Michael Adkins
There will be violence. History repeats itself and the rising political violence we are witnessing today is eerily similar to that which occurred in 19th Century America. It led to a violent Civil War and later to lynchings. This time, we won’t see opposing armies. We will see armed groups attacking those whose values or identities they oppose. We will see more individual attacks by fervent partisans. Be warned.
The Know-Nothing Party of the 1840s and 1850s incited white Protestants to attack Catholic Irish and Italians, whom they viewed as non-white and Democratic Party voters. Their resemblance to the anti-immigrant movement of today along with the rise of 21st Century antisemitism is chilling. Then it was a case of identity politics gone bad. Partisan identity commingled with race, religion and ethnicity caused many U.S.-born citizens to feel they were losing cultural status and power to other groups. The same can be said for today’s political climate. Likewise, 2022 looks a bit like “Bloody Kansas” prior to the American Civil War. Whites seeking to preserve a way of life, in that case, white dominance via slavery, fought more progressive Americans who wished not to see the spread of slavery outside of the South. Both sides committed atrocities which lit fuel upon the flames of civil unrest.
While there is an increase in violent acts from the left, including the shooting of Congressman Scalise by a Senator Sanders supporter, the overwhelming instances of political violence today comes from the far-right. This is evidenced by the Global Terrorism Database, FBI statistics, and other government and independent counts. One week after Trump’s defeat, an executive at Dominion Voting Systems was forced into hiding due to false accusations and a bounty placed on his head. The United States Capitol was violently attacked by American citizens, angered over losing the election. Voters in Arizona cities are being intimidated by men armed with assault rifles following them in and out of voting sites. The 82-year-old spouse of the Speaker of the House was brutally attacked with a hammer by a man who admittedly believes in Q-Anon conspiracy theories and Donald Trump’s Big Lie.
What incites today’s political violence? It is a combination of factors, but at the core is a fear of white men losing their political and social advantages. We are faced with the reality that millions believe violence is acceptable to maintain their “way of life.” The rise of grossly illogical conspiracy theories that paint Democrats as satanic and evil pushes the buttons of millions of Americans. With the aid of social media, they are “self-radicalizing” and messaging with those within their community of conspiracy theorists and haters. The craziness that was once held in check at the fringes of America’s political parties is now becoming normalized.
Who will put a stop to the insanity? Certainly not the Republican Party, at least no time soon. Political ads and statements from GOP politicians are too often filled with guns and dog whistle suggestions implying the acceptability of violence, with a dose of deniable plausibility. If you don’t think they appeal to violent tendencies you are sadly mistaken. And there is the Republican response to the brutal attack on Mr. Pelosi. One right-wing media site immediately led with the preposterous theory that he was attacked by a gay lover. While a handful of elected Republicans denounced the attack, the more prominent reaction was a deafening silence, much like their reaction to the January 6th insurrection. Worse, many Republican officials and candidates cracked jokes about the violence. Silence and jokes about such violence is nothing more than a means of acceptance. Protection of lives and our Democracy is too important to remain silent. Speak out now or accept the responsibility for more violence.
Michael Adkins formerly was chair of the Hancock County Democratic Party. Send comments to [email protected].
