, Columnist
Hate Crimes Can Make It Harder to Hate
Slayings in the U.K. and U.S. are likely to give angry voters second thoughts.
Her memory will unite rather than divide.
Photographer: Dan KitwoodThis article is for subscribers only.
The shocking murder of British parliament member Jo Cox and the Orlando shootings were both hate crimes that defy political labels, whatever the professed motives of the killers. Nobody can predict what will set off a deranged killer and it would be deplorable to tar legitimate political campaigns because a killer identified with one cause or another.
But it's impossible to deny that these killings have the power to affect both the vote on Britain's proposed exit from the EU and the U.S. presidential election. Violence is not just morally repugnant, it is uncomfortable. In most societies, people default to safety and order.