Thread by @JYSexton

The GOP has primed its base to carry out widespread violence.

We need to talk about how the threat that looms over us is a weapon the wealthy and powerful use to undermine our rights and frighten us into accepting an oppressive and cruel system.

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jaredyatessexton.substack.com/p/control-thro…

Of course, the Right has embraced vigilante violence in the streets, making heroes of people who openly murder protesters.

This was inevitable considering the constant drumbeat of fearmongering the GOP has used to help its political fortunes.

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This has happened both through fearmongering in the media, but also in legislation passed by GOP legislatures that virtually legalizes the murder of protesters, as well as punishes lawful protesting.

It is a systematic assault on our rights and completely intentional.

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The clip of Charlie Kirk answering a question as to when the Right can start literally murdering its political enemies is merely an expression of an idea and sentiment that has been perpetuated for years now.

It was always going to get here, and it will escalate.

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It's not a coincidence that the GOP's leveling up of threats of violence corresponds with heightened protests and usage of personal rights.

This is how it works and how it has always worked. The last thing they want is for the people to actually *use* their rights.

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We are experiencing a reawakening of grassroots activism and solidarity, and throughout history what we find is that when this occurs the powerful will IMMEDIATELY make use of conspiracy theories in order to radicalize followers and prepare them for answering with violence.

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The pursuit of the GOP has always been to return the US to a fictional moment, the "Consensus" of the 1950's.

This, of course, never existed, but was a time where suburban calmness masked severe, widespread oppression.

Which is what they want to resurrect.

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We are taught a twisted version of American history where the "anti-communism" of the post-war was a legitimate fear of communism.

It wasn't. It was a weaponized conspiracy theory intended to drown out protests and establish an unquestionable power base for the wealthy.

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Weaponizing conspiracy theories and "fear of communism," the GOP and the Right systematically undid the New Deal and targeted any suspected leftists, creating an environment where anyone threatening the power of the rich would be considered threats needing neutralized.

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Just as the GOP uses George Soros as a "puppetmaster" manipulating events, the Right used communism as a boogeyman in order to undermine legitimate protests.

This has always been the order of business.

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Attacks on Civil Rights protesters was steeped in conspiracy theories alleging that MLK and other leaders were puppets of communist forces.

This creates a scenario where violence is REQUIRED as a defense against a foreign influence. Thus legitimizing oppression.

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In this way, the Right turned peaceful protesters into agents of a foreign enemy, terrorists in the streets who needed stopped at any cost.

This gave white supremacists a higher reason to satisfy their own ends and unleashed hellish violence.

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Though time has changed the Civil Rights perspective, in the moment the brutality against protesters was framed as a national defense, an immune system attempting to neutralize an outside threat/disease.

This is exactly what's happening at this very moment.

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What the GOP and the Right are peddling is a "defense," or a mobilized attempt to neutralize an "outside threat."

This legitimizes the violence by their followers, turning it from oppression to patriotism and from offensive to defensive.

This is how it always goes.

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What's more, if it is achieved, the GOP and Right will use the "defense" against outside forces to destroy liberal democracy, rig elections, neutralize any other ideology in schools and media, and do it all as a "justified defense."

Again, this is how it always goes.

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The entire Deep State/New World Order/QAnon nonsense pushed by the Right and the GOP is tuned to this very purpose.

Vilifying the Left and protesters/reformers, turning them into enemy agents and terrorists who are attempting to destroy the nation itself.

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24 hours a day Fox News broadcasts this propaganda, an alternate reality where the GOP's agenda is absolutely ESSENTIAL should traitors and foreign forces not destroy the country.

The first order is the political agenda, but underneath it is an implied threat of violence.

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After all, if the GOP's base is facing an existential, apocalyptic threat, then politics is only the FIRST OPTION.

If it is a matter of life or death, the secondary track is violence. Thus, failure to achieve political ends means taking up arms and resorting to brutality.

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In this scenario, literally any means is required to stop the Left/Democrats/protesters.

This allows violence, undermining of civil rights, and outright murder. Because it's justified. Because they're terrorists. Because this is an apocalyptic threat.

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What's even more disturbing is that history shows us the wealthy constantly turn to fascistic terrorists like the KKK or Black Legion and bankroll their operations in order to attack the Left and ensure groups like unions are unable to win even the smallest victories.

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Here in America, we've seen these paramilitary groups clash with striking workers and murder them, all with the help and assistance of the police, who are often members of the groups themselves.

This should sound familiar. It's the same story with our fascistic groups.

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Again, as protests grow, the wealthy always turn to fascists in the streets to bust their skulls, break their meetings, and intimidate them into silence.

It happened in pre-Nazi Germany, it happened here, it's happened virtually everywhere. It's THE MOVE.

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It's absolutely no surprise at all that paramilitary, fascistic groups in America are receiving the financial and logistical support, not to mention law enforcement support.

This is the next-level of resistance and the evolution of the fearmongering.

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As vigilantes and "lone wolves" gain in popularity and get turned into heroes, you'll see more attacks, as well as a swelling of paramilitary groups.

Again, this is the defense of the wealthy and powerful, the "break-in-case of emergency" level of reaction.

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The goal is simple: intimidate citizens into either being quiet or else meeting them with violence.

To use your rights turns into a promise that you will be met with bloodshed. Soon, you're pushed to not say anything and simply go along with the powerful's wishes.

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This is how you reach "consensus."

By intimidating or eliminating the people who would speak out, reestablishing apartheid-style provisions, and pretending like everything is calm and quaint again. As if the "threat" is neutralized.

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If you want to read the history behind this and see how it's played out for generations, my book AMERICAN RULE has it covered.

But it's a cycle, and it's been in play for a long, long time. Unless we stop this, we'll see it play out once more.

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penguinrandomhouse.com/books/611439/a…