he was doing what is central to what we do in this country and that is debate. Things have become too inflamed.“
In a wide-ranging conversation with George Prentice, McLean talked about the fragility “of the American experiment” and how “we need everyone to step back to think about how their words matter to demonstrate through action that what we care most about is freedom, this country, and the people that make it so great.”
Read the transcript below.
GEORGE PRENTICE: It's Morning Edition. Good morning, I'm George Prentice. It's been a minute since we spent some time with Boise Mayor Lauren McLean. We always look forward to an opportunity for a conversation such as this, Madam Mayor. Good morning.
MAYOR LAUREN MCLEAN: Good morning. George. It's great to be back.
PRENTICE: You bet. I have to ask up top about the events of this week that led to what we saw: hundreds of people attending a vigil outside the Idaho Capitol the other night. A vigil in in the shadow of the shooting of Charlie Kirk. So I have to ask if you have any words to share about the current climate, a climate that you know about quite well, a climate of political division and sometimes political violence. Your thoughts?
MCLEAN: Yeah. George, you know, I appreciate the question. And.
PRENTICE: Now, I should say here that the mayor needed a moment, an extended moment here to collect her emotions, to collect her thoughts before we would continue.
MCLEAN: I'll just answer, George, I appreciate the question. Um, and appreciate the moment you just gave me to recover, because this strikes close to home. And you, we've talked in the past about political violence. I've written about this, um, the threats I've received over the years that my the experience my family has had in this and the impact that this like to pitched culture of gun violence, of political violence, the dehumanizing that's occurring of elected officials, of people with whom we disagree. We've seen the impact of that Over the course of the last 4 or 5 years, whether it be. Instances here that have affected me, that have been public, those that haven't. The plots against the governor of Michigan, Governor Whitmer, what happened to Nancy Pelosi's husband, the Hoffmans in Minnesota just two months ago to yesterday, which is terrible. And in so many ways, you could see this as the tip of the spear. But I worry that it's not that things have become so pitched that regardless of what we believe, we have a right to share those beliefs without fear for our safety or without having taken from us members of our family or our own life. And with the assassination of Charlie Kirk on a college campus when yes, I disagree with him and many people do, but he was doing what's central to what we do in this country, and that is debate. And things have become too inflamed, but that somebody would take this step and take his life and impact his family and all of those students that were there. It's it's incomprehensible. And I really have no words.
PRENTICE: The only other thing I'd like to ask about is, do you fear about good people maybe thinking twice about public service?
MCLEAN: I mean, I hear it often, questions that folks are asking in conversations. Is it is it really worth it? How much longer, um, can can we do this or can this hold? You know, I read something this morning that David French wrote. I really appreciate and value his thoughts on this great country and the experiment that we are. And his belief and speech and debate. And he wrote something that I found really powerful. I mean, the whole piece I found powerful. I'd encourage folks to read it. But he said assassination can cost us our country. We lose it when we stop seeing our opponents as human, when we crave vengeance more than peace, when the motivation for our political engagement stops being the common good, but rather inflicting pain and anguish on our political enemies. That's what we saw this week. Um, that's what I hear from way too many people that have dehumanized folks that are part of this American experiment, committed to debate, committed to service, guided by their values, whether you agree with them or not. Um, and at this moment in time, we need everyone to step back to think about how their words matter and to demonstrate through action that what we care most about is our freedom. This country, um, the people that make it so great, and then to use that as a base to get beyond this really pitch time, um, and to look forward together to continuing this great experiment that is our country that will soon be celebrating 250 years of.
PRENTICE: Right. Well, let's talk about civic conversation, uh, that many of us will be having. We're less than two months until Election Day, and Boise voters will be asked to consider, uh, attacks in the form of a levy, uh, an open space levy. And while we have become accustomed to big asks, this one totals 11 million. That's a tall hill to climb, don't you think?
MCLEAN: Well, you know, I look to Boise history of being of pitching in for and recognizing the value that protecting this place that we love. Um, presents to our families today and into the future. So, you know, we've in 2001 Boise said yes to $10 million. And 2015 they did it again. This levy is a chance for boiseans, on average, 40 bucks a year for two years. So $80 for the average homeowner to help us continue to set aside open space to protect our clean water and river and to set aside parks and pathways. And I've enjoyed the conversations I'm having at the doors and in the community, and look forward to continuing this important civic discussion. Um, heading into Election Day.
PRENTICE: Our economy has seen better days though, so why is now the time to put this levy before voters? Uh, what is it about the timing of this?
MCLEAN: Yeah. So, you know, I'd say our economy is strong in this community, but people are concerned about affordability, and I want to acknowledge that as we grow, we want to make sure that we can continue to provide the free, accessible opportunities that Boise residents have. So to make sure that every kid in this city can walk safely to a park in all neighborhoods, that we can make investments throughout the city to make sure that families on a weekend can head up into the hills and, you know, experience nature and new ways to protect. What we love about Boise means that we're we have to continue to protect our open spaces, our river along the greenbelt, our parks and pathways, so that as our community grows, we can continue to enjoy those things that make Boise so special.
PRENTICE: Mayor Lauren McLean I appreciate all of your thoughts this morning and any opportunity that we get a chance to have a conversation. It is greatly appreciated and for now, thanks for giving me some time this morning.
MCLEAN: Thank you George. Take care.
Find reporter George Prentice @georgepren
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