By K.D. Norris
WKTV Contributor
What do former U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer and current Kent County Health Department’s Administrative Health Officer Dr. Adam London have in common?
Both have seen first-hand the dangers of political polarization in today’s society. Both will be offering West Michigan Perspectives on Political Violence as speakers at the Progressive/Conservative Summit 2023 presented by Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies at Grand Valley State University.
The Hauenstein Center event, presented as part of its Common Ground Initiative, will take place Wednesday, April 19, from 2-8 p.m. at GVSU’s Charles W. Loosemore Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public but reservations are required and available here.
Meijer and London will talk on their experiences as leaders working in our current divisive sociopolitical world, and likely the costs they paid for their actions on political flashpoint issues. Meijer, who was one of a few Republicans who voted to impeach Donald Trump, lost his his re-election bid for the Michigan 3rd Congressional District, which was won by Democrat Hillary Scholten. London received repeated verbal attacks and even personal threats for his department’s handling of COVID-19 restrictions.
“We believe that all elected, appointed, and professional government officials at all levels of government should be able to carry out their duties without threat of violence against themselves or their friends, families, and colleagues,” said Kahler Sweeney, Common Ground Initiative program manager. “While we all have public servants who we disagree with, we must advocate against violence as a means of political action.
“By sharing the stories of these elected officials, we hope to showcase the harm that political violence has on our political system and learn what can be done to promote a politics of nonviolence.”
In addition to Meijer and London, other speakers at the event include Professor Javed Ali, former Pennsylvania U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent and former Michigan State Rep. David LaGrand.
“Of course, there is the political divide we are all familiar with, that between Democrats and Republicans, progressivism and conservatism, but we also recognize the diversity of ideologies that our speakers and audience represent,” Sweeney said. “This event will offer insight on the topic of political polarization and political violence from various viewpoints, including practitioners and scholars, Democrats and Republicans, and a diversity of lived experiences.”
Schedule of speakers/topics/events
2-3 p.m. — Contemporary Political Violence & New Policy Approaches with Professor Javed Ali
3:30-4:30 p.m. — Public Service in Polarized Times with former Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA) (virtual) and former State Rep. David LaGrand (D-MI)
4:30-6 p.m.— Reception with hors d’oeuvres and beverages
6-7:30 p.m. — West Michigan Perspectives on Political Violence with former Rep. Peter Meijer (R-MI) and Dr. Adam London
7:30-8:15 p.m. — Community conversations and dessert
Virtual attendance available
To attend a digital alternative for the summit visit gvsu.edu/hc for the livestream that starts about 30 minutes before the event or join via a zoom link, which is provided in the confirmation email after registering.
The Common Ground Initiative, according to its website, reinforces the Hauenstein Center’s mission to “raise up a new generation of men and women committed to the ethical, effective leadership and public service that Ralph W. Hauenstein exemplified throughout his life.”
