Yorktown Democrats, Republicans look to join together for bipartisan vigil against political violence

The chairs of the Yorktown Republican and Democratic committees addressed the Town Board on Tuesday to condemn political violence and share their desire to hold a joint candlelight vigil for the victims of political violence this weekend.

Kevin Byrnes, co-chair of the Yorktown Republican Committee, and Peter Cleary, co-chair of the Yorktown Democratic Committee, said they hope the event will bring the community together to denounce violence, regardless of political affiliation.

Byrnes said he reached out to Cleary earlier on Tuesday to see what could be done on the local level to “tone down the rhetoric.”

“We wholeheartedly agree that political violence has no place in this town, this county, this state, or this country,” Byrnes said. “Whether it is the two assassination attempts on President Trump, the assassination of Minnesota House Representative Speaker Melissa Hortman, or the assassination of Charlie Kirk.”

While Byrnes said the two committees disagree on policy issues, “Make no mistake, the Republican and Democratic committees stand united in condemning this type of violence. It must stop now.”

Byrnes, a retired NYPD officer, said he was profoundly affected by the video of Kirk’s killing, which he accidentally clicked on last week.

“This video deeply disturbed me,” he said. "Aside from the graphic details of the shooting, I was also disturbed by the fact that Charlie was killed for exercising his First Amendment rights, expressing his political opinions and trying to persuade others to his point of view, by a time-honored tradition of civil debate.”

Cleary thanked Byrnes for reaching out and said the Yorktown Democratic Committee is interested in participating in a vigil.

“I think it’s something we can all agree on,” he said. “Politically based violence is something that we all must condemn.”

One point of debate between leaders of the two parties is whether or not to include elected officials, some of whom are running for reelection this fall.

Cleary said the Democratic Committee disagrees with having elected officials speak at the vigil.

“Politicians got us largely into this problem,” he said. “They should not have a seat at this table.”

Instead, he said, the vigil offers a good opportunity for the town’s faith-based leaders, who are “uniquely suited for this job of bringing us together and helping us to heal.”

Councilwoman and fellow Democrat Susan Siegel backed Cleary’s comments but thanked both chairs for their statements, while Republican Town Supervisor Ed Lachterman contended that elected officials should be allowed to speak because their words “do have meaning.”

“I do think that there is value in hearing that commitment or recommitment to making sure of nonviolence, of First Amendment rights, of listening, having a conversation, and being able to have the back and forth,” Lachterman said.

Earlier in the meeting, Lachterman addressed recent acts of violence with a moment of silence, noting the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, a school shooting in the Denver area, and the assassination of Kirk at a Utah university on Sept. 10.

The vigil will be open to all members of the community. While details have yet to be finalized, the committee chairs are considering Sunday, Sept. 21, at 7 p.m. at the Jack DeVito Veterans Gazebo.