Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist and his family were the target of a “credible bomb threat” on Thursday, September 11, 2005, at their home in Detroit, where he lives with his wife and young children.
Law enforcement, including the Detroit Police Department and Michigan State Police, responded quickly and cleared the threat. Gilchrist expressed gratitude for their swift actions, which ensured the safety of his family and the neighbourhood.
The incident occurred amid what Gilchrist described as “an escalating pattern of political violence in Michigan and America.” The threat came one day after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at an event in Utah.
In a public statement, Gilchrist condemned the act, saying: “The purpose of this violence is to silence, intimidate, and eliminate people and their voices from society. That won’t work on me. We cannot let this remain our reality.”
He also added, “We cannot tolerate political violence. We cannot excuse it. We cannot normalise it. We have to push through this and do the work to do better.”
Gretchen Whitmer, the Michigan governor, also released a statement, saying:
“I’m grateful that Lt. Governor Gilchrist and his family are safe after the bomb threat at his home today. Let me be clear… political violence is unacceptable and has no place in Michigan. As Michiganders, we must reject all political violence and work towards a safer future.”
Michigan is a state in the United States. It is located in the Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest.