When leftists – ideological extremists disavowing diversity of ideas, free speech, faith, and individual liberties in our Bill of Rights – lose politically and legally, they go violent.
President Trump won decisively in November 2024, despite two assassination attempts. So did “common sense” Americans. They shifted Congress from radical agendas back to “normal.”
Normal involves tolerance of differences, encouragement of constructive disagreement, love of history, faith, and freedom. “Normal” is about seeking truth, not once, not twice, but daily. We do that – how our republic was conceived – by non-violent reference to our Bill of Rights.
In fact, the whole idea of a Bill of Rights – and Articles I, II, and III – was a non-violent way to preserve respect for our God-given individual liberties with due process, equal protection, and majority rule.
The opposite of this approach is to suppress liberties, imagine ends justify means, and allow violence to rise. While history is filled with “isms,” dangerous ones are Marxism, communism, socialism, fascism, and power gained through violence, maintained with fear.
Now we come to the present. The US Presidency, Congress, and Supreme Court are in the hands of those who subscribe to due process, equal protection, individual liberties, and see America as a continuum, who respect the Constitution, and non-violent exchange of ideas in pursuit of truth.
This is infuriating to those who thought America was coming their way, headed toward one of those isms above, ready to give up individual liberties in favor of centralized power, one that disrespected – but with ideologically purity – freedom of speech, faith as a centering force, the right to keep and bear arms, right to be safe in homes, to expect due process and fairness.
They are now defaulting to what they have, violence. Years ago, working in India, I experienced the violent influence of Marxists, what they called Naxalites, their motto: “Justice comes through the barrel of a gun.” In a republic, it never does, but they were highly violent.
These influences – those who choose violence as a way to power – are making an appearance here. Look at recent events. After the 2020 violence, we see violence on campuses against anti-abortion protestors. We see Republican headquarters burned, senior executives – like the pharmaceutical CEO – killed, and last week the Governor of Pennsylvania, himself a Jewish Democrat, victimized by what seems to be violent antisemitism, his home forcefully attacked.
Where does this lead? What is happening? Unfortunately, until such episodes of violence are firmly condemned by all state and federal leaders in both parties, they will tend to grow.
Historically, after the American Revolution, pre- and post-Civil War, later in the 1920s with organized crime, communism, and boss rule, then again in the 1960s, which saw three major assassinations and widespread violence, political violence is stopped only if nipped early.
What does this mean? It means we are at a fork in the road. The political process has – legally and peacefully – produced a turn toward openness, stability, limited government, greater order, security, safety at home, and economic reorientation. Violence cannot be allowed to upset that.
To see the results of this favorable turn, keep the process moving, be true to our peaceful, constitutional origins, we must not tolerate political violence. That should be a new and firm conviction by all in politics. If not, we may find ourselves sliding in the wrong direction, quickly.
Robert Charles is a former Assistant Secretary of State under Colin Powell, former Reagan and Bush 41 White House staffer, attorney, and naval intelligence officer (USNR). He wrote “Narcotics and Terrorism” (2003), “Eagles and Evergreens” (2018), and is National Spokesman for AMAC. Robert Charles has also just released an uplifting new book, “Cherish America: Stories of Courage, Character, and Kindness” (Tower Publishing, 2024).
It is not only political violence but the lawlessness in general that we’ve seen for a long time spreading ,encouraged by city leaders telling the police to step back. The unwillingness of political leaders to call a spade a spade for fear of offending , the spinelessness of politicians who’d like to be on both sides of the fence, the lack of leadership and lack of character in those who are behind the wheel. It all culminated into a boiling point.The main reason I think is a lack of emotional maturity and inability to reason. We produced adults with the mentality of children who fight and argue, who can’t see beyond their miserable little selves, incapable of magnanimity. We’ve stopped producing men long ago. Sniveling boys won’t do.
Deep State, Soros, Clinton, Gates, and the rest of the you know whats..are behind all of this.
All I hear is the LEFTist Democrats spouting violent rhetoric. Maxine Waters, Chuck Schumer, Jazmine Crockett, Swalwell, and everyone in the cussing and singing videos. They have gone FAR beyond free speech and THEY are responsible for the Tesla burnings, the death threats, and almost all of the current violence. George Soros is funding all of this anarchy and yet nothing happens to him. Congress should pass a law that EVERY member of Congress MUST denounce this violence or resign! Or, Pam Bondi should start filing charges for hate speech. That is exactly what it is, HATE SPEECH.
Our political leaders on “both sides of the aisle” have sold our country out while making millions of dollars for themselves and families. The most brutal regimes are Marxists. Marxism abolishes religion, family, nationalism, citizenship, private ownership, private property, freedom, etc. Marxism is doomed to failure and collapse because it has no rational decision making. Marxism creates human beings that are evil.
The political violence is all coming from the left. And they claim that the right is destroying democracy. They would have an absolute cow if conservatives started engaging in political violence. And if we ever do I guarantee you they will lose. If those judges don’t quit trying to run this country it’s going to happen
Today, another random act of violence at University of Florida. We worry about all of the illegal immigrants in this country, but what is happening with the violent acts of the young white males with hammer attacks, mass shootings, assassination attempts the last few years? We need to support the protection of our police and FBI and quit with tearing them apart for doing their job! The Capitol police were just doing their job and Jan 6th & just how did they get treated & recognized for their performance.
A lot of people will not agree, but I think that pardons to the 1500 people that vandalized the Capitol on Jan 6th is setting an example that some actions can be ignored & considered peaceful & loving . Breaking windows of somebody else’s house or buildings in most countries is considered a wrongful act.
BY & For the Radical Left
Mr. Charles, I agree with your statement at the end of the article that “we must not tolerate political violence.” You focus on “leftist” violence, but no mention of January 6, 2021. Why not use that as an example of “right wing” violence? It should be condemned regardless of ideology.