Concerns Raised Over Surge in Calls for Violence Against Pro-Palestinian Protesters
Recent findings from Advance Democracy, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization specializing in public interest research, have highlighted a disturbing trend of increased calls for violence against pro-Palestinian protesters on various social media platforms.
Following inflammatory comments made by a public figure, there has been a noticeable rise in aggressive rhetoric directed towards the protesters. On Truth Social, a social media platform associated with former President Donald Trump, users have been advocating for extreme actions, including threats of physical harm.
One user went as far as to write, "RUN THEM OVER!" while another suggested that the protesters should be treated as terrorists and shot. Additionally, there were mentions of other violent acts such as mugging, hanging, executing, zip-tying, and throwing the protesters off bridges they occupy.
Far-Right Social Media User Calls for Violent Response to Protesters
Amidst protests where some individuals glue their hands to roads, a user on the far-right social media platform Gettr has suggested extreme and violent measures as a response. The user proposed that the arms of protesters be ripped off or that their hands be cut off.
"I encourage people who get stuck behind the pro-Hamas mobs blocking traffic: take matters into your own hands. It's time to put an end to this nonsense," the user posted on Gettr. The post was later edited to add "to get them out of the way." The user, without providing any evidence, labeled the protesters as pro-Hamas.
In subsequent interviews with Fox News and NBC News, the user continued to advocate for a vigilante approach. They stated on Fox News that if a similar situation occurred in Arkansas, individuals would take matters into their own hands. Similarly, in the interview with NBC News, the user suggested that people should physically remove the protesters if they block the streets.
Senator Cotton has once again used inflammatory language to address the handling of nationwide protests.
In a 2020 op-ed published in the New York Times, Cotton suggested deploying National Guard troops to quell protests following George Floyd's murder by police officers in Minneapolis. In response to the vandalism of monuments during the protests, Cotton labeled those involved in defacing or destroying statues as "mob vigilantes" who could potentially target individuals and their families.
Concerns have been raised about the Senator's remarks, with Daniel Jones expressing that such comments could incite violence and hinder the efforts of law enforcement. Calls for violence against protesters online have reportedly increased following Cotton's statements, highlighting the impact of divisive rhetoric on real-world actions.
CBS News attempted to contact Cotton's office for a response on Friday night.
Advance Democracy, an organization led by Daniel Jones, a former U.S. Senate staff investigator, conducts regular monitoring of far-right media, foreign state media, and specific social media platforms.
