Death threats and intimidation of public officials signal autocratic legacy

[struggle4progress]

By SHELLEY INGLIS
JANUARY 29, 2021 8:24AM (UTC)

... When the House took up impeachment proceedings, Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives reportedly felt afraid to vote to impeach Trump – even fearing for their lives. A video also captured a group accosting Republican Lindsey Graham, a U.S. senator from South Carolina, screaming that he was a "traitor" after he declared that Joe Biden had been lawfully elected president.

These threats .. appear to be evidence of a more systemic use of fear and intimidation in U.S. politics, seeking to force fealty from Republicans and reinforce the authoritarian turn that defined .. Trump's leadership ...

With the advent of social media and the Trump presidency .. risks for public officials have grown substantially ...

"Elite factionalization" .. societal polarization .. hate speech and militant rhetoric are happening in the U.S. in significant measure ...

https://www.salon.com/2021/01/29/death-threats-and-intimidation-of-public-officials-signal-trumps-autocratic-legacy_partner/

[JI7]

1. They are more afraid of losing their political careers.

[abqtommy]

2. ' "Elite factionalization" .. societal polarization .. hate speech and militant rhetoric'... along

with violent acts are all tools of fascism. Words matter!

[Hortensis]

3. Sequelae, not legacy. They'll be smashed, and this'll pass.

Anyone remember when terrorists were blowing up or taking hostage passenger airliners and ships seemingly every month or so? Seemed like something that could go on forever, but of course it didn't.