Wednesday, Mar. 30, 2022
Are far-right extremists the top source of domestic terrorism in the US?
According to New America, far-right extremists, motivated by anti-government, white supremacist and anti-abortion ideologies, killed more people (112) than any other group over the past 20 years. Jihadists came in second, killing 107 people. Far-left groups killed one person over the same period.
The Anti-Defamation League found that over the last decade, far-right extremists accounted for 75% of extremist murders, or 333 of the 443 people killed. Right-wing extremists were linked to 26 of the 29 confirmed extremist murders in 2021.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies reported that "far-right extremists were responsible for 66% of domestic terrorist attacks and plots in 2020—roughly consistent with their share in other recent years."
Last summer, Attorney General Merrick Garland stated white supremacists were the greatest domestic terrorism threat facing the U.S.
The FBI defines domestic terrorism in part as "violent, criminal acts committed by individuals and/or groups to further ideological goals."
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
- New America What is the threat to the United States today?
- Anti-Defamation League New ADL data: Far-right extremists responsible for overwhelming majority of domestic extremist-related murders In 2021
- Center for Strategic and International Studies The military, police and the rise of terrorism in the United States
- New York Times Top law enforcement officials say the biggest domestic terror threat comes from white supremacists.
- FBI Terrorism
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