"A free and democratic society, which is what America is supposed to be, depends upon the basic premise that people can speak out, organize, and take part in public life without fear, without worrying that they might be killed, injured, or humiliated for expressing their political views. That is the essence of what freedom and democracy is about...If we believe in democracy, if we believe in freedom, then all of us must be loud and clear: political violence, regardless of ideology, is not the answer and must be condemned."