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Local political party members reflect on Trump shooting
SIKESTON — Following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally on Saturday, July 13, members of Scott County’s Democratic and Republican headquarters have both taken time to reflect.
Carrie Yanson of Sikeston, a volunteer at Scott County’s Republican Headquarters, shared her thoughts and commitments regarding the attempted assassination on Trump.
“My thoughts about what happened this past weekend are very, very sad,” Yanson said. “Of course, I am old enough that I remember vaguely the John F. Kennedy assassination, the Robert F. Kennedy assassination, the Martin Luther King assassination and when president Ronald Reagan was shot.
Yanson continued: “That was in the ’60s and ’70s. You know, that’s been a long time ago, and it’s just very sad to me that things like that are still occurring.”
Yanson said she watched the attempted assassination live on television.
“I heard that he (Trump) was going to have a speech, and I thought I haven’t heard one in awhile, I’ll watch the rally and listen to it so I actually saw it,” Yanson said. “It was frightening, and it made me sad that anyone would think that they have to take that kind of action against the opposition party. Violence is certainly not the answer to anything.”
Yanson said she hopes the next thing to happen is that Trump will win the presidential election in November.
“It’s a struggle to keep our country going, and I feel like if Trump isn’t elected, the country that our ancestors founded would be gone,” Yanson said.
Yanson said it appears to her that Trump did not receive adequate protection.
“If it really is true that people saw a man with a gun on a rooftop and reported it, and nothing was done, then probably people should be fired,” she said.
Leechia Wilder of Sikeston, president of the Bootheel Conservative Republicans, who is also with the Republican Headquarters of Scott County, shared her thoughts on the assassination attempt.
“I’m still trying to digest all the implications about the attempt as it is,” Wilder said. “I’m a little bit numb right now because it is monumental. I was alive during the Reagan attempt, but I was still a kid, but this one is the first one that I think is going to directly impact the world that I live in.
Wilder continued: “All I can say is that thank God that it was unsuccessful.”
Wilder said it is not surprising to many people because this situation has occurred in the past, and all individuals can do is try not to be discouraged and stay positive.
“Unfortunately, there still was collateral damage, and the shooter will have to face judgment, but I can’t wallow in the fact that there was an assassination attempt on Trump,” Wilder said. “However, I am truly saddened that people have still been injured and died. There was a girl who did lose her father which is truly sad.”
Susan Hester, a volunteer with the Scott County Democratic Central Committee, also expressed her thoughts on what happened this weekend.
“I think it’s very shameful that this has happened, and I pray for Mr. Trump’s recovery,” Hester said. “It’s just a sad state that we have gotten that way in this country.
Hester continued: “In the past in our country, we have had other assassination attempts and some have succeeded on other national leaders. I’m not sure what could be done about the assassination attempts. I wish that it wasn’t that way, but I’m afraid it may always be a problem.”
Hester said she would like to see one day “the patriotism and discontent among both parties taken down.”
“It’s sad that it is that way,” Hester said.