The ominous rise of vigilantism
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Thomas Zimmer /”Democracy Americana” on Substack:
Vigilante Violence Is Part of the Right’s Plan
The open embrace of violence plays a key role in the broader reactionary mobilization against democracy
Public reactions – not just from the rightwing extremist fringes on social media, but from “respectable” conservatives as well as quite a few self-proclaimed centrists and moderates – have been incredibly discouraging and infuriating. In his “Unpopular Front” newsletter, John Ganz really captured what I find so disturbing:
“What people are essentially saying is ‘this man’s life was worthless’ and, as a result of his criminal record, ‘he had it coming.’ … Neely’s death has been described as a lynching. This is an extremely grave thing to charge. But what seems completely unquestionable to me is that the people who have shown cruel indifference or contempt or glee about the killing of Jordan Neely are the spiritual equivalent of a lynch mob even if his death was accidental or a crime of passion rather than premeditation. They are part of a lynch mob after the fact. They have decided—on reflection, out of personal danger, and with malice aforethought, as they say of murder — that Neely’s life was worthless. Any many apparently feel total comfort howling like a lynch mob in public.”
Greg Sargent and Paul Waldman /The Washington Post:
DeSantis’s celebration of vigilantism is a new low in MAGA extremism
“Law and order” and “tough on crime” rhetoric from Republicans goes back more than half a century and has a long history of shading into support for vigilantism in popular culture. (Think of Charles Bronson in “ Death Wish .”) But in the Trump era, it seems that wide swaths of one of our major parties have taken to blatantly celebrating extralegal violence.
“The idea that individual citizens should do this — that’s a different place to go,” said Sam Tanenhaus, who recently completed a biography of William F. Buckley, the conservative commentator who played a key role in tough-on-crime politics with his ill-fated 1965 campaign for New York mayor.
DeSantis didn’t merely valorize Penny as a good Samaritan. DeSantis is also raising money for Penny’s defense, arguing that his prosecutors are pro-criminal ...
Jamelle Bouie /The New York Times:
The Republican Embrace of Vigilantism Is No Accident
Among the most troubling aspects of the [2020 Kyle Rittenhouse] shooting was the almost jubilant reaction of conservative media to the news that someone had taken the law into his own hands and meted out lethal force. Tucker Carlson praised Rittenhouse as someone who decided “to maintain order when no one else would.” Ann Coulter said she wanted Rittenhouse “ as my president .” Marjorie Taylor Greene, then a candidate, called him an “innocent child,” and Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky praised Rittenhouse for his “incredible restraint.”
Rittenhouse would go on, after his acquittal, to become a minor conservative celebrity. He met with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, got a standing ovation at a Turning Point USA conference and earned the praise of the governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, who said, “Kyle Rittenhouse did what we should want citizens to do in such a situation: step forward to defend the community against mob violence.”
At the time — noting, as well, the celebration of Mark and Patricia McCloskey , two would-be vigilantes, at the 2020 Republican National Convention — I wrote that this was an ominous development for what it revealed about the conservative mood. There seemed to be a bloodlust, defined by an almost reflexive embrace of anyone who used lethal violence against a perceived antagonist.
That bloodlust appears to be getting worse.
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As our world becomes more "shoot first and ask questions later" this vigilante trend is very disturbing.
Democrats decide crime is okay and then are surprised people resort to protecting themselves.
I've becoming more and more convinced progressives have never interacted with humans outside their progressive bubble. Their inability to anticipate completely foreseeable adaptations to their policies is quite stunning.
He had no business being there in the first place. The apologists ignore that simple fact.
Sadly, the times predict that it will happen again.
What an ignorant comment, he had every right to be there. And every right to defend himself from the animals that attacked him.
Rittenhouse was looking for a reason to shoot his gun . That is why he went there. He was a 17 year old with no law enforcement training, all he had was vigilante fervor.
Bullshit, he went there to help a friend defend a car dealership from a group of lawless animals destroying private property. A couple of dumbasses attacked him and got just what they deserved. Play stupid games win stupid prizes.
All the people that attacked him were criminals.
They had no reason or right to riot, commit arson, loot, or assault anyone. Yet there they were.
Democrats do love their criminals- and will do anything to protect them!
He didnt know anybody at the car dealership. He was assigned that location by the vigilante group that was organizing the "guards".
Defense of self and others, The police failed the tax payers and citizens stepped up to control the animals that escaped the zoo, this story had a happy ending.
Wow! Who knew you were so omniscient.
I’d like to but a lotto ticket. May I borrow your crystal ball?
Exactly, everyone knows that Hollywood is full of Repub lackeys that promote violence for profit.
That was so lame I cannot believe you typed it!
Not funny. Not smart. Not insightful. Not wye...
Agreed, not a Y but is it wry?
Lame? How so? Did the Repubs put up the money to make the Death Wish movies?
As regards Neely...after some 40 arrests and releases...he should never have been on that subway. He had in fact physically attacked previous victims. Thanks to the soft on crime lefties, these kinds of crimes continue to escalate, to the point that citizens have to provide for their own protection.
That' why gun sales continue to grow. It's not just Whites and conservatives that feel the need to be armed, although some radical leftists continue to try and politicize the problem. DeSantis has done the right thing in seeking justice for Penny.
Reality is, society will not miss Neely. Not in the least.
That is except for the Wailing and Gnashing of teeth clan.
WAGOT clan
If only we had a more robust mental healthcare system...