At Site of Oklahoma City Bombing, Bipartisan Mayors Sign Declaration Against Political Violence

"Oklahoma City Declaration" is signed by dozens of mayors at site of deadliest domestic terror attack in U.S. history, reaffirms commitment to American values of pluralism, compromise, truth and civility

OKLAHOMA CITY - In a powerful show of political unity and stewardship, nearly 40 Republican, Democratic and Independent U.S. mayors signed a declaration on Friday to de-escalate our politics and reject violence and dehumanizing rhetoric. Calling it the Oklahoma City Declaration, the mayors signed the agreement at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, the site of the deadliest act of domestic political violence in living memory, as members of the U.S. Conference of Mayors gathered in the city for their annual fall leadership meeting.

"This scar in downtown Oklahoma City reminds us of the traumatic and tragic outcomes of political violence. With this declaration, we reject political violence and recommit to the American experiment," they wrote.

In the ten-point declaration, the mayors celebrated America's democracy as "an outlier in human history" and an "alternative to political violence" that has "unleashed unprecedented freedom, prosperity and innovation upon the entire world." However, they also acknowledged its fragility, saying it requires three fundamental values: pluralism, compromise and persuasion through debate. Without a commitment to these qualities, our unique form of government drifts toward dehumanization and, ultimately, violence.

Across the declaration's tenets, the signatories condemned violence. They defended civility. They rejected dehumanizing language. They refused to demonize groups. They vowed to avoid apocalyptic rhetoric. They promised to defend the truth. They celebrated restraint. And they underscored everyone's shared humanity, saying "we are humans first, Americans second, and partisans last."

"If everyone in American political life affirmed their commitment to the principles in this declaration, we would see a dramatic shift in this country, and it is time for that shift," said U.S. Conference of Mayors President David Holt, Mayor of Oklahoma City. "We as mayors believed this was the time and place to set an example, and I sincerely hope others in positions of responsibility will consider making similar public commitments."

The mayors saw a special obligation to make this declaration and uphold these values because they play a special role in America. "Running a city demands constant action and results. And so, every day, mayors guide our residents through these democratic processes, respecting pluralism, seeking compromise, and using the art of persuasion."

The initial signers of the declaration were: Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken, Arlington (TX) Mayor Jim Ross, Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim, Burnsville Mayor Elizabeth Kautz, Carmel (IN) Mayor Sue Finkam, Columbia (MO) Mayor Barbara Buffaloe, Columbia (SC) Mayor Daniel Rickenmann, Columbus (OH) Mayor Andrew Ginther, Edina Mayor James Hovland, Edmond Mayor Mark Nash, Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn, Fontana Mayor Acquanetta Warren, Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer, Gresham Mayor Travis Stovall, Hallandale Beach Mayor Joy Cooper, Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam, Kansas City (MO) Mayor Quinton Lucas, Kent Mayor Dana Ralph, Lansing Mayor Andy Schor, Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird, Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, Mesa Mayor Mark Freeman, Moore Mayor Mark Hamm, Mount Vernon (NY) Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard, New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell, Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, Piscataway Mayor Brian Wahler, Redmond Mayor Angela Birney, Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson, Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett, San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox, Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart, West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero, USCM CEO & Executive Director Tom Cochran.

The Declaration will now be shared with mayors nationwide so that they can add their names in support.

The full text of the Oklahoma City Declaration is available here.

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