Virtuous Violence: July Elections Brief

THE FINDINGS

This month, we delve into a special type of dangerous speech – one that doesn’t attack anyone. Instead, this speech valorizes violence, characterizing it as something honorable and connected to the identity of the in-group. We have noticed this speech proliferating in our media environment in recent months. When used alongside dangerous speech that degrades and devalues members of another group, it creates a volatile context in which there is a heightened chance of killings and attacks.  Once people are primed to commit violence, they need only minor prompting to choose a target.

Throughout the electoral campaign we will continue to track these online narratives as well as new rhetorical lightning rods as they emerge. To get our monthly reports as soon as we write them, click here to sign up.

Have questions? Please email Cathy@dangerousspeech.org

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REPORT CONTRIBUTORS:

Cathy Buerger

Tom Cowin

Rob Dickinson

Alexandra Filindra

Niko Shahbazian

Elizabeth Young