On September 26, 2025, a symbolic and solemn gathering unfolded at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, a site forever etched into American memory as the location of the deadliest domestic terror attack in U.S. history. Here, more than 40 mayors from across the United States—spanning the political spectrum—came together to sign the Oklahoma City Declaration, a document denouncing political violence and reaffirming core democratic values. Their meeting marked the opening of the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ 2025 Fall Leadership Meeting, with Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt presiding as president of the conference.
The significance of the location was not lost on the attendees. Thirty years ago, the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building claimed the lives of 149 adults and 19 children, a tragedy that continues to resonate deeply in the nation’s consciousness. According to the Arlington Report, the mayors’ decision to sign the declaration at this site was both a tribute to the victims and a pointed reminder of the consequences of unchecked political violence.
Mayor Holt, who led the proceedings, emphasized the collaborative and bipartisan nature of the event. “We work shoulder to shoulder across partisan lines,” he said, highlighting the spirit of unity that defined the gathering. As reported by KOCO, Holt further noted, “We represent the voices of one thousand, 400 American cities.” This representation, he argued, underscores the broad commitment to rejecting violence and promoting dialogue in American political life.
The Oklahoma City Declaration, a three-page document, is unequivocal in its condemnation of political violence. It recognizes the shared humanity of all Americans and reaffirms a commitment to foundational values such as pluralism, compromise, truth, and civility. The mayors wrote, “We are humans first, Americans second, and partisans last,” a sentiment that resonated throughout the day’s discussions. The declaration also commits its signatories to refrain from labeling political opponents as “enemies” or “evil” and to avoid using “apocalyptic political rhetoric.”
According to KOKH, the declaration was organized by the United States Conference of Mayors, a nonpartisan group representing leaders from cities with populations of at least 30,000. The initial 40 signatories, which included Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker and Arlington Mayor Jim Ross, were encouraged to invite their colleagues across the country to add their names in the coming weeks. The document’s language stresses that the “American experiment” was built on debate and compromise, and that each major instance of political violence in U.S. history has eventually led to a recommitment to these ideals.
Mayor Holt spoke candidly about the need for this recommitment at a time when the country has seen recent incidents of violence, including a deadly shooting at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Dallas and the fatal shooting of political activist Charlie Kirk. “If everyone in American political life affirmed their commitment to the principles in this declaration, we would see a dramatic shift in this country, and it is time for that shift,” Holt stated in a news release shared by the Arlington Report.
Leirion Gaylor Baird, mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska, echoed these sentiments, connecting the lessons of Oklahoma City’s tragedy to the urgent need for civility and compassion in today’s politics. “Oklahoma City understands the tragedy of political violence firsthand, and I’m grateful to conference president Mayor Holt for taking us all to the OKC National Memorial and Museum,” she said, as reported by KOCO. Baird added, “Recognizing each other’s humanity is crucial to preventing political violence, which takes lives, destroys families, and inflicts trauma on our nation.”
Beyond the declaration, the mayors’ conference also tackled other pressing challenges facing American cities. The two-day event featured discussions on public safety and housing affordability—issues that, while not always as dramatic as political violence, profoundly affect the daily lives of millions. According to KOKH, the mayors acknowledged that the scale of these problems demands cooperation not just among cities, but between local governments and federal authorities. “We acknowledge that the scale of some of the challenges we face means that we cannot do this work alone. We want and need federal partnership and investments to get things done on the ground in our cities,” Baird said.
This call for partnership reflects a pragmatic understanding of the interconnectedness of American communities. As cities grapple with rising housing costs, public safety concerns, and the lingering effects of polarization, local leaders are increasingly looking for ways to bridge divides and find common ground. The bipartisan nature of the Oklahoma City Declaration is, in many ways, a microcosm of this effort—a deliberate move to rise above partisan rancor and focus on shared values.
Throughout the conference, the mayors emphasized that their unity was not just symbolic, but practical. “We work shoulder to shoulder across partisan lines,” Holt repeated, reinforcing the message that cooperation is both possible and necessary. The Arlington Report noted that the United States Conference of Mayors represents the interests of cities large and small, urban and suburban, and that the declaration’s invitation for additional signatures is an open call for leaders everywhere to join in rejecting violence and embracing dialogue.
For many, the Oklahoma City Declaration is a timely response to a political climate that has, in recent years, seen an uptick in heated rhetoric and, at times, violence. By committing to avoid demonizing language and to engage in honest, civil debate, the mayors hope to set a tone that can be emulated at all levels of government. As the declaration itself puts it, “In spite of the experiment’s success, some Americans have still turned to political violence. They have rejected the realities of pluralism, compromise, and persuasion. In the wake of every major instance of political violence, our nation has ultimately recommitted to the experiment. As America’s mayors, we make our recommitment with this declaration.”
As the meeting drew to a close, the sense of purpose among the attendees was palpable. The Oklahoma City Declaration stands as both a statement of principle and a call to action. By gathering at a place marked by unimaginable loss, the mayors sent a clear message: the lessons of the past must inform the actions of the present. In choosing unity over division, they hope to chart a course toward a more civil and resilient democracy—one where debate, compromise, and mutual respect are the rule, not the exception.
