New Jersey governor candidates Mikie Sherrill (D) and Jack Ciattarelli (R) tangled over political violence during their first gubernatorial debate Sunday evening at Rider University.
Following the Sept. 10 assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a reporter Sunday asked the candidates whether they would you support legislation to label political violence as a hate crime.
Sherrill got first crack at it, saying she advocated for more money for security for political candidates.
“It’s why we continue to work to fight against political hatred, and so we need to do more,” she said.
“Because in this nation we should be able to have free speech. I vow to defend and fight for free speech my entire life, but it should never devolve into political violence, that is something I’ve always stood against my entire life,” Sherrill said
The congresswoman said she is concerned that people will not consider political office due to rising violence in the arena.
READ MORE: This governor’s race was supposed to be about Trump. N.J. voters forced a dramatic shift.
Ciattarelli’s response started off in similar staid tone.
“I think it’s the responsibility of any public official to engage in rhetoric that does not divide us. My campaign has been about uniting us, not dividing us,” he said.
“I do think we need to take down the temperature a whole lot,” he said.
Ciattarelli said he would support a bill to make political violence a hate crime, “and put some real legal teeth behind it.”
Then he said Sherrill didn’t directly answer that question.
And added this:
“My opponent, on Friday, went down to Washington, and voted yes on a resolution to celebrate Charlie Kirk’s life, but then within minutes sent out a statement that basically condemned him,” he said.
“I think that was wrong,” Ciattarelli said.
Sherrill responded, “That’s a neat trick to say you don’t want to divide people, and then in your answer bring up something that is very divisive.”
“Here’s the thing,” she went on. “I care deeply, I care deeply about this country, I stand against political violence.”
Sherrill said Kirk was killed in public, “and I can’t even imagine how the Kirk family feels. And that should never happen to anyone because they speak out.”
When she said, “I also have stood up, my entire life, and I’ve taken numerous oaths, up to and including offering to die for this country for free speech,” some in the audience jeered and Ciattarelli waved them down.
Sherrill than added: “And so I think it’s fair to have free speech, but I think it should go to everyone, to Jimmy Kimmel and myself as well.”
The moderator said Ciattarelli could have the final word.
“She still hasn’t answered your question. And we see this time and time in the campaign, generalities, platitudes and ducking the direct questions by not giving a direct answer.”
Sherrill then stood, and took the last word, saying she was direct.
“My direct answer is, I voted to protect free speech, I voted to end political violence,” she offered.
“I also think it’s fair, Jack, to speak up when you disagree with something,” Sherrill said as the audience reaction started to rise.
“So, if you want to stand up that Martin Luther King was a bad guy or that women should submit to their husbands, you, Jack, are welcome to do that, and I have the right to say that I disagree with it,” she said to cheers.
The moderator then moved the debate on.
The debate comes as New Jerseyans continue to reckon the act of political violence and its heavily charged fallout, which has led to teachers resigning over their views, disagreements over flag lowering and even a restaurant owner publicly chastising teen girls for supposed celebrations over Kirk’s death.
In the days following Kirk’s death, some conservative organizations led memorial drives along the Jersey Shore. A memorial event scheduled to be held at a minor league baseball stadium in Sussex County was canceled due to an expected turnout that would have overwhelmed the park.
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