Political violence in the United States has become a growing concern, highlighted by recent incidents involving threats and attacks. Last month, conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed in Utah. This month, a man was arrested outside a Washington, D.C., cathedral with incendiary devices just before a mass attended by Supreme Court justices. Additionally, a Texas man faces charges for allegedly threatening conservative figures, while a pardoned January 6 rioter was arrested for making similar threats against Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

A report from terrorism experts at the Center for Strategic and International Studies indicates that while left-wing violence is on the rise, it remains significantly lower than historical levels of violence from right-wing and jihadist groups. However, 2025 is projected to be the first year in over three decades where left-wing attacks outnumber those from the far right. The report notes that support for violent actions against political opponents has also increased.

Following Kirk's assassination, some individuals celebrated his death, particularly among left-leaning young adults. A survey conducted by the Skeptic Research Center found that nearly half of Gen Z political liberals believe that "violence is often necessary to create social change." This sentiment is echoed by 43% of Gen Z moderates and 40% of Gen Z conservatives. Among Millennials, 44% of liberals support violence, compared to 28% of moderates and 41% of conservatives. Support for political violence decreases among older generations, with only 14% of Baby Boomers endorsing such views.

The survey also revealed that men are generally more supportive of political violence than women. Notably, 53% of Black Gen Z respondents agreed with the notion of violence for social change, while educational attainment appears to correlate with support for political violence. Forty percent of individuals with graduate degrees agreed with the statement, compared to lower percentages among those with less education.

The data indicates that political identity is significant for many individuals, particularly among those who identify as very liberal. A majority of very liberal respondents expressed a preference for romantic partners who share their political views. In contrast, moderates showed less emphasis on political alignment in relationships.

A recent NPR/PBS News/Marist poll found that support for the idea that Americans may need to resort to violence to address political issues has risen to 30%, an increase of 11 points since April 2024. This trend is evident across all partisan groups, with Democrats showing a notable increase in support for violence from 12% to 28%. Among Republicans, support grew from 28% to 31%, while independents increased from 18% to 25%.

The highest support for violence is among Gen Z, with 42% agreeing or strongly agreeing with the notion, followed by Millennials at 41%. A report from the Network Contagion Research Institute and Rutgers University earlier this year identified a troubling trend of justification for lethal violence among younger, ideologically left-leaning individuals, labeling it as "assassination culture."

While the rise in left-wing violence is concerning, experts caution against viewing the left as inherently violent or dismissing the threat from the right. Analysts suggest that the political landscape's shift from Democratic to Republican control may influence the willingness of extremists to resort to violence. The data indicates a growing cultural acceptance of violence as a means to resolve political disputes, particularly among younger leftists, raising concerns about the potential for increased political violence in the coming years.