Since the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, the United States has witnessed at least 300 incidents of political violence, with 51 of those occurring just this year, according to a report by Reuters on October 21.
In York, Pennsylvania, during a rally for Vice President Kamala Harris, a supporter was violently attacked by another man. Meanwhile, in northern Michigan, an 81-year-old man putting up signs for former President Donald Trump was struck by a car driven by a Trump opponent.
A report from the Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina detailed a disturbing incident from the summer of 2024, where three teenagers expressed their dislike for Trump and were subsequently shot at by four men, who also damaged nearby homes and a car before fleeing the scene.
Gilliard, the father of one of the teenagers involved, expressed his shock at the rise in political tensions in America, stating, “It’s really shocking to see something like this happen in our community.”
Experts on political extremism have indicated that the U.S. is experiencing its most significant and ongoing surge of political violence since the 1970s. They warn that the tense atmosphere surrounding the presidential election is exacerbating the situation, making it “more volatile.”
