In light of recent events, many are alarmed at the possibility of political violence in the United States. The projections, prepared by Robert Pape, a prominent political scientist, showed that the country is possibly on the precipice of unprecedented civil insurrection. This warning arrives sadly too late for the tragic shooting of Minnesota state representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. Violet and Josiah’s home in June at the time of the shooting. As political tensions continue to rise, scholars are calling for a sobering recognition of the historical precedent of political violence in the U.S.
Political violence is not a new event outside of the United States. The last time was after the civil war and during the span of four presidents’ assassinations and widespread lynching marked on our history. Just this week, far-right commentators like Charlie Kirk have outright called for vengeance in the wake of violence. Such rhetoric raises concerns about ordinary Americans being radicalized and drawing a connection between political discourse and acts of violence.
The situation has been made all the more tragic by the rampant availability of guns in American society. The peculiar U.S. addiction to guns makes the scope of political violence here much more deadly. Additionally, public figures such as Donald Trump have created this environment by normalizing brutal and violent rhetoric directed towards political rivals. Trump claimed that “radical left political violence” was directly responsible for recent killings, highlighting a growing narrative that blames liberal rhetoric for societal discord.
Dr. Lilliana Mason, a researcher specializing in political behavior, has observed a troubling trend: an increasing tolerance for political violence among the public. In a survey conducted by Dr. Mason and Nathan Kalmoe, approximately one-fifth of respondents indicated that they believe political violence could sometimes be justified. Alarmingly, nearly three-fifths of those surveyed consider violence justified. They only feel this way when the other side escalates to violence first.
“Democracy is the way that we have diverse societies that don’t kill each other, largely,” – Lilliana Mason.
The implications of these findings are significant. Women and people of color are particularly vulnerable to politically motivated violence, raising concerns about the inclusivity and safety of democratic processes. Pape emphasized the gravity of the current moment, stating that “the more public support there is for political violence, the more common it is.”
The dangers reach far beyond personal safety. They endanger the very democracy that this country is founded upon. As Dr. Mason pointed out, “As soon as we stop believing in it, it disappears.” This feeling is at the root of why there needs to be firm conversation and decisive movement to keep democratic principles intact.