Gretchen Whitmer Will Not Be Intimidated

From ELLE

Last week, 13 men were arrested in connection with an alleged domestic terrorism plot directed against Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Both the FBI and state authorities charged them with a variety of crimes, including conspiring to kidnap and providing material support for terrorist acts.

Below, the first-term governor writes about learning her life was in danger—and why she believes President Donald Trump's rhetoric gives right-wing groups the "encouragement they need to plan, organize, and ultimately execute violent acts."

Before unprecedented charges were announced against two domestic terrorist groups preparing to kidnap and potentially kill me, I texted my family to let them know what was happening. Then I headed into the state capitol to address the people of Michigan.

"When our leaders speak, their words matter,” I said from a podium in my office. And I meant it.

At around 10pm that night, Donald Trump fired up his Twitter. “Governor Whitmer of Michigan has done a terrible job,” the president wrote.

Too often, our male leaders accuse their female colleagues of being too bossy or too shrill. They say we don’t know our place, or don’t smile enough. Sometimes they say we smile too much. We are called overly-ambitious and unlikeable. They say: “She’s not someone I would want to get a beer with.”

We can be criticized for demanding a place at the table. But the truth is that women leaders are inherently different. The vast majority of us choose empathy and compassion over hate and fear-mongering. While fending off threats of violence, we roll up our sleeves to get things done for those we serve.

A lot of men refuse to accept that.

It is no coincidence that after months of attacks from the president, I became the target of a multi-state domestic terrorist plot. The president’s public refusal to condemn white supremacists and hate groups, like the two domestic terrorist groups involved in the plot against me, is the encouragement they need to plan, organize, and ultimately execute violent acts like the one thwarted last week.

Stoking division is the president's sad, cynical strategy for reelection. He radicalizes with lies, and endangers us all.

The president’s message to these hate groups during the first presidential debate sounded like a call to arms. “Stand back and stand by,” he told them. His words quickly became a meme, you can find the quote on t-shirts.

Domestic terrorists will cling to any and every statement they feel encourages their actions. So when a sitting president stands on a national stage and refuses to condemn them, we must hold him accountable.

Threats and violence against female leaders are nothing new. It is something women, particularly women of color, have been dealing with forever. Women who have the audacity to break down barriers and serve their communities and their country are constantly vilified by those who see equality for others as their own oppression.

Just look at the violent threats aimed at Congresswomen Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, or Rashida Tlaib. And just last week, the president called Senator Kamala Harris, the first Black and Indian-American woman to be on a major party’s presidential ticket, a “monster” on national television. He's also attacked Congresswoman Debbie Dingell and Cindy McCain as they mourned the deaths of their husbands.

While the president launches his attacks, his incompetence has led to more than 212,000 Americans deaths due to COVID-19. More than 60 million Americans have had to file for unemployment. And many students aren’t in school. People are lining up at food pantries.

We cannot trust him to save us.

We must vote for leaders who work hard to help those we serve. Leaders who fight for everyone’s health and safety, no matter who they are or where they come from. I endorsed Vice President Joe Biden for president in the 2020 election, because he holds those values. He gets it. He knows how crucial it is that we actively work to protect women from violence, and he knows how crucial it is that we elect leaders who will renew the Violence Against Women Act.

I spoke with Vice President Biden and Senator Kamala Harris shortly after news broke that my life was being threatened by domestic terrorist groups. Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords reached out to me on Twitter, and so did Congresswoman Jackie Speier. Women everywhere who know what it is like to be the target of hate and violence reached out.

They showed compassion and empathy—because that's what you do in times of crisis.

No one will deter me from my service to the people of Michigan. I have a job to do. I will not be bullied, intimidated, or distracted. And I know that women across the country have my back.

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