March 3, 2021 – In my interview with Dr. Michael Jensen, Senior Researcher at the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) at the University of Maryland, there is much to be dismayed about. Jensen and his team analyze raw data to create ‘Empirical Assessment of Domestic Radicalization’ (EADR), used to create the largest known database on individual radicalization in the United States – Profiles of Individual Radicalization in the United States (PIRUS). Jensen leads the PIRUS project, which tracks the radicalization of US extremists, and provides its data to US intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Because of his work in the project – he has plenty to say about who the Capitol insurrectionists are.
Based upon the PIRUS project data tracking and monitoring, he found some narratives and truths.
Motivation – that is why and how so many mobilized to attack the Capitol and the seat of US government. What Jensen explained, is when there is a perceived wrong or grievance – whether real or imagined – extremists, even of different groups form a common common bond to unite against a perceived common enemy. Here that fervor coalesced against lawmakers and the Capitol – the citadel of American democracy.
How did a deep-seated grievance take hold?
According to his research, there are a number of elements that fit into the ‘Grievance’ paradigm:
- a vulnerable audience
- need for an ‘influential’ voice
- a ‘mechanism’ to spread the narrative.
Who comprises the vulnerable audience?
According to Jensen, many of the Americans – the vulnerable audience – believed the election was fraught with fraud and ‘stolen’ from Donald Trump and hence from them. Even though over 60 courts weighed in on the matter and found no widespread or systemic voter fraud, which was echoed by former Attorney General Barr, as well as other Trump administration officials, including Chris Krebs, former CISA director – all stated there was no fraud. Despite many high-ranking Trump officials decrying there was no systemic election fraud, the narrative had been set, the rally cry of ‘Stop the Steal’ had been made and put in motion.
The Need for an ‘Influential’ Voice
This element was met when the former president, Donald Trump stated over and over and repeated what has become now known as ‘The Big ‘Lie’ that the election had been stolen from him and for many of his supporters. The president, by virtue of his office, commands attention and at least some credence of forthrightness. Yet, that office squandered its any vestige of credence when it continued the narrative. As we now know, many who consider themselves patriotic Americans rallied to what they believed was the president’s outcry for justice. Little did they know at the time they were being used as pawns to the advantage of only the former president himself. That type of influential voice is dangerous – and when not countered by those who represent the people – lawmakers – who would be other influential voices that could counter the president, yet stayed silent or continued the ‘Big Lie’ – that was a recipe for disaster.
Mechanism to Spread the ‘False’ Narrative
Jensen recounted that in the ‘old’ days before social media, it took time to ‘get the word out’ – to spread a narrative across the nation. Now with the digital universe we all live in, it only takes a few seconds to reach audiences, incite them, and even mobilize them. Combined with 24 hour news cycles on TV, it is no wonder that radicalization has taken a foothold in America.
The Bottom Line
It is not just ‘radicalization’ of beliefs anymore – it is now ‘mobilization’ of individuals on ‘behalf’ of those beliefs. When in the late 1990’s to early 2000’s it took on average 18 months to radicalize and mobilize someone on behalf of their beliefs – it now takes on average just 7 months to radicalize.
This type of ‘call to action’ occurring on January 6, is not about changing beliefs of those being called to action – it is about getting them to ‘act’ upon their beliefs – this is what the world witnessed. So whether one is a Proud Boy, or an Oath Keeper, or a QAnon supporter – or other militia person, the message is the same: disrupt the status quo, engage a perceived enemy through violence or subversion, and claim victory through defeat and conquering the perceived enemy. And of course, disavow any wrongdoing if arrested.
It all Coalesced on January 6
And that is surely what took place on January 6 when all of the Trump supporters converged upon the Capitol to stop what they believed was an election being stolen away from their chosen candidate – Donald Trump. Many now arrested, stated they believed they were called to action by their president to ‘Stop the Steal’ – which could only be accomplished at this late date by stopping the electoral votes from being counted by Congress. So the goal of the insurrectionists was was to disrupt Congress and hence the electoral vote counting to give their chosen candidate a victory that the courts, and the voters would not give deliver to him.
The ‘Big Lie’ – The End Justifies the Means
In other words, when all else failed, coercion would take precedence. And if that meant bringing harm to the Vice-President who was in charge of overseeing the electoral vote count – so be it. In the minds of the radical insurrectionists, the end justified the means – and the Capitol siege was their chosen means of stopping the perceived steal. By stopping the electoral vote count, rioting the Capitol, and hunting members of Congress including the Vice President – it was believed they could hand back the election to whom they believed was its rightful owner – the one who perpetuated the Big Lie of election fraud and mobilized them – the ‘Inciter-in-Chief,’ Donald Trump.
For Election Related Programming, watch Election Security: Securing the Vote While Securing the System, Guest: International Cyber Security Expert & NY Times Best-Selling Author, Bruce Schneier.
Stay tuned for the upcoming release of the program with Dr. Michael Jensen, on the Insurrection at the Capitol!
Mary Kay Elloian, MBA, JD, Esq.
The Legal Edition-Legal, Business & Policy News
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