My phone lit up with breaking news on Saturday night during the New Jersey Documentary Film Festival. Without my glasses, I couldn’t read the alert in the dim theater without disturbing others. Moments later, other phones began to glow as well. I discreetly glanced at mine since it was my film being shown (and I knew how that story ended). All I could decipher was, “Trump taken off stage by Secret Service. More details to follow.” After the Q&A session, I shook hands and took pictures before starting the 13-mile trip to my hotel, ready to crash before my early flight on Sunday.

That’s when I heard the news.

I vowed that Unconditionally Her would never be political, and I stand by that commitment. But this? This is too much.

I was born after JFK was shot in 1963, but I vividly remember sitting in horror at my grandmother’s house, watching Reagan in 1981 being tackled by the Secret Service as shots rang out. That moment will forever be engrained in my mind.

Whether you are a Democrat, Republican, or Independent, it doesn’t matter. Violence is a demon that has no place in our political landscape. None whatsoever.

Right now, we must stay calm and unified, viewing this situation with a collective spirit and working with every fiber of our being to avoid turning on each other. The worst thing that could happen is for us to turn against one another. History has shown us how this can destroy societies, and we cannot let that happen here.

As I watched the news unfold, like many of you, I saw tempers flare and rhetoric heat up. No one should take any pleasure in this situation – no matter who you are. And believe me, I had to check my own emotions and reactions during the coverage of this event. I also believe no one should dismiss this as “just another walk down the political road we have forged”. We will need to live with this as we move forward. And we need to learn from it.

Regardless of who you support, this is a time for peace. It’s not a time for conflict or “fighting.” We must promote and embody tranquility, encouraging others to do the same. For goodness’ sake, we are the UNITED States of America. And to be honest, here, it’s time we act in accordance with where we live. That’s our responsibility as American citizens.

Saturday, July 13, 2024, will be remembered as a day of great sadness for our country. It represents a divide and anger that I wish we didn’t have to think about on a daily basis. I don’t know what the future holds, but if this rhetoric continues, I fear we will self-destruct, putting our “United” States of America in grave jeopardy.

In this moment, we at Unconditionally Her wish the Trump family well. We also extend our thoughts to the Biden family as their lives will change with heightened security measures and frayed nerves. I can’t imagine myself or anyone I love running for this often dangerous office. Let’s also remember the family of Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief from Pennsylvania, who tragically lost his life while celebrating his right to political freedom.

I feel in my heart it is time to hit the reset button. No matter who you are or what your political desires may be, we must condemn violence. It’s time to call on our current leadership to consider their actions, tones, and words – both in person, on camera, and on social media. I believe it is also time to encourage future leaders to wake up. We are blessed to have the freedoms we have. We can’t have those taken away. Everyone – even myself – needs to step back, pray for peace, and then take action to make it happen.

As Confucius once said, “If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character. If there is beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home. If there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nations. When there is order in the nations, there will be peace in the world.”

Let this tragedy move us to deeply care for each other, to stop and think before we act. Today is a new day. What can you do to help?