Everything You Know About Political Violence Is Probably Wrong
The article examines the rise of political violence in the United States, citing threats against representatives from both major political parties. It argues that intimidation is increasingly viewed as a legitimate tool for political pressure across the ideological spectrum.
Why it matters
The normalization of political violence poses a significant threat to democratic stability and the safety of public officials.
In early July 2022, Democratic representative Pramila Jayapal of Washington and her husband were watching television at their Seattle home when men drove past their house screaming threats: vile, racialized, and unmistakably political. They called the police. The men left. Thirty minutes later, one returned, blasting music and approaching the porch. When officers arrived, they found him armed with a loaded handgun, a round already chambered. A neighbor heard him shout, “Go back to India. I am going to kill you.”
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