While violence by extreme right-wing groups over the past 50 years has been routinely condemned, violence by groups on the left has often been condoned. For example, in the 1970s, the American Indian Movement took control of the small town of Wounded Knee in South Dakota (U.S. Congress 1976). Despite the tying up of the grocery store owners, murder of Ray Robinson, and other acts perpetrated on the citizens of Wounded Knee (who did not ask AIM to come take over their town), AIM members were treated as victims media that looked past the violence.
AIM was also given a pass following the take-over of the Department of Interior building in Washington DC, (despite robbing it) and of Alcatraz in California (Kotlowski 2003).
The attacks on political and Christian conservatives began in earnest during the Obama administration, but many initially saw it as normal partisanship and bickering (Ibhawoh 2011). Nevertheless, Christian individuals and businesses came under increasing attack, with the attacks on political conservatives – and the Christian, capitalist views they predominately held. While citizens practicing their freedom of speech were most often attacked, freedom of assembly, freedom of association, freedom of the press, and freedom of religion have also been under attack. Initially, it was somewhat subtle attacks. At times, it was legal attacks (Fotopoulos 2009). At other times, it was increasingly, violent attacks.
According to professor Jonathan Turley, “We are living in a time reminiscent of Attorney General Charles Gregory’s statement during the Red Scare” that dissenters should speak at their own risk. “May God have mercy on them, for they need expect none from an outraged people and an avenging government” (Turley 2020, 35). Those on the left who believe they are avenging some long held injustice by oppressing conservative citizens include a growing number of journalists, university professors, and extreme left-wing groups (Turley 2020, 35).
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