Now He Has Followers with Guns and They’re Killing Women in Office

The Catalyst Perspective

This past week, we witnessed something unthinkable, but not unpredictable.

Melissa Hortman, the Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives and her husband were assassinated in their home by a man dressed as law enforcement. He was carrying a kill list of public officials, abortion-rights advocates, and lawmakers. He had a plan. And he followed through.

I knew people who knew Melissa. I’ve worked in elected office. I’ve been threatened. And for the past year, I’ve been consulting with the Mayors Innovation Project, interviewing women mayors across the country about the rising wave of threats, harassment, and political violence they’re facing.

This is deeply personal. And this isn’t isolated.

This is terrorism. And we need to start saying it out loud.
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What You're Not Being Told: This Was Terrorism

According to the U.S. Code (18 U.S.C. § 2331), domestic terrorism is defined as acts that:

• Involve dangerous acts to human life,
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• Intend to intimidate or coerce civilians or influence government policy,
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• Occur primarily within U.S. jurisdiction.

By both legal and moral standards, the killing of Melissa Hortman fits the definition.

Vance Boelter wasn’t a “lone wolf.” He was a radicalized White supremacist with a political agenda.

He had names.

He had weapons.

He had a purpose.

And let’s be clear: these acts are not just violent; they are ideological. They are meant to drive women, particularly women in power, out of public life.

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​This Isn’t About “Negativity”........ It’s About Power and Privilege

This week, a White woman told me she doesn’t watch the news because she doesn’t want “negativity” in her life. She said she prefers to stay in her bubble.

That bubble?

That’s called White privilege.

Black and Brown people don’t get to opt out of the violence.

Immigrants don’t get to opt of violence.

Women in public office don’t get to ignore the threats.

We don’t have the luxury of pretending things are fine, because we’re the ones being hunted.

This isn’t about bad vibes. This is about safety, power, and systemic violence. And it’s time to confront how many people, especially White people, stay silent because it’s more comfortable than telling the truth.
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​A Presidency Built on Violence and a Cabinet of Criminals

Donald Trump is not just a former president.

He’s a White supremacist and a terrorist.

• He used military force against peaceful protesters in California and D.C.
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• He incited a violent insurrection on January 6.
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• He pardoned White supremacists, armed criminals, and political loyalists.
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• He is selling US citizenship for $5 million
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• And he’s surrounded himself with people who have broken the law repeatedly.

Let’s name names:

• Steve Bannon – convicted of contempt of Congress.
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• Michael Flynn – pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI.
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• Roger Stone – convicted on seven felony counts.
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• Paul Manafort – convicted of fraud and conspiracy.
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• And the list goes on…

This isn’t a political disagreement.

It’s a pattern of lawlessness, corruption, and violent authoritarianism. And it’s all been enabled by members of Congress who refuse to act.

Every Representative and Senator who protects Trump is complicit. They need to be voted out.

Ally in Action: A Call to Action for White People, Especially White Men

Let’s talk about crime.

The media likes to talk about “Black-on-Black crime,” but here are the facts:

• White men commit more crimes in this country across the board.
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• They make up the majority of domestic terrorists, serial killers, pedophiles, and mass shooters.
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• But they’re treated like isolated cases instead of part of a larger pattern.

Black people make up only 13% of the U.S. population. The math isn’t complicated. The system just isn’t honest.

If you’re a White man, and you’ve never been treated as a threat, that’s not proof that you aren’t one. It’s proof that the system protects you.

This call to action isn’t just for White men. It’s for all of us, but especially White people. Because White supremacy wasn’t created by Black or Brown communities. It was created by White people, institutionalized by White leaders, and protected by White silence.
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Break the cycle.

Break the silence.

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​The Backbone of My Work? The SCALE™ Framework

This isn’t a borrowed framework or a coaching trend. SCALE™ is my proprietary leadership model --- used across everything I do: coaching, consulting, assessments, strategy sessions, and workshops.

I built it from years of leading in local, regional, and federal government; working with mayors, managers, congressional offices, townships, and state partners. It’s made for women in public leadership and the teams they lead inside systems that demand more than just grit.

SCALE™ stands for:​
​S – Strengths-Based Leadership
​C – Confidence & Cognitive Reframing
​A – Aligned Boundaries & Negotiation Strategies
​L – Leadership Longevity
​E – Ecosystem Building

If you’re not building capacity in these five areas, you’re not growing, you’re just grinding. And leadership? It’s meant to move the mission forward, not just keep the machine running.

A Personal Note

I didn’t want to write this newsletter. I needed to.

I’ve spent the past year interviewing women mayors across the country who’ve faced threats to their safety simply for doing their job. I’ve had to protect myself. I’ve watched others step down, go quiet, or live in fear.

But we’re still here. Still rising. Still telling the truth.

And if you’re reading this, I hope you’ll stand with us, because this isn’t just about politics.

It’s about who gets to live.

And who gets to lead.

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In partnership and purpose,

Chasity Wells-Armstrong Founder, Catalyst Coaching & Transformation ​ Former Mayor | Village Manager | City Councilor | School Board Member | Strategic Leadership Partner to Visionary Teams in Government ​ ​Creator of the SCALE™ Framework for Public Sector Leadership ​ ​

Everything I share—from assessments to workshops—is grounded in the SCALE™ Framework I created for women leaders in government. It’s real-world, not corporate theory.