Students express high concern about political violence; Utah polling shows broader unease

Salt Lake City — In an interactive forum Sept. 23, 55% of participating University of Utah students said they were concerned about political violence in the United States, and 49% said they would feel somewhat safe attending a political rally. Congresswoman Celeste Malloy contrasted the campus group's results with a recent Hinckley Institute/Deseret News poll that found 90% of Utah residents said they were concerned about political violence.
Malloy said political violence is a broad concern that crosses party lines in Utah; she read the poll results showing concern among Republicans, Democrats and independents. "The only way it's going to change ... is for all of you to change the way you consume information," Malloy told the audience, arguing that selective attention to click-driven media amplifies polarization.
Audience responses also addressed the immediate effect of a high-profile killing: when asked whether the killing of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk made them more or less likely to attend political rallies, respondents answered 54% "neither more nor less likely," 31% "somewhat less likely," 6% "much less likely," and a small share "more likely." Malloy said she was "in the much more likely to attend category" and recounted attending memorial events despite safety concerns to underscore the value of continued civic participation.
Malloy described how different shutdowns and security choices in past administrations have affected public access to federal sites such as national parks, noting that the handling of federal disruptions is shaped by political choices. She also called for more face-to-face interaction across political divides to reduce adrenaline-fueled confrontations and to foster understanding.
The discussion combined live audience polling with Malloy's examples from recent congressional experience, including a description of the House floor reaction after a shooting-related news event and a personal anecdote about how a child handed to her helped calm her during a tense moment on the House floor.
The forum was hosted by the Hinckley Institute in partnership with the Sutherland Institute at the University of Utah. Poll figures cited in this article come from the live event and the Hinckley/Deseret News survey Malloy referenced.