Bearing Witness
A careful record of leftist political violence stories and impacts.
About Us
Welcome to leftistviolence.org, a dedicated platform for examining and documenting instances of political and societal violence associated with leftist ideologies and movements. Our mission is to raise awareness about the often-overlooked or downplayed forms of aggression that stem from far-left extremism, anarchism, and related activist groups. We believe that true progress toward a peaceful society requires honest acknowledgment of threats from all sides of the political spectrum, without partisan bias or minimization.
While mainstream discourse frequently highlights violence from the far right we focus here on the rising trend of left-wing political violence. Recent analyses, including a 2025 CSIS report, indicate that left-wing terrorist attacks and plots have increased significantly over the past decade, particularly since 2016, reaching levels not seen in over 30 years in some periods. This escalation demands scrutiny to prevent further harm.
Understanding the Spectrum of Leftist Violence
Violence is not limited to direct physical assaults; it encompasses a broad range of tactics designed to intimidate, coerce, or destabilize opponents and society at large. Below, we outline key forms, drawing from historical and contemporary examples:
Physical Violence: Direct assaults, riots, and attacks on individuals or property. Examples include clashes involving Antifa groups, where tactics such as fistfights, use of improvised weapons (e.g., fireworks, Molotov cocktails), and street brawls have occurred during counter-protests against perceived right-wing events. Historical cases from the 1970s–1980s involve groups like the Weather Underground (bombings) and Symbionese Liberation Army (murders and robberies). More recently, violence during some 2020 Black Lives Matter-affiliated protests included property destruction, looting, and confrontations with police, though over 93–95% of demonstrations were peaceful per reports from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED).
Verbal Threats and Harassment: Intimidation through doxing, death threats, or online campaigns to silence dissent. Antifa networks have been linked to such tactics, including efforts to "no-platform" speakers by disrupting events or threatening venues.
Rhetorical Escalation: Inflammatory language that dehumanizes opponents, justifying violence as "punching Nazis" or necessary resistance. This can create an environment where escalation feels morally sanctioned, contributing to cycles of confrontation.
Propaganda and Disinformation: Spreading narratives that incite unrest or justify aggression, often portraying systemic institutions (e.g., police, capitalism) as inherently oppressive targets.
Institutional or Indirect Harm: Policies or decisions that enable ongoing violence, such as lenient bail reforms or prosecutorial discretion leading to early releases of repeat offenders. Critics argue some progressive criminal justice approaches in certain cities have contributed to crime spikes, though causation is debated and tied to broader factors like poverty and policing.
Our goal is not to equate all left-leaning views with extremism—most progressives and liberals reject violence entirely—but to spotlight the fringe elements that cross into harm. By compiling documented cases, analyses, and resources, we aim to foster informed discussion and advocate for accountability across the board.
We invite contributions, tips, and civil dialogue. Together, we can work toward reducing all forms of political violence for a safer, more united future.
Thank you for visiting. —The Leftist Violence Team
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