Tribute to Melissa Hortman — From Canada, With Love and Grief

 💔 They Killed Her Because She Stood for What’s Right

A Tribute to Melissa Hortman — From Canada, With Love and Grief

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

I’m writing this with tears in my eyes and fear in my heart.

On June 14, 2025, Melissa Hortman, a dedicated Minnesota lawmaker, a wife, a mother, a champion for justice, and her husband Mark were murdered in their own home — targeted for their political beliefs and the work they did to build a better world.

This wasn’t random. This wasn’t senseless.

They killed her because she was powerful in all the right ways.
She stood up for Trans rights, for climate action, for workers, for families, for equity. She refused to be silent. And someone, filled with hate and wearing a fake police uniform, came to silence her — forever.

And from where I sit, just north of the border in Canada, I am shaken to my core.

---

🇨🇦 From Canada: We Are Watching

We’re watching, dear American friends.
We’ve watched for years as the hatred grew louder — fed by lies, fueled by Trumpism, normalized by silence.
And now it’s erupting in murder.

You allowed the flames to rise. You let one man — and a whole movement — weaponize fear, target kindness, and attack truth.

We’ve seen this hate before. We know what it can do. And yet somehow, it was allowed to grow in plain sight — even encouraged.

And to Canadians: don’t think this can’t happen here.

We were so close with Pierre Poilievre. So close to giving hate a stage in our own Parliament.
Still now, people cling to ignorance, conspiracy, and cruelty, calling it “freedom” while forgetting what that word truly means.

Shame on hate. Shame on silence. Shame on those who knew better but stayed quiet.

---

💡 This Could Be You. This Could Be Me.

Melissa was just doing her job.
Serving the people.
Standing up for what’s right.
Isn’t that what we want our leaders to do?

She didn’t carry a weapon.
She carried compassion.
And that made her dangerous in the eyes of cowards.

It could have been any of us — an activist, a journalist, a queer person, an ally, a dreamer, a parent, a human being trying to make this world gentler, greener, more just.

And if we don't speak now, who will be next?

---

🕊️ In Her Memory — Let’s Be Brave

We cannot bring Melissa and Mark back.
But we can honour them with courage.

Let’s say the names.
Let’s share the truth.
Let’s hold our leaders — and ourselves — accountable.

To the American people:
What have you allowed?
To Canadians:
What will you do to stop it from happening here?

This isn’t just about politics anymore.
It’s about humanity.
And right now, it’s hanging by a thread.

---

📸 Post her photo.
📣 Speak her name.
🖊️ Tell the truth.
💬 Start the conversations.
📍Don’t let this be forgotten.

Melissa Hortman.
Killed for standing up.
Let’s stand in her place now.

#JusticeForMelissa
#StopPoliticalViolence
#LoveIsStrongerThanHate
#CanadaStandsWithYou
#NoMoreSilence

---