Michelle Belkot’s resolution to condemn political violence in ‘all its forms’ is headed to a rewrite for a potential vote next week, in part due to other councilors’ objections to Charlie Kirk being the only named victim

Paul Valencia
Clark County Today

While a member of the Clark County Council noted that unity was key in denouncing political violence, the five-member council could not agree with a resolution on Wednesday that did, indeed, denounce political violence.

In conclusion, the resolution stated:

“The Clark County Council unequivocally condemns political violence in all its forms, including the assassination of Charlie Kirk, and declares that acts of violence shall never be tolerated as legitimate tools of political expression.”

Councilor Michelle Belkot read her resolution, and while the other four councilors agreed with the sentiment, some were uneasy with only Kirk’s name mentioned in the resolution.

Matt Little wondered if the victims of the recent school shooting in Minnesota could be added.

Wil Fuentes wondered if the Minnesota State Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman and her husband, who were assassinated in June, could be added.

During the meeting, Belkot had no issue with adding school children to the resolution, but she later told Clark County Today that school shootings and political violence are two different matters.

Belkot also responded to Fuentes, noting that her wording did say political violence in “all its forms,” which would include the Hortmans.

“So would you want to go through and name every single event” of political violence, Belkot asked Fuentes.

Sue Marshall, the Clark County chair, interjected: “I don’t think that’s what he said.”

Belkot said the Kirk assassination, which was last week, is what motivated this particular resolution.

“I don’t see this as being about Charlie Kirk,” Glen Yung said. “To me, this is about one American willing to murder another over political views. That’s the tragedy that happened. If there are recent other examples, I wouldn’t be opposed to adding those. If we want to mention Charlie Kirk and the other recent officials that were murdered, as an example, I’d be OK with that.”

Yung also proposed that the council adds that it would be willing to promote conflict resolution.

“We can condemn violence but we also need to be proponents of ways that people can solve their differences peacefully,” Yung said.

Belkot had a response to that after the meeting as well: 

“There is no conflict resolution when you have no idea that someone is going to murder you,” Belkot said. 

Referring to accused Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson: “He didn’t want to work it out. He wanted to take him out.”

Belkot’s resolution is personal to her because she has been threatened by a constituent, a matter that the rest of the council has been made aware of in the past, she said. Plus, Belkot said, she has received several threatening emails for her position against the funding of light rail.

She understands that politicians are public figures, but agree or disagree with a political viewpoint, violence cannot be the answer

“I thought that it would be prudent as a County Council for us all to stand united against any forms of political violence,” Belkot said at Wednesday’s Council Time meeting before she read her resolution. 

She elaborated after the meeting.

“It’s all good until it’s you,” she said sarcastically. 

“I’m sorry, but it’s not OK to be threatened. I’ve been threatened. It’s scary.” 

Back to the discussion in Wednesday’s meeting, Marshall said: “I would lean toward a more broadly worded statement. This (Kirk) was someone a lot of people looked to, but I think also a lot of people looked to those leaders in Minnesota. It’s regrettable that it seems to be some sort of scorekeeping of who mentions which person has been shot. That’s not the way to look at this. The way to look at this is all violence.”

Belkot wondered if others wanted to take Kirk’s name out of the resolution.

“I didn’t say specifically to leave his name out,” Marshall said. “I think if his name is in, maybe other names would be in. I’m dismayed by this scorekeeping kind of thing. That does not seem appropriate to me.”

Belkot noted she did not do this for scorekeeping.

Marshall responded: “That was not directed at you in any way, Councilor Belkot.”

“I just think unity is the key,” Yung said toward the end of the discussion.

Jordan Boege, senior policy analyst for the county, took notes on the discussion. He said he would take Belkot’s original resolution proposal, then add in the requests from the other councilors. Within a day or two, he said he would send the updated resolution to the councilors, asking for more notes. 

By next week, the council could vote on the updated resolution.

Belkot’s original proposal for the resolution is as follows:

A RESOLUTION condemning political violence and the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

WHEREAS, the United States was founded upon the principles of liberty, justice, and the inherent rights of all people as recognized in the Declaration of Independence; and

WHEREAS, the Constitution and Bill of Rights guarantee the freedoms of speech, press, religion, and assembly, which are essential to the preservation of a free and self-governing people; and

WHEREAS, the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a national political and religious leader and advocate, is a tragic and intolerable act of political violence that strikes at the very heart of these constitutional freedoms; and

WHEREAS, political violence in any form undermines the rule of law, threatens civil order, and attempts to silence lawful expression through fear and force; and

WHEREAS, the Clark County Council affirms that while citizens may differ in their views, such differences must always be expressed through peaceful and lawful means, never through threats, intimidation, or violence; and

WHEREAS, our nation’s founders recognized that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, and that consent must be expressed through free debate, lawful assembly, and fair elections — not by coercion or bloodshed; and

WHEREAS, it is the duty of both government leaders and private citizens to reject violence, defend constitutional liberty, and uphold the natural rights endowed by our Creator;

NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT ORDERED AND RESOLVED BY THE CLARK COUNTY COUNCIL, STATE OF WASHINGTON, AS FOLLOWS:

The Clark County Council unequivocally condemns political violence in all its forms, including the assassination of Charlie Kirk, and declares that acts of violence shall never be tolerated as legitimate tools of political expression. This Council urges all citizens to reaffirm their commitment to the principles of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, to resolve differences peacefully, and to protect the freedoms that secure our Republic.