A Growing Threat of Violence Against Public Officials

Sep 12, 2023

Pete Simi, a sociology professor, discusses the rising threats against public officials in the US. He shares insights from his research on hate, extremism, and violence, including his experiences with white supremacist groups. The podcast explores the motivations behind threats, the impact on victims and democracy, and factors contributing to the growing violence. It also touches on the global nature of far-right extremism and the challenges it presents.

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Introduction

00:00 • 4min

Research Funding and Scope of Study

03:36 • 2min

Past Incidents of Violence and Extremism in the United States

05:06 • 2min

Threats to Public Officials: Motivations and Impact

06:50 • 19min

Factors Influencing Threats to Public Officials

26:02 • 5min

The Growing Threat of Violence Against Public Officials

30:36 • 13min

The Global Reach of Far-Right Extremism

43:36 • 5min

P ete Simi, a professor of sociology at Chapman University, is overseeing a research team of the university’s students and graduates who are diving into court records about federal cases of death threats sent to public officials, including officials elected or appointed in health care, education and law enforcement. Their findings will help alleviate the rising numbers of threats against public officials in the United States.Emergency managers and the average citizen need to understand the immediate and long-term impact of these threats to our civil society. Professor Simi has been studying political violence, hate, and extremism. His fieldwork has taken him inside white supremacist groups across the United States where he has been embedded with racist skinheads, Klan members, neo-Nazis, and anti-government militias. He is co-author (along with Robert Futrell) of an award-winning book American Swastika: Inside the White Power Movement’s Hidden Spaces of Hate. The research is funded by a grant from the National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center (NCITE) at the University of Nebraska Omaha, the newest Center of Excellence for the Department of Homeland Security, the team is creating a database of federal indictments that involve threats to public officials across the country from 2013 to 2023.

This episode is sponsored by Bent Ear Solutions which offers comprehensive capabilities and deep industry knowledge necessary to help you solve the most complex issues of your organization. We advise public and private organizations on an all-inclusive approach to disaster preparedness that addresses governance, planning, operational procedures, technology implementation, training, and exercises in order to achieve a successful and sustainable program.

Eric Holdeman is a professional emergency manager who is passionate about providing information that can help families, businesses & governments become better prepared for disasters of all types. Hear first hand expert insights from Eric on his Podcast, Blog & EricHoldeman.com.