"Before a perpetrator had even been identified, the president, like several other Republicans, blamed radical left political violence, claiming that liberal rhetoric against conservatives was directly responsible for the terrorism that we're seeing in our country. Mr Trump himself faced two attempts on his life last year. He cited other victims, but not the many Democrats who have been targeted, including Melissa Hortman, the Minnesota state representative shot dead at her home alongside her husband, Mark, in June."
"Political violence is hardly a new phenomenon in a country that has seen a civil war, four presidential assassinations, and lynchings. But it is rising again. Ordinary Americans are being radicalised. In such an environment, one thing unites the political poles; any prominent figure is vulnerable, though women and people of colour are particularly targeted. Threats to members of Congress rocketed last year."
Democracy depends on a shared public belief that prevents widespread lethal conflict; when that belief fades, democratic stability weakens. Tolerance for political violence has grown sharply, culminating in the killing of a prominent activist and prompting widespread condemnation. Political leaders and commentators have exchanged blame, with some Republicans accusing the radical left and certain far-right voices invoking vengeance. Ordinary Americans are being radicalised, increasing threats to public officials. Women and people of colour are disproportionately targeted. Demonising opponents and normalising attacks, including pardons for rioters, help create a permissive environment for further violence despite complex underlying causes.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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