On January 6th, 2021, the nation watched as a violent mob attacked The Capitol, trying to halt the certification of the vote for the President of the United States. These seditious acts were inspired by months of disinformation and heated rhetoric in a polarized political environment. But in order to confront what happened, it is necessary to take a closer look at the insurrectionists themselves. These were not political protesters arguing for their rights, but rather people who were seeking to use violence and threats to overturn an election. Many of the mostly white insurrectionists spoke in apocalyptic terms of saving their country while rallying around symbols of hate: from the confederate battle flag, to neo-nazi imagery. The Department of Homeland Security now considers white supremacists to be the most “persistent and lethal threat” to the United States of America. This dialogue will explore the ideologies of white supremacy, the groups that champion these beliefs, and the forums that enable these individuals to connect and grow their movements.
This event is produced in partnership with The Brennan Center for Justice and New York University’s John Brademas Center.
Naureen Chowdhury Fink, Executive Director of The Soufan Center
Mike German, Fellow, Brennan Center for Justice’s Liberty & National Security Program
Vida Johnson, Associate Professor of Law, Georgetown Law
David E. Kirkland, Executive Director, NYU Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and The Transformation of Schools
Hannah Allam, Washington-based National Security Correspondent, NPR
