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Former U.S. Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn has joined the campaign trail, running for Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District.rd Congressional district seats. He said the events of January 6, 2021 are always on his mind when he meets with voters.
“I think it’s important now to fill Congress with people who will tell the truth,” he recently told voters.
Dunn was a U.S. Capitol Police officer as of Jan. 6, but resigned in December 2023 to begin his campaign.
“I don’t think we can afford to hope that everything will work out,” Dunn told the News4 I-Team. “I think democracy is under attack.”
There are signs that he will. Too. Dunn showed the I-Team the social media threats he received shortly after announcing his campaign, warning on January 6 that he “should have died.”
“Are you going to try to reason with someone like that, or are you going to stay motivated and keep fighting?” Dan asked out loud. “This is what’s at stake: people who believe political violence is acceptable.”
He’s not the only one suggesting this.
“2024 is a big year. It’s a federal election,” said Dr. Galen Wintemute of the University of California, Davis, as he briefed the I-Team on the latest research on political violence.
Wintemute is an emergency room doctor who has studied political violence for years. His latest study, which surveyed more than 8,600 Americans, shows how widespread support for political violence is. A third of them said violence can usually or always be justified.
Wintemute worries what that means for this election year.
“I think there are a lot of people who are determined that if they get their way, that election will have a special outcome, regardless of the outcome of the vote. And they will use force to make that outcome happen. “I don’t mind using force,” he said, adding, “I don’t think the next two years will be without violent rhetoric.” To be honest, I think it makes sense because it used to work for me. So people who have used it before will use it again. They are currently using it and it is working well. ”
Wintemute’s research shows that there is not only support for actual violence, but also for those who condone it, and even for anti-democratic leaders. 19% of respondents agreed that “strong leadership is more important to the United States than democracy.”
According to Wintemute, the percentage of people who identify as MAGA supporters has jumped to 31%.
Rachel Carol Rivas of the Southern Poverty Law Center echoed Wintermute’s efforts, telling the I-Team, “We know these groups are organizing.”
“There is a hard-right, anti-democratic, often white nationalist movement that is laying the groundwork for regaining, or for some, for the first time, seizing power and control in this country. But I don’t understand that. I think we can totally understand. They are prepared and prepared on all fronts,” said Carol, who has studied insurgency movements for almost 20 years. Rivas said.
“2022 felt like a break,” she says. “The second half of 2023 will see some reforms take place and build towards 2024 and 2025, with the hard-line right regaining government power and pushing for authoritarian rule or violence again. There will be opportunities to exercise.”
A report just released by the U.S. Capitol Police shows that there were 8,008 threats against members of Congress and members protected by the Communist Party of the United States in 2023. This is a 7% increase from 2022. U.S. Capitol Police Deputy Chief Ashan Benedict warned, “This is going to be a very busy year for our special agents.”
The Brennan Center for Justice surveys local and state elected officials and found in late January that “More than 40% of state legislators have experienced threats or attacks in the past three years, and more than 18% of local elected officials have experienced threats or attacks within the past three years. “I have experienced threats and attacks in the past.” One and a half years. If less serious forms of abuse, such as stalking and other insults and harassment, are included, the number rises to 89% of state legislators and 52% of local government employees. ””
Brennan’s other survey asked election officials about the threats. 60% of those surveyed were very or somewhat concerned about the “safety of their staff, including colleagues and other election administrators and staff.”
Reported by Ted Oberg, produced by Rick Yarborough, cinematography and editing by Steve Jones.
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