How New is the New Extremist Threat? Preliminary Conclusions from the U.S. Capitol Arrests Data

Jason Blazakis, Nate Rosenblatt — 2021-03-17T14:53:29-0700

We believe there are a variety of demographics, beliefs, intentions, levels of organization, and propensity to commit acts of violence represented in the Capitol arrests. And, while President Donald Trump’s rhetoric brought these individuals together, it would be a mistake to label them with a broad-brush stroke and conclude that they are all extremists who see violence as a tool for political change. Instead, the Biden administration should treat the Jan. 6 cases going forward with more nuance. Not all Capitol rioters were violent, not all Capitol rioters were extremist, and not all Capitol rioters were part of a mass movement. - Nate Rosenblatt, and Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies Professor Jason Blazakis, director of the Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism argue in op-ed published by War on the Rocks.