U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood voices concerns about rise in political violence

U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood is worried about the threats that elected officials and public employees are increasingly facing these days.

In speaking to area Chamber of Commerce organizations Thursday as part of a Zoom webinar, Underwood, D-Naperville, voiced concerns about a rise in political violence. The topic came up after she was asked to comment on the work of the Jan. 6 House panel investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection.

“To me, this is all basically part of the same thing,” she said. “We have had the ability as a community and as a country to have a political discourse that allowed for debate, that allowed for discussion, that allowed for disagreement. But these threats of violence and actual violence is unacceptable.”

A security guard is now stationed at the front of the St. Charles Public Library after threats were made against employees for following the state’s indoor mask requirements. The library recently reopened for in-person visits after being closed more than two weeks because of the threats.

Earlier this week, Oswego School District 308 Board of Education President Donna Marino submitted her resignation, saying that she was resigning from the board for the well-being of herself and her family.

“I think it’s this phenomenon that’s happening across the country, " Underwood said. “I really see the work of the Jan. 6 committee as an effort to understand what happened, hold people who committed crimes accountable and make sure that our democracy remain strong.”

Underwood said she has been pleased with the committee’s work.

“The Jan. 6 committee is working I would say feverishly,” Underwood said. “I am pleased that what happened in the dark is coming to light.”