12 million Americans find violence justified to restore Trump: Reports

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: The Guardian
10 Jun 2023 20:28

The attack on Capitol Hill on January 6 was the peak manifestation of sentiments favoring political violence whereby it was seen as a threat to US "democracy".

12 mil Americans find violence to be justified to restore Trump January 6, 2021 (AP)

In a report by The Guardian citing a recent survey from the University of Chicago, it was estimated that 4.4% of American adults find violence to be justified to restore Trump as President of the US.

Favoring political violence to restore Trump as president is one of the claimed democracy-subversive political sentiments surveyed by the Chicago Project on Security & Threats (CPOST) at the University of Chicago.

The attack on Capitol Hill on January 6 was the peak manifestation of sentiments favoring political violence whereby it was seen as a threat to US "democracy".

Ever since the riots on January 6, CPOST has been conducting "Dangers to Democracy" to assess sentiments favoring political violence and attitudes toward democracy.

Data from a survey conducted in April by CPOST show that support for political violence and distrust in democracy is alarming.

Despite decreasing since January 2021, a sizeable number of American adults remain to believe that the 2020 elections were stolen from Trump and that violence is justified to restore him as president.

In April 2023, 20% of American adults believe the 2020 elections were illegitimate.
In April 2023, 4.4% of American adults believe that the use of force is justified to restore Trump as president.
In April 2023, 54.5% of American adults believe that elections won't solve the US' most fundamental political and social problems.
In April 2023, 47.9% of American adults believe that political elites, both Democrats and Republicans, are the most immoral and corrupt people in America.
In April 2023, 77.5% of American adults believe that Republicans and Democrats in Congress should make a joint statement condemning any political violence in America.

"We’re heading into an extremely tumultuous election season," said Robert Pape, director of CPOST, adding that "What’s happening in the United States is political violence is going from the fringe to the mainstream."

"What you’re seeing is really disturbing levels of distrust in American democracy, support for dangerous conspiracy theories, and support for political violence itself," Pape said.

"Once you have support for violence in the mainstream, those are the raw ingredients or the raw combustible material and then speeches, typically by politicians, can set them off," he said. "Or if they get going, speeches can encourage them to go further."

Moreover, the survey found support for political violence and distrust for democracy are present on both sides of the political spectrum.

around 14% of American adults believe that the use of force is justified to restore the federal right to abortion.
12.4% of American adults believe that the use of force is justified to ensure members of Congress and other government officials are doing the right thing.
8.4% of American adults believe that the use of force is justified to ensure members of Congress and other government officials do the right thing.
6.3% of American adults believe that the use of force is justified the preserve the rights of whites.