The Dignity Index Recognized in Bipartisan Call to Condemn Political Violence
September 23, 2025 | Press Release
Washington, D.C. — The bipartisan Problem Solvers released an open letter today condemning political violence and calling on Americans to “set a higher standard for political discourse.” The statement acknowledged and thanked the Dignity Index for its contribution to the growing national effort to ease division and prevent violence and invited leaders to “see the inherent dignity in our fellow Americans, especially when we disagree.”
“It’s not our differences that divide us—it’s how we treat each other when we disagree,” said Tim Shriver, chairman of Special Olympics and co-creator of the Dignity Index. “We’re encouraged to see political leaders on both sides affirming this truth and standing against violence.”
An initiative of the nonprofit Project UNITE, the Dignity Index is an eight-point scale that measures how we treat each other when we disagree. Its founding principle is simple: contempt causes division, dignity eases division.
The Dignity Index is designed to ease divisions, prevent violence, and solve problems, and has been used in classrooms, on campuses, and in communities across the country to spotlight contempt, highlight dignity, and inspire Americans to create a culture of dignity.
The Problem Solvers Caucus statement marks an important step toward building a national constituency for dignity. Read the statement here.
Feature Image description: “Today, the Problem Solvers Caucus stood united on the steps of the Capitol to send a clear message: political violence has no place in our country. We must turn down the temperature of our political discourse and remind ourselves that disagreement is not division — it’s the hallmark of democracy.” Credit X @ProbSolveCaucus
Download the Dignity Index scale here.
