It is with sadness and apprehension that we issue this statement today:
Our sincere condolences are with the family of Cayler Ellingson and the community where this
senseless tragedy occurred.
We, the NDYR, believe in the principles of the Republican Platform; but make no mistake we are
people first; families first; Americans first.
We believe in the freedom for people to forge their own destiny; to make up their own minds; free
from those who would seek to take all that we hold dear, up to and including the precious and
irreplaceable gift of unique life.
We have a pandemic in America and it is not Covid. President Biden, himself, declared that the
pandemic is over but events that have hit all too close to home reignite the realization that there
is still a major problem in America.
This problem is rooted in fearful and deceitful rhetoric; a problem that makes America’s enemies
and the devil himself grin from ear to ear; a problem exacerbated by identity politics to the point
of eruption; instigated by very influential people with very real consequences and tragically very
real suffering the likes of which many people, sadly, lack the empathy to fully comprehend.
This problem has been worsened by the Oval Office, the FBI, and the DOJ, to the Halls of Congress and State Legislatures, and into our local mainstream media sources; slowly creeping into our small tight knit communities; incrementally convincing person by person that people who disagree with you are dangerous; that they hate you; that they want you to suffer and bring you harm; that you should fear them simply because they do not view the world as you do.
The worst part is that there is no opposition to this rhetoric where one would hope or maybe even
expect; the silence is deafening. As if silence from those we look to for guidance and leadership
wasn’t bad enough, this rhetoric has been politically weaponized to silence those who disagree;
permanently.
We see it from local bloggers, like Rob Port, who somehow have prime-time slots to indiscriminately
accuse people of “hate” and worse, while they craft disingenuous narratives to achieve political
agendas. Yet, when young kids, who are just trying to grow up and get a handle on their place in
this crazy world, are run down with a vehicle and killed simply for holding Republican ideals, they
are nowhere to be found; almost as if they don’t see this type of behavior as hate or worthy of
their attention and condemnation; at least not when it happens to Republicans.
As young people watching and waiting for someone to speak up for us; to offer solutions; to clear
the air; we realize very few are willing. It seems we have but one option: We must light the path
and find the way for ourselves, our future, and also those that we believed we could depend on.
It is surreal that it even needs to be said in America today; as if we are living in a place as
cruel as communist China but here we are.
Therefore, on behalf of young people of all cultures and creeds, let us be the first to say
publicly that we, the NDYR, unequivocally condemn the harm or murder of any person or group of
people, for any reason including political or religious disagreement.
We call on Joe Biden to apologize for his deceitful rhetoric that instigated this tragedy. We also
call on other respectable organizations and news media to affirm the same. It is absolutely
imperative to work toward solutions that will boldly reclaim a culture of mutual respect for each
other as we work through tough, and at times bitter, disagreements as friends and neighbors; as
Americans.
- Your NDYR Leadership Team