Brevard County, Florida, home to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, typically makes headlines for sending people into space. Recently, however, it’s drawn attention for a different reason: the number of residents that stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6. huffpost.com/entry/brevard-…
Federal authorities have charged seven locals for taking part in the historic attack on the Capitol, giving Brevard County the dubious distinction of having the fourth-highest number of arrested rioters in the country. 
Why do so many of the rioters hail from this coastal region east of Orlando? In the year since the Capitol riot, academics have studied data to divine why places like Brevard County were such hotspots.
One study by Professor Robert Pape, an expert in political violence at the University of Chicago, found that “insurgents were much more likely to come from a county where the white share of the population was in decline.”
The findings were further evidence that the Capitol attack was fueled by white nationalist fears over the “great replacement” — the conspiracy theory that one day minorities will not only overtake whites as the majority population in America, but will have more rights, said Pape.
But some people in Brevard County have another theory: These people were inspired in part by the rhetoric and actions of their local elected lawmakers.
The aggressive style of politics here predated the Capitol riot, local residents told HuffPost, and has only escalated since.
The aggressive style of politics here predated the Capitol riot, local residents told HuffPost, and has only escalated since.
“F U.”
That was the message, burned onto the front lawn with weed killer, that greeted Brevard County School Board member Jennifer Jenkins outside her home on the morning of Sept. 1, 2021.
That was the message, burned onto the front lawn with weed killer, that greeted Brevard County School Board member Jennifer Jenkins outside her home on the morning of Sept. 1, 2021.
The day before, about 20 right-wing anti-mask protesters had gathered outside her young family’s house in Satellite Beach to protest a mask mandate in schools that she supported. huffpost.com/entry/brevard-…
“Be careful, your mommy hurts little kids!” Jenkins remembers one of the protesters screaming. “You’re going to jail!” said another. One protester even went out of the way to cough in Jenkins’ face. “Give her COVID!” someone screamed. huffpost.com/entry/brevard-…
Read more about the experiences of Brevard County residents and why they think this should be a warning to the rest of the country: huffpost.com/entry/brevard-…
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