Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro delivered the keynote address on political violence in America at the 2025 Eradicate Hate Global Summit in Pittsburgh.

Shapiro delivered a 31-minute address where he called upon leaders “to take up the baton from those who came before us and carry it forward – to run a few more miles, make our mark, and leave this place a little better than how we found it.”

He began by talking about his own experience with political violence in April when an arsonist attacked the governor’s residence in Harrisburg. Shapiro said the incident, where Molotov cocktails were thrown into the mansion while his wife, children and extended family slept, has left emotional scars.

He reiterated language that he used that day and to respond to other attacks of political violence since – “Violence in all forms is unacceptable.” He added that violence of the political kind is particularly dangerous.

“Not only does it seek to injure, maim, or kill – it seeks to intimidate, terrorize, and silence,” said Shapiro. “I’m here to tell you that I will not be deterred in my work for you and I will not be silenced.”

In the days following the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, calls have come from far and wide, including the White House, vowing vengeance. Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller promised to bring the resources of the federal government to bear against what he described as “terrorist networks.” Vice President JD Vance argued that those identifying as liberals were largely to blame for political violence and endorsed efforts to shame and make job trouble for those publicly cheering Kirk’s death.

Several conservative activists have sought to identify social media users whose posts about Kirk they viewed as offensive or celebratory, targeting everyone from journalists to teachers. Right-wing influencer Laura Loomer said she would try to ruin the professional aspirations of anyone who celebrated Kirk’s death.

In an interview with NBC News on Saturday, President Donald Trump said that while he hopes the nation will heal, he suggested that a “radical left” contingent in the country stands as a barrier to reconciliation.

“I’d like to see it [the nation] heal,” the president said in a brief telephone interview. “But we’re dealing with a radical left group of lunatics, and they don’t play fair and they never did.”

Shapiro said that political violence “tears at the fabric of American society and the fundamental principles this nation was founded upon. We understand that when you hear speech you disagree with, the answer is more speech – not violence.”

The 48th governor of the Commonwealth criticized Trump and those in his Administration following his lead in name-calling and job-shaming.

“Leaders have a responsibility to speak and act with moral clarity – and as I have made clear each and every time, this type of violence has no place in our society, regardless of what motivates it, who pulls the trigger, who throws the Molotov cocktail, or who wields the weapon,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s coming from one side or the other, directed at one party or another, or one person or another. It is all wrong – and it makes us all less safe.

“Unfortunately, some – from the dark corners of the internet all the way to the Oval Office – want to cherry pick which instances of political violence they want to condemn. Doing so only further divides us and makes it harder to heal.”

Shapiro then turned his attention to the process of healing.

“We must reject the rhetoric of vengeance, and instead focus on the work of healing,” he implored. “We need to create more opportunities for peaceful and respectful dialogue – respecting each others’ fundamental rights as Americans.

“Censorship – using the long arm of government to silence people, businesses, and nonprofits and restrict their right to free speech – will not solve this problem. Prosecuting constitutionally protected speech will only erode our freedoms and deepen mistrust.

“That is unAmerican.”

He returned to his own experience and said how his family was “lifted up by the prayers, blessings and messages of support” they received after the attack.

“Every living former Governor and First Family reached out to express their horror … to check in on us … and to ask what they could do to help.

“They are Democrats and Republicans. Leaders of different generations – and from different sides of the Commonwealth. But they were united in speaking and acting with moral clarity, making clear that hatred and violence has no place here. Pennsylvania leaders, from different parties, speaking with one voice to reject the dark cycle of violence and instead, bring light.”

And Shapiro pointed to what he believes is at the root of the rise in political violence.

“Too many people don’t believe that our institutions and the people in them can solve problems. They feel alone, ignored, and shut out by a government that isn’t working for them. This is particularly true of younger Americans.

“They feel unseen and unheard in our elections, in the media, in our nonprofits and our businesses, in the law. Frustrated by a lack of progress and consumed by a feeling of hopelessness, they find refuge, often in the dark corners of the internet where their righteous frustration is taken advantage of and used to foment hate. It leads to a belief among some that the only way they can address those problems is through violence.

“They find online those who glorify violence and urge it on. What starts with cowardly keystrokes too often ends with a trigger being pulled. That is dangerous for our democracy, and we need to turn the tide.”

After the address, Shapiro took questions from the media and was critical of how media companies have rewarded anger, rage and yelling in their algorithms.

“When you are online engaging in the rage-baiting and fighting, you are more likely yo get “likes” and “clicks” and get your views amplified, than if you stand up and give a thoughtful statement on a particular issue,” he said to one questioner. “Algorithms reward the rage and that’s dangerous for all of us.”

The governor also shared a story about his family the morning after he was elected the 48th chief executive of the Commonwealth with the most votes ever in Pennsylvania.

“My family thought it would be funny to read ‘mean tweets’ about their Dad,” he remembered. “My kids keep me humble. Just hours ago, Dad got more votes than anyone in history. These people screaming and yelling online is not real. This does not reflect the reality in our communities.

“I think my kids had an a-ha moment.”

“Parents need to find ways to show their children that what is happening in our communities is way different that what is happening online and what is being rewarded online.”

State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, the leading contender for the Republican nomination for governor in 2026, agreed with Shapiro’s assessment.

“Last week’s assassination of Charlie Kirk reminds us that violence is never an acceptable expression of political difference in this country,” she said in a statement. “Regardless of your political ideology, we must respect one another’s views and be open to debate. We can agree to disagree, but in order for our democracy to prevail, we must lead by example, not by division.”

See the entire Shapiro speech below.