[Maru]

Originally Posted by Ammi

…a section taken from an article that I was reading yesterday ….

The shooting comes as a series of incidents over the past year show an increased level of violence related to political disagreements or intended to achieve political goals.

Spoiler:

Trump faced two assassination attempts in 2024. Last December, a shooter targeted and killed the head of United Healthcare. Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro’s home was burned in an arson attack in April. Judges and elected officials report increased threats and harassment. Several instances of violence have stemmed from opposition to the Gaza war. In June, a man dressed as a police officer shot and killed a Democratic Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband, and wounded another state lawmaker and his wife. A gunman attacked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in August, killing a police officer.

Surveys have shown increased acceptance of using violence for political aims across party spectrums. Robert Pape, who directs the Chicago Project on Security and Threats, wrote in the New York Times that a survey his team conducted in May was its “most worrisome yet”. “About 40 percent of Democrats supported the use of force to remove Mr. Trump from the presidency, and about 25 percent of Republicans supported the use of the military to stop protests against Mr. Trump’s agenda. These numbers more than doubled since last fall, when we asked similar questions,” he wrote.

…it’s what we have been saying and fearing for so long, though and has become now what we’re seeing…how the world has become divided and for all and any, is becoming so dangerous…and while all media’s encourage and nurture this ‘battleground’ of divide and violence, the governments are gaining more and more control ….

Funny. I just posted an article that also listed a lot of these.

And these are just national stories. There's been local incidents like attacks or threats against judges, etc. That's one reason I started the Local News thread because a lot of things are happening, but they just don't get the same traction media-wise.

For whatever reason, the Minnesota one really stuck with me. I remember watching a clip of her addressing a vote she had just made. She was utterly terrified having to face her constituents. Then she was killed shortly after that...