September 11 is a day that requires reverence, not rhetoric. It is a day for Americans to bow their heads, remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost, and reflect on the resilience of a nation that came together in grief and solidarity. But this year, instead of delivering a message of unity, Oregon State Representative Dwayne Yunker issued a press release that turned remembrance into a political sermon.
In his statement, Yunker tied the horrors of 9/11 to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and then launched into a broadside against “the Left.” He accused one side of the political spectrum of hypocrisy, claiming it hides behind open-mindedness while practicing intolerance. On the surface, Yunker framed his words as a warning against demonizing others. But peel back the language, and the intent is clear: this was not about honoring the fallen. It was about scoring points, energizing a base, and deepening the trenches of Oregon’s already bitter political divide.
The tragedy of Yunker’s release lies not only in what he said but in what he chose not to say. He did not use the solemn anniversary to call for healing, empathy, or solidarity. He did not place Oregon above partisanship or recognize that grief belongs to no party. Instead, he singled out opponents and painted them with a broad brush, dragging the raw emotions of 9/11 into today’s political wars. On a day when the silence of reflection would have spoken louder than words, Yunker chose the megaphone of division.
That choice was telling. It reveals a politician who either misunderstands or disregards what nonpartisan leadership requires. True statesmanship demands restraint, especially on anniversaries marked by pain and sacrifice. A leader’s words should invite every constituent into the circle of remembrance. By turning his statement into an attack, Yunker effectively told half of Oregon’s citizens they were part of the problem. That’s not leadership—it’s provocation.
And let’s be honest: Oregonians deserve better. They deserve representatives who understand that 9/11 isn’t a backdrop for partisan theater. They deserve someone who knows that remembrance doesn’t need to come wrapped in political labels. They deserve leaders who understand that the memory of innocent lives lost should never be cheapened by turning it into a weapon against political opponents.
There are times when saying nothing at all is the higher ground. Yunker could have honored 9/11 with a simple gesture of silence, a recognition of unity, or even just a moment of reflection. Instead, his decision to issue a press release dripping with partisan undertones shows us exactly where his priorities lie—not with the victims, not with the survivors, not with the spirit of unity that carried this country forward in 2001, but with the ongoing project of division.
On the 24th anniversary of one of America’s darkest days, Representative Yunker had a chance to help Oregon rise above politics. Instead, he chose to remind us just how far some politicians will go to keep us divided.