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Americans are being radicalized faster than ever before as politicians and community leaders continue mainstreaming far-right values, like white supremacy and anti-government rhetoric.

The ideas incubated by white nationalists are being pulled from the backwoods of Ku Klux Klan rallies and militia meetings and into the mainstream through the internet, so much so that nearly 25% of the American public has been exposed to them on a fairly regular basis, according to Devin Burghart, executive director for the Institute for Research & Education on Human Rights.

Not all of them have been radicalized. Not all of them decided to invade the Capitol, Burghart said. But its a reminder that we have a deep and growing problem and that you are undoubtedly likely to encounter someone who shares these ideas.

Far-right extremist values have always played a role in America. Burgharts first encounter with white supremacy was at age 14 when neo-Nazi Robert Matthews held a rally in downtown Spokane, Washington, to recruit families into his far-right group. Burgharts run-ins with extremism didnt end there. As a teenager involved in the local music scene, Burghart watched white power skinheads try to recruit his friends to bridge the gap between healthy youth rebellion and hardcore white supremacy.

Like gun rights or religion, extremists used music to bond with people and gradually radicalize them by re-introducing far-right values such as white nationalism. The radicalization process hasnt changed significantly, but Burghart said leaders who act as facilitators of misinformation online and on-air have unprecedentedly sped it up.

What used to take years now takes months in terms of exposure to the ideas and involvement in more extreme, radical far-right organizations, Burghart said. A persons path to radicalization moves from early exposure to ideas based on crass stereotypes and concerns of status into a place in their mind where violence is justified.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security identified domestic violent extremists as the primary threat to Americans in 2020, and predicted those groups will continue to target individuals institutions. An analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies of 893 terrorist attacks in the U.S. dating back to January 1994, found right-wing extremists perpetrated two-thirds of the attacks and plots in 2019 and over 90% between Jan. 1 and May 8, 2020. Both agencies predicted violence would intensify during the general election.

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Allendale Township Planning Commissioner Ryan Kelley speaks on stage with his wife and children in Allendale Township on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. The American Patriot Council held a rally at Allendale Community Park to support President Donald Trump and resist socialism while Justice for Black Lives held an opposing rally outside Allendale Township Hall to demand the removal of Kelley from the commission because of his alleged ties to militia members charged in the plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)Cory Morse | MLive.com

Today, people are introduced to core far-right values through an online post shared by their family or community members. Some of these values, like white supremacy, dominated American society at one point and are considered sacred, withstanding time and societal changes. Other values, like gun rights and anti-immigration, are being sacralized right now, according to Scott Atran, a former research professor at the University of Michigan who has interviewed domestic extremists and international terrorists.

Most people who join extremist movements are normal people who have felt disfranchised, experts say. In America, these are people who fear white dispossession and changing demographics.

A movement can have many different kinds of people, but usually for it to sustain itself it has to have a core social dynamic and core values, Atran said.

Those identified in the U.S. Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6 came from a variety of backgrounds, including a Chicago real estate agent; a Dallas-area lawyer, a CEO, a West Virginia state representative and a Florida firefighter, according to reports.

Americans widely accepted far-right values like white supremacy until World War I and the Civil Rights Movement. As the nation shifted its focus on lifting Black people and women, Atran said federal agencies fairly had far-right extremism under control. Still, racist and fascist core values were strong among some people, who Atran said were forced to hide their views.

It was fairly under control because the public space didnt allow for extremists to come out into the open back then. They were in the closet and had to hide, Atran said. But thats not the case now, (the FBI) lost the tread and allowed it to grow to the point where it is now, where it has metastasized.

Related: Report finds 25 hate groups in Michigan as extremism becomes mainstream

Members of the Proud Boys stand on the front lawn of the Capitol while open carry gun activist rally in Lansing on Thursday Sep. 17, 2020. Nicole Hester/Mlive.com

Far-right beliefs began spreading rapidly again after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, only this time they had the internet to project their values on the masses, according to Burghart. This was the initial indicator of Americas lasting challenge of accepting a changing demographic.

You didnt need the Aryan nation members at that point to start talking badly about immigrants because you had members of Congress use ideas once confined to the backwoods Klan rallies and militia meetings as justification for legislation, Burghart said.

Political involvement in spreading far-right values escalated in 2008, during the recession and when Barack Obama was elected as the first Black president. Extremist-led movements are typically sparked at times of economic and social uncertainty, like during a global pandemic, said Ryan Scrivens, a Michigan State University professor whose research is focused on extremism.

These are during times people feel that theyre disenfranchised or that their voices arent being heard, Scrivens said. Its when they feel like something of theirs, whether its land or resources, is being threatened. Thats when you start seeing violence.

Related: Politicians who lied about election fraud gave extremists something to fight for, experts say

White nationalism and politics overlapped in 2009 when the Tea Party, a new far-right group, emerged. On its surface, the Tea Party lured members in by talking about debt and taxes as a rationalization to undermine democratic processes, like removing Senate terms. Still, Burghart said research found the primary values driving the group were fears of white dispossession and racism. The study found the longer people were involved with the Tea Party, the more racist they became.

The movement didnt just reflect their racism; it worsened it, Burghart said.

The Tea Party movement is an example of how the internet and facilitators of far-right values can quickly radicalize people in the 21st Century, according to Burghart. At its apex in 2015, Burghart said national polling showed the Tea Party had 16% to 18% of the American adult populations support, which would put the number of sympathizers at tens of millions. Closer to its core, millions of people attended Tea Party meetings and protests, as well as bought party literature. At one point, the Tea Party had more than 250,000 members nationwide who signed up on the websites of six national organizations that formed at the inception of the movement.

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Michigan Capitol ahead of potential protests

Related: Michigan extremism a dress rehearsal for Capitol riot, experts say

Once far-right values are normalized by the masses, people on the path to radicalization may find themselves in an echo chamber. Whether its through Facebook groups, Twitter or YouTube, far-right sympathizers find themselves in a situation in which extreme beliefs are being amplified, according to JoEllen Vinyard, an Eastern Michigan University professor who studies extremism.

People have selective perceptions, Vinyard said. They watch the channels that they agree with, they read the internet sites that agree with them, and they dont see another side to the issues. These people really believe theyre right about their concerns and that they need to take actions on behalf of the government.

People are fully radicalized when their sacred values infuse their identifies with a movement, said Atran. Extremists dont negotiate sacred values, like white supremacy; they risk their lives and others lives to preserve them.

Thats when we find a maximum willingness to sacrifice and do virtually anything from killing children to suicide bombings, Atran said.

Research shows that once a person is radicalized, it is tough bringing them back.

Thats because your life is so narrow at that point, Burghart said. We have had people come out on their own, but it was a tough road for them. They had to reconstruct how they think of the world after being involved in the movement for so long.

Thats why experts believe the best intervention to extremism is addressing it as a community and not fully through legislation or law enforcement.

Formally, governments have tried deploying counter-narratives to extremism but found little success, according to Atran. Thats partly because far-right values have been treated as ideas floating in free space.

Theyre ideas that are embedded in particular social networks in particular ecologies. And the only way to deal with them at all is to go into those ecologies or develop alternate ecologies, Atran said. If you just work in the realm of ideas, you will get absolutely nowhere.

Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf, right, speaks next to members of the Michigan Liberty Militia during the "American Patriot Rally-Sheriffs speak out" event at Rosa Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids on Monday, May 18, 2020. The crowd is protesting against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's stay-at-home order. (Cory Morse | MLive.com) Cory Morse | MLive.com

The far-right movement in America is a leaderless resistance. Atran said the KKK, which developed the idea, started a grassroots movement that couldnt be stopped by law enforcement because responsibility would be diffused. No one would assume responsibility, and white supremacy values would keep spreading until someone took extreme action.

The internet has allowed that to happen at a much more massive scale, Atran said. Its very, very hard to control hate speech. If a platform like Facebook or Twitter tries to shut them down, they proliferate across different platforms.

Law enforcement also has its limits, and Scrivens said arresting people wont stop them from being radicalized.

I believe we, as a community, need to be having these conversations and not allow these extreme views to be normalized, Scrivens said.

Atran said the constitution had kept the country together in times of American division, but that worked partly because communities worked together.

A great threat to this nation is the ties of community that allowed ideas to be deliberated, that allowed them to bubble up and be agreed up, that social space just doesnt exist, Atran said. The internet promised to recreate those ties, but its done the exact opposite because algorithms encourage anger and division to bring in advertising revenue. So, how do we create those community bonds institutionally?

That is a challenge that will require the community and leaders to be deeply involved in pushing back far-right values, Burghart said.

We have to start rebuilding the strength of a multi-racial, pluralistic democracy that we should be so proud of instead of the deeply troubling anti-democratic resistance that we saw help lead people to rush the Capitol, Burghart said.

See the article here:
Extremists have gone mainstream. Lawyers, realtors and every-day folks make up their ranks. - mlive.com

EFF leader Julius Malema. (Photo: Waldo Swiegers / Bloomberg via Getty Images) / ANC Secretary-General Ace Magashule. (Photo: Gallo Images / Sowetan / Masi Losi) / Former president Jacob Zuma. (Photo: Gallo Images / Sunday Times / Thuli Dlamini)

On Wednesday, the ANC Secretary-General, Ace Magashule, completed the Unholy Trinity by claiming that Zuma has done nothing wrong and that we should not worry too much about the Constitution. This related to the Constitutional Court ruling that Zuma must appear before the Zondo Commission.

It is clear that Zuma and Malema would like the entire world to know that they are having tea. It was arranged, supposedly, on Twitter. (Yeah, right Ed.) Of course, it cannot be that Malema just decided to tweet Zuma, and Zuma, not the worlds most prolific Twitter/tech user, decided to answer him. Rather, this public display of a wish for shared tea consumption must be a product of earlier discussions and arrangements about the health benefits that come with the ritual usually associated with the British upper class.

Intriguingly, Malema has brought in the mayor of Ekurhuleni (and South Africas spelling bee champion Ed) Mzwandile Masina, revealing that he would be the person to make the final arrangements.

Masina has made no secret of his preference for the EFFs economic policy over that of his own party, the ANC, and so is the perfect choice to arrange this shared brewing of tea leaves and new ideas.

Nationalise, Command, Let the White Economy Collapse: Where Malema leads, ANCs Mzwandile Masina will follow

However, the context to all of this is the Zondo Commission, and the ruling by the Constitutional Court that Zuma must appear before it. Zuma has said in public that he will defy the ruling and is prepared to go to jail as part of this defiance.

The Trump of Nkandla

The history between Malema and Zuma is long and complex, and involves twists, turns, violence and betrayal.

Malema first said in 2008 that, We are prepared to die for Zuma, we are prepared to take up arms and kill for Zuma.

Then, in April 2012, he said: We have seen under President Zuma democracy being replaced with dictatorship.

In 2018, after being kicked out of the ANC and creating the EFF, Malema claimed to have warned about this president.

In the world of political reality, it was Zuma who started the process in 2010 that led to Malemas expulsion from the ANC.

Never thought wed say this: its Zuma vs Malema now

It was he who created and oversaw the situations in which Malema and EFF MPs were removed violently (and possibly illegally) from Parliament. It was he who used the power of the state against Malema.

SONA2015: When the rulers decided on the night that might is right

And still, a tea party is on the cards, with peace breaking out between them a foregone conclusion.

No surprises there, though: Malema has changed his public posture on people and issues over the years, sometimes dramatically.

In 2008 he was the first person to suggest in public that Thabo Mbeki should be removed as president, saying in the moments after the Nicholson judgment was delivered: Bye bye, Mbeki, bye bye. But, by 2016, Malema and other EFF leaders had their own tea with Mbeki on the eve of the local elections.

LGE2016: Tea with Thabo the election coup de grace

The behaviour of Malema and Zuma indicates that neither of them should believe that any alliance between them would have an air of permanence. Just a few days ago, the EFF said that Zuma should testify before the Zondo Commission, and that he must respond to the claims against him.

Its former spokesperson, Dr Mbyuseni Ndlozi Ndlozi, used slightly stronger language on Twitter, saying Zuma should be arrested, otherwise we could kiss our constitutional order goodbye. Oops.

What chance is there of Malema using the period between the warming of the teapot and the stirring of the sugar to advise Zuma to comply with the courts ruling and go before the Zondo Commission?

A former president, taking advice from someone much younger than him? It is unlikely that Zuma would suddenly change tack.

It is more likely that the advice would go the other way, that Zuma will argue to Malema that he should now oppose the Zondo Commission.

Zuma might well find this fertile ground the EFF has already said it believes the Zondo Commission is biased.

But for Malema the much more likely concern is that the Zondo Commission is reportedly investigating him, and his alleged role in the looting of the VBS Bank.

Considering the strength of the evidence against him in the public domain, and the wealth of details that show that he directly benefited from money that belonged to VBS, he has every reason to be concerned.

VBS Theft, Money Laundering & Lifes Little Luxuries: Julius Malemas time of spending dangerously

A coalition, however temporary, of Zuma and Malema against the Zondo Commission may be on the cards and to the benefit of both sides. It is possible to imagine how they would publicly condemn the commission and possibly even try a joint legal action.

However, this strategy does have its limits.

Legally, they would have to prove bias on the part of the commission, which may be difficult to do before it has actually made findings.

Politically, both Malema and Zuma have constituencies, but neither of them has shown signs of growth in the last few years. And neither would have the full support of the machinery of the ANC, which made both of their careers.

That suggests that in fact Malema and Zuma simply crave attention. They are under pressure and have a shared interest in trying to snatch the limelight, to give the impression of commanding some political power.

However, what might change this game slightly is the one person who might join them: Ace Magashule.

On Wednesday he said that people should leave Zuma alone hes done nothing wrong, before telling journalists that they shouldnt take the Constitution too seriously .

This immediately led to the reasonable claim that the secretary-general of South Africas ruling party does not respect the countrys Constitution. The partys spokesperson, Pule Mabe, had to defend Magashule, and confirm that the ANC still regards the Constitution as the apex law of the land.

But both Mabe and Magashule would not say simply that Zuma must comply with the Constitutional Court ruling and testify before the Zondo Commission.

This is yet another obvious sign of the chasm within the ANC and its top leadership.

While Magashule has been strongly criticised for his comments, he is not the first ANC secretary-general to head in this direction.

In 2008, the then secretary general, Gwede Mantashe, claimed two black judges who had ruled against the ANC in a dispute with Cope were apartheid apologists. Earlier that year he claimed Constitutional Court judges were counter-revolutionary forces who wanted to pounce on the then future president Zuma.

This might lead to questions of whether there is a structural reason why the secretary-general of the ANC makes statements that could cause systemic damage to South Africa.

But Mantashe never faced criminal charges, while Magashule has another court date in two weeks time. The comments he made about the Constitution may well be more about his own position than about Zumas, and a suggestion that he is feeling under pressure from the legal system.

This would obviously push him very much into the arms of those who are currently preparing their best china for Fridays elevenses.

It has to be asked: how much support can Zuma, Magashule and Malema garner, especially outside the ANCs warm embrace? In terms of public support, the answer is: not a huge amount. Zumas approval ratings dropped below 20% during his term, and are unlikely to have risen much since then. Magashule had an approval rating of around 11% in the last public poll on his behaviour and currently faces criminal charges. Malemas party, the EFF, has never threatened to go above 15%.

None of this suggests that any possible coalition of the wounded and criminally-charged could threaten the formal ANC at the polls. And that might well be the coalitions fatal weakness. Without strong and deep public support, or any real prospect of managing a nation-wide mobilisation, it will be hard to have a significant political impact.

But it does appear that events are moving towards some form of climax. Zuma is now where he never wanted to be, facing the corruption charges he tried so hard to avoid, and jail time for his refusal to attend the Zondo Commission. He may well seek anyone who can provide any help whatsoever. DM

More here:
The Great Nkandla Tea Party a coalition of the wounded and criminally charged - Daily Maverick

The tea party to end all tea parties is underway at Former President Jacob Zumas humble abode at Nkandla, with Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema arriving in dramatic fashion via helicopter with Former EFF National Chairperson Dali Mpofu among the Red Beret delegation accompanying him.

Never has a cuppa between old friends warranted so much attention, with Malema requesting the meeting on Twitter after Zuma announced that he will defy the Constitutional Court order demanding him to appear at the State Capture Commission.

Zuma was cordial in extending his hospitality after Malemas request, which consisted of six words that sent the South African public into a frenzy: Can we please have tea urgently?

I have seen your request to share a cup of tea, replied Zuma. As you know, Nkandla village is home for me and that is where my time is spent these days. Tea I have plenty of, you are more than welcome to come over for a cup.

Malema took him up on the offer on Friday, arriving at the compound at around 11:30 before heading to the Zuma household.

It remains to be seen what the two former comrades turned fierce foes will discuss whilst sipping on tea, and the South African public cant wait for the proverbial tea to be spilt. Its suggested that the meeting will serve as peace talks between the two men, who have bitterly opposed one another since Malema was sacked by the ANC,

His subsequent move to form the EFF catapulted him to the forefront of parliament and national spotlight, with his new platform affording him the opportunity to defy Zuma whenever he got a chance.

It is understood that the pair will emerge from the meeting and greet the media, and well be on hand to give you the latest.

Better put the kettle on

Go here to read the rest:
Malema meets Zuma: EFF arrive in helicopter before tea party for the ages - The South African

A storm has been brewing in the Texas Republican Party after the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. It fired a staffer who had posted a video of himself at the Capitol during the riot.

Matthew Dowd says that staffer was evidence of a larger problem in the party, not just in Texas but nationwide one it will have to continue to grapple with in this post-Trump era.

I think its enough to sort of cause the eyes of many people in our country, and many people in the world, to look at us and say, Whats going on in America?' Dowd told Texas Standard.

Dowd is a former ABC News chief political analyst, former adviser to former President George W. Bush and an author and co-founder of Country Over Party.

A moment for Republicans to look inward

This is the first time somebody has tried to nullify an election since 1860 in the run-up to the Civil War. So, yes, I think its a key moment in time for the Republicans to ask themselves a whole bunch of questions about where theyre headed, Dowd said.

Should the Texas GOP should be concerned about people leaving the Republican Party?

NPR has reported that thousands of people are leaving the GOP, but not all because of what happened on Jan. 6. Some are leaving because they feel the party has turned its back on former President Donald Trump. Either way, Dowd says Texas Republican leaders should take notice.

I think the Texas GOP should be real concerned. This is a symptom of a much deeper problem in the Republican Party and in the Texas GOP, Dowd said.

He says whether its Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green, who could potentially lose her House committee positions because of spreading conspiracy theories and more, or Trump or the insurrection, Dowd says all of those things have led us here.

I think that we are at that sort of key place in time where the Republican Party of Texas should be very concerned, Dowd said.

What has Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said about his partys future?

Dowd says Abbott hasnt said much about the insurrection, even as it has led to further division in his party.

I think its incredibly unfortunate that more Republicans, leaders like Gov. Abbott, havent stood up for what happened at the Capitol on Jan. 6 stood up to the sort of crazies and crackpots that have emerged in the course of this, Dowd said.

He says Republicans can look to history, to Sam Houston, who disagreed with secession efforts in 1859, and was ultimately kicked out of office because he took a principled stand.

And I think thats where I think Republican leaders have to land, he said. Are they going to take a principled stand against these things that are against our Constitution and risk losing office? Or are they just going to quietly go along and allow it to continue to destroy much of our political discourse?

The Tea Party didnt destroy the GOP. Why should Republicans be worried about the far-right wing of their party today?

Its much more of a threat, and its wholly different. I mean, you didnt have the Tea Party sort of raise arms and go to the Capitol to try to overthrow an election. So its a big difference in co-opting the Tea Party, and dealing with what we have to deal with today.

Excerpt from:
Texas GOP Is At A Crossroads After Capitol Insurrection. Which Way Will It Go? - Texas Standard

- The 'Tea Party' hosted by ex-president Jacob Zuma and attended by Julius Malema has been the talk of Mzansi in recent days

- Political analyst Lukhona Mnguni is adamant that Malema has the power to disrupt the power succession within the ANC

- While those who attended aren't spilling any tea, Mnguni is adamant something big is on the cards

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Political analyst Lukhona Mnguni says Malema is one person who has an ability to disrupt the intergenerational logic of power succession within the ANC.

Parties who attended the tea party have kept the discussions among themselves, leading to speculations and claims by hidden sources.

There is more going political to the "Tea Party" that was hosted by former President Jacob Zuma and attended by the EFF Commander in Chief, Julius Malema.

Mnguni weighs in on the 'Tea Party' hosted by ex-president Jacob Zuma for Julius Malema. Image: @mzwandileMasinaSource: Twitter

It has been widely reported that this "Tea Party" was not as a result of a spontaneous Twitter conversation as it first emerged but has been long in the making with few political players involved.

Early indications were that Malema is going to Nkandla to convince Zuma to reconsider his stance of refusing to appear before the Zondo Commission.

Arriving there in the company of Advocate Dali Mpofu who has represented a number of clients who appeared before the commission strengthened those speculations.

Whilst the presence of Ekurhuleni Mayor Mzwandile in Nkandla was expected since on Twitter Malema had indicated that he will finalise the details of the visit through him, there was a surprise presence of Tony Yengeni, an ANC NEC member.

As the parties decided to keep the details of their discussions to themselves, it remained a matter of speculation and reported claims from hidden sources who claim to have been present.

What has made these two strange bedfellows to come together and have tea when the EFF went after Zuma, disrupted his Parliamentary appearances, took him to court and sponsored the motion of no-confidence that forced resignation of Zuma after realising that ANC will support the motion.

As the clich, "There are no permanent friends or enemies in politics," what has brought these former foes together?

Political analyst Lukhona Mnguni said politicians at times will always bargain with what strengthens their ambitions.

It is an open secret that Malema harbours ambitions of being elected to be the president of this country.

During his era as the ANC youth league leader, Malema was celebrated and often touted as the future leader of the party and the country.

The cracks in the ANC renews Malema's ambitions but it may not be possible to achieve it without winning some of the warring factions of the ruling party.

Mnguni believes that there is a strongly hidden realignment of political forces within ANC whose aim is to disrupt the presidency of Ramaphosa to destabilise his efforts to reform the state after certain institutions began pursuing particular individuals or their misdeeds.

He said Malema is one person who has an ability to disrupt the intergenerational logic of power succession within the ANC.

While most of what is happening at this stage remains a speculation one thing that is clear is that Malema is an ambitious politician whose political rhetoric resonates with some in the ANC.

Could it be that the ANC faction which has been backing Zuma is preparing to work with Malema and forge a new path?

Zuma has been frustrated by his ongoing corruption case and various judgments that have ordered him to pay legal costs of other litigants.

Malema on the other hand is not off-the-hook yet from charges of corruption that were provisionally withdrawn after he approached the court to seek trial separation from his co-accused.

But he had previously shared a view that Zuma is too old to go to jail. Could it be that Zuma is seeking new friends that can help him to stay out of jail since the current ANC leadership of Cyril Ramaphosa has allowed the law to take its course without giving any hint of coming to his aid?

Earlier, Briefly.co.za reported that former president Jacob Zuma reportedly told EFF leader Julius Malema that he would only appear at the State Capture Commission if Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo recused himself.

Zuma believes that Zondo is conflicted. According to the pics posted on social media by the EFF, Zuma, Malema, EFF's advocate Dali Mpofu, ANC's Mzwandile Masina and Tony Yengeni held a meeting over tea at Zuma's Nkandla homestead on Friday, 5 February. Malema had hit Zuma up on Twitter and requested the meeting after he publicly refused to appear at the Zondo Commission.

In a statement, Zuma defied a Constitutional Court order compelling him to appear before the commission.

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Analysis: The Nkandla Tea Party and Malema's Presidential Ambitions - Briefly