Fact Check: "Right-wing extremists committed 75% of political violence in the U.S. since 2012."
What We Know
The claim that "right-wing extremists committed 75% of political violence in the U.S. since 2012" is supported by various studies and reports. According to a report from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), approximately 75% of the murders committed by political extremists in the U.S. over the past decade were perpetrated by right-wing extremists. This statistic is corroborated by multiple sources, including a study that analyzed political violence across different ideologies, indicating a significant prevalence of violence associated with right-wing extremism.
Additionally, the Extremist Crime Database and a report from the University of Maryland highlight that while right-wing extremists are responsible for a substantial portion of violent acts, the context of political violence is complex and varies by ideological group. The ADL's findings specifically note that right-wing extremists were responsible for all 61 political killings in the U.S. from 2022 through 2024, further emphasizing the trend of right-wing violence in recent years.
Analysis
While the claim is largely accurate, it is important to consider the nuances involved in defining "political violence." The study mentioned earlier indicates that right-wing and Islamist extremists in the U.S. exhibit similar levels of violence, but globally, Islamist extremists tend to engage in deadlier attacks. This suggests that while right-wing extremists may dominate in terms of sheer numbers of violent incidents in the U.S., the lethality of violence can differ based on ideological context.
Moreover, the ADL's report and other sources like The Economist and AP News consistently point to a significant rise in violence attributed to right-wing extremists, particularly in the last few years. However, the data also indicate that left-wing and Islamist extremist violence has decreased, which complicates the overall picture of political violence in the U.S.
The reliability of the sources is generally high, with the ADL being a well-respected organization focused on monitoring extremism and hate. However, it is essential to recognize potential biases in how political violence is categorized and reported, as different organizations may have varying definitions and thresholds for what constitutes "political violence."
Conclusion
The claim that "right-wing extremists committed 75% of political violence in the U.S. since 2012" is Partially True. While there is substantial evidence supporting the statistic, it is essential to understand the broader context of political violence, including the complexities of ideological motivations and the varying degrees of lethality associated with different extremist groups. The data primarily reflects a trend rather than a comprehensive analysis of all forms of political violence.
Sources
- A comparison of political violence by left-wing, right-wing, and Islamist extremists in the United States and worldwide
- A Report from ADL Center on Extremism
- Extremist Crime Database - University of Arkansas
- UMD-Led Study Shows Disparities in Violence Among Extremist Groups
- Most Extremist Violence in the U.S. Comes From the Political Right
- Quantifying the rise of America's far right
- Political violence is threaded through recent US history
