Senator Gaston: Words Matter – In A Time Of Division, Let’s Choose A Better Way Forward

State Senator Herron Gaston, also a city faith leader, writes “Violent rhetoric leads to violent outcomes.”

In moments of national tension, the words we choose matter more than ever. The headlines today are filled with anger, violence, and deep ideological rifts. But behind every viral video, every inflammatory post, and every talking head’s soundbite, there are real people — watching, listening, and shaping their worldview based on the tone and content of what leaders say.

Now is the time to step back and ask: what kind of nation are we becoming, and who are we becoming to one another? What kind of world do we wish to leave to the next generation? How will history judge our legacy?

We are a country blessed with freedom of speech — a right that must always be protected. But just because something can be said doesn’t mean it should be. Free speech is a right; responsible speech is a moral choice. And in a moment like this, when tempers flare and emotions run high, the tone of our public discourse has the power to either heal wounds or deepen them.

The stakes are not theoretical. Violent rhetoric leads to violent outcomes. History teaches us that. From the assassinations of the 1960s to the attacks on houses of worship in recent years, we have seen what happens when hate is normalized — when leaders wink at bigotry or treat cruelty as a tactic.

In a place like Bridgeport, we know all too well the cost of violence — and not just ideological violence, but real, irreversible loss. Our flags should fly at half-staff when we lose another young person to perpetual gun violence due to systemic and structural social determinants. All lives matter. When another mother weeps over a casket that should never have been filled. That’s when our city mourns. That’s when our community should be unified in grief, in action, and in love.

We cannot afford to reserve solemnity or honor for individuals who advocate division, or who demonize others on the basis of race, faith, gender, or ideology. Hence, we will be judged in death as we have lived in life. Therefore, we must appeal to the better version of ourselves, always.

People — especially the young — are looking to those in power: elected officials, influencers, pastors, community leaders, and public figures. What are they seeing? Too often, they witness rhetoric that escalates tension, dehumanizes others, and fuels fear. We are deceiving ourselves if we think this doesn’t seep into the fabric of our communities. Words have consequences.