One day after the near assassination of President Donald Trump, President Biden addressed the nation with a powerful and unifying message. His words centered on two key points: First, political violence is unequivocally wrong and must always be condemned. Second, we as Americans need to dial down the partisan rhetoric that fuels such violence. It was a call for unity and civility in a time of great division and unrest.
But the next day, President Biden was already attacking President Trump and his new running mate as a threat to democracy. Meanwhile Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez released a divisive statement:
“If you’re a ‘senior Democrat’ that feels [like we can’t beat Trump], you should absolutely retire and make space for true leadership that refuses to resign themselves to fascism.”
That was quick.
It’s disheartening to see Democrats swiftly returning to toxic partisan bickering, less than 48 hours after an attempt on a former president’s life. This return to business as usual, with such inflammatory rhetoric, shows a disregard for the seriousness of the moment.
Meanwhile, celebrities like Kyle Gass from Tenacious D, openly wished that the next shooter wouldn’t miss at one of his concerts. This kind of behavior is not only irresponsible but also dangerous.
But let’s unpack why this kind of rhetoric is so dangerous. It amounts to stochastic terrorism, a term coined by mathematician and risk analyst Dr. Gordon Woo. At its core, stochastic terrorism is “the public demonization of a person or group resulting in the incitement of a violent act, which is statistically probable but whose specifics cannot be predicted.”
In other words, when public figures continually vilify their opponents, they increase the likelihood of someone committing an act of violence against those opponents, even if the specifics of that violence are unpredictable. Repeatedly labeling a leading presidential candidate as a fascist and existential threat to democracy is a prime example.
When people are told over and over again that a figure like Trump is a fascist dictator threatening the very fabric of democracy, it creates a sense of urgency and justifies extreme measures. If there truly were a fascist dictator at one’s doorstep, extraordinary measures, including extrajudicial killing, might be deemed necessary.
This was the argument made by left-wing commentator Steven Bonnell, known as Destiny, shortly after Trump was shot, and echoed by countless social media accounts.
Censoring this type of speech would be unwise, as it would create the very authoritarianism we seek to avoid. To repurpose James Madison’s famous quote from the Federalist Papers: “free speech is to liberty what air is to fire.” Free speech is essential for liberty to thrive, and attempts to suppress it would only lead to greater authoritarianism.
It’s also important to distinguish between speech and violence. Comments from AOC and others, while vile, do not directly incite violence and should not be criminalized. Free speech that does not directly and immediately incite violence is not itself violent.
As such, neither AOC, nor Destiny, nor Kyle Gass should ever be held criminally liable for such stupid and vile comments. However, those who spew such dangerous rhetoric must be held morally accountable for fostering a toxic environment that breeds political violence. It’s about recognizing the power of words and the responsibility that comes with that power.
This is something I have been saying for the past several years as a former Antifa activist turned free speech advocate. One of Antifa’s key strategies for political polarization is to demonize them to strip them of all humanity which paves the way for militant factions to attack peaceful people engaged in democratic activities.
President Trump is just the latest victim of this stochastic terrorism. Many Americans, myself included, have been physically attacked for political reasons after being branded as fascists. The tactic is clear: dehumanize the opponent to justify any means necessary to stop them.
In this polarized climate, it’s crucial to remember that our words have power. While we must protect free speech, we also need to cultivate a culture of respectful dialogue and mutual understanding. Only then can we hope to diminish the seeds of violence and build a more united and peaceful nation.
