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Gabbie Giffords shot ending her political career

Democracies depend on the freedom to vote. Political violence to steal power is a clear and present danger.

This StoryMap is based on Clinton Watts recent article in Selected Wisdom about the threat domestic terrorism poses to American democracy  and how to combat it.

Clinton Watts is a senior fellow at the Center for Cyber and Homeland Security at George Washington University and a Foreign Policy Research Institute fellow. He previously was an infantry officer in the United States Army, and was the Executive Officer of the Combating Terrorism Center at U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Clinton Watts recent article about the threat to American democracy from domestic terrorism and what can be done to combat it in his newsletter, Selected Wisdom. 

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Extremism goes local

"...extremism trends are shifting to localized activity, and that’s true for political overlap with extremist groups as well. For example, a consultant working with Nevada’s GOP turned to the Proud Boys to bolster attendance at a political rally. An Illinois Proud Boy who was present at the January 6 riot told reporters he planned to run for Senate. And a former KKK leader with ties to other white supremacist groups is running for local office in Georgia. In the wake of January 6, extremists have focused their efforts at home, decentralizing their efforts seeking not to challenge those in power, but to take power and legitimize their ideologies. 

Lastly, committed extremists pursuing different causes have converged. Those mobilized over bogus election fraud claims, angered by mask or vaccine mandates, and charged up at school board meetings now encounter each other and collaborate at a local level." - Clinton Watts

Selected Wisdom

Where is domestic terrorism headed?
Credit: Clint Watts

TakeAway: Domestic political terrorism is a real and present threat to American Democracy. Stay informed with newsletters like Selected Wisdom.

Deepak
DemLabs

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