Domestic Extremism and Political Violence: The Threat to Liberty

The January 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol and the related attempt to overturn the election results featured elements of three white supremacist or militia‐​type elements: the Oath Keepers, the Three Percenters, and the Proud Boys. The rise of such groups was a cause for concern well before January 6, and that concern has only intensified since.

What has not received as much attention is the reaction from the far left to these developments.

Groups such as the Socialist Rifle Association, Latino Rifle Association, Yellow Peril Tactical, and the multichapter John Brown Gun Clubs are populated with Americans with decidedly leftist—and even Marxist—political outlooks. Coupled with a facility with the latest versions of the popular AR-15 sporting rifle, precision rifle optics, body armor, and other gear normally seen on police or military personnel, they offer—in their own words—a direct response to the likes of the Patriot Front, Proud Boys, and anti‐​LGTBQ activists. These developments raise the specter of lethal confrontations between such armed right‐​wing and left‐​wing groups.

How numerous are these ideologically oriented armed elements? What are the key political, legal, and social drivers leading to their formation and activities? How does the patchwork of federal, state, and local laws govern this kind of activity? Is the American political and judicial system capable of preventing these groups from becoming an endemic threat to public safety and the functioning of our republic? Join us as our expert panel delves into these and related issues.

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