My feelings on political violence have changed considerably over the years. As a young adult, I opposed it almost uniformly. As I grew older, I realised that I don't, and indeed almost no-one does. All but a tiny few genuine pacifists truly oppose political violence. Everyone else condones violence - mostly as long as it meets their aims, and with some consideration of proportionality.
I realised that some of political violence - particularly riots - are pretty much an inevitability where deprivation, injustice, etc. are to be found. You may as well rage against the immorality of storms and earthquakes. Although at least you can prevent a riot by treating people well, you can't stop an earthquake.
And I also realised that people want political violence. It's always been a tool. Police enforcement of demonstrations are really a form of political violence: no-one should pretend that government enforcement of such things are that neutral, and some are
more conspicuously politically motivated than others.
And then there are other forms of political violence. The right-wing have been encouraging political violence for years. When in my country mobs have been whipped up to menace accommodation for asylum seekers, what does anyone think this is but political violence? Note how Labour won an election, and almost immediately this ramped up a few gears to turn the screw. It is openly whipped up by politicians like Nigel Farage with the thinnest of fig leaves, whilst the supposedly respectable stay quiet or endorse it. Even worse, when Donald Trump tells a paramilitary direct action group to "Stand back
and stand by", encourages them and others to menace the legislature for a key democratic process, and pardons them for their violent crimes, what the hell does anyone think all that is? What do we think it are the risks when he wants to install troops in cities under his direct control?
So it is that a significant section of the right seem to be indicating that they are coming for us, and they will use the state to come for us if they get their hands on it. The left needs to be ready to defend itself. If the right wants to dial down the rhetoric and threats, this would be very welcome. I'm waiting, and I fear I will be waiting a long time.
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So, Charlie Kirk, eh? Sad for his family and friends. Probably not useful for the left in a way, as it will be an excuse Trump and fellow authoritarians will use to escalate their own control and violence. But at least save us the hypocrisy of rightists who want to treat this as an outrage whilst not find their voice for their own side's sins. If they genuinely want to tamp down on political violence, they can get to work on the planks in their own eyes.