Story perspectives

Senator Schmitt's Hearing: Debating Left vs. Right Violence

10/23/2025

Summary

Story summary

Senator Eric Schmitt's hearing on October 28 will focus on left-wing political violence, referencing the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
Studies indicate that right-wing violence has historically been more prevalent, with a Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) report noting recent increases in left-wing attacks, which remain lower than right-wing incidents over the past 30 years.
Critics assert that claims of left-wing violence as a greater threat oversimplify the issue, while Donald Trump Jr.'s assertion of no right-wing violence contradicts research showing significant right-wing extremist violence in the U.S. since 2001.

History

Historical Context

Political violence in the U.S. has escalated since the post-9/11 era, particularly with the rise of right-wing extremism, which accounted for 75% of extremist-related deaths since 2001. A 2021 report highlighted that far-right groups were responsible for the majority of domestic terrorist incidents, prompting ongoing debates about political threats, as seen in Senator Eric Schmitt's upcoming hearing on left-wing violence.

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Story summary

Senator Eric Schmitt's hearing on October 28 will focus on left-wing political violence, referencing the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
Studies indicate that right-wing violence has historically been more prevalent, with a Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) report noting recent increases in left-wing attacks, which remain lower than right-wing incidents over the past 30 years.
Critics assert that claims of left-wing violence as a greater threat oversimplify the issue, while Donald Trump Jr.'s assertion of no right-wing violence contradicts research showing significant right-wing extremist violence in the U.S. since 2001.

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