Political violence has reached alarming levels in the United States in recent years.
The Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, the attack on former Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband, and multiple assassination attempts on former President Donald Trump all add to America's increasingly polarized and dangerous environment. This is an example of
Now, the 2024 election, especially if Trump loses, could trigger another flare-up. Discussion about violence between right-wing extremists has already proliferated online, and unlike Vice President Kamala Harris, Mr. Trump has refused to commit to making any concessions.
Polls show a close race between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, suggesting the outcome could be decided by narrow margins in several battleground states, as was the case in 2020. . President Trump has made baseless claims about voter fraud and widespread non-referendum voting in Pennsylvania, and is urging Republican voters to reject the results if they fall short. Billionaire Trump supporter Elon Musk also launched a platform on his social media site “Share” is now possible.
Those tactics appear to be working. A September PRRI poll found that about a quarter of Republicans think Trump should do whatever it takes to become president anyway, even if he loses. answered.
That may include resorting to violence. A poll conducted in August by the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University found that among Republicans who do not believe that Biden's 2020 victory was legitimate, nearly one-third of them believe that Biden's 2020 victory was legitimate. They said they expected “substantial” or “substantial” political violence. November election. Recent polling has found similar results, with an October AP-NORC poll showing 27% of Republicans and 42% of voters overall were “very” or “extremely” concerned about post-election violence. It turned out that it was.
All of this has law enforcement and national security officials on high alert for political violence in the days leading up to and following the election. Earlier this month, a joint intelligence bulletin from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the FBI reported that domestic extremists were “targeting a variety of targets directly and indirectly related to the election at least through Inauguration Day on January 20th.” He is threatening violence.”
What kind of political violence might erupt?
Several incidents of political violence have already been recorded ahead of election day.
Suspected arson fires damaged mailboxes and ballots in drop boxes in Massachusetts, Arizona, Washington and Oregon. DHS warned that this could happen based on monitoring comments made online in domestic violent extremist circles. In a series of security bulletins over the past few months, authorities have said that “some attackers may perceive ballot boxes to be 'soft targets' due to their ease of access,” and that these noted that some of the attackers were discussing various ways to cause damage. they.
A man suspected of shooting up Democratic National Committee offices in Phoenix three times since September was also charged with terrorism and gun charges.
Things could get even worse from here. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco warned that the United States “faces an unprecedented and growing threat of violence against public servants.”
The DHS bulletin said there was an “increasing risk” that domestic violent extremists could “attempt to start a civil war.” This kind of chatter is increasingly common in online spaces frequented by right-wing extremist groups. That said, DHS' hesitance about prosecuting those involved in the January 6 riot and the possibility of a false flag operation aimed at entrapping them could act as a deterrent. He pointed out that there is a gender.
Law enforcement officials across the country are bracing for a possible escalation, especially in Democratic-populated areas. For example, in 2020, after Trump supporters tried to interrupt the count by shouting “stop the count” and banging on windows, the election headquarters in Detroit was reinforced with bulletproof glass and guarded by armed guards. It is reported that this will happen. A warehouse surrounded by a barbed wire fence, miles from downtown where protesters gathered in 2020.
But those preparations ultimately turned out to be a threat to the domestic It may not be enough to quell violent extremist activity.
“It is important to recognize the potential for violence and the harm to the institutions on which we depend,” retired Gen. Joseph Votel, executive director of the Center for Ethics and Rule of Law at the University of Pennsylvania, said in a statement. said. . “But it falls short in the face of legislative acts that are open to broad interpretation, powerful political rhetoric that dominates the public information space, and imperfect individuals acting on oaths.”
