Washington Examiner Chief Political Correspondent Byron York said political violence is on the rise in the United States.
“How could anybody not think that political violence isn’t increasing?” York said on Fox News after listing various examples of political violence over the last year.
A new Pew Research Center study found that 77% of Republicans said left-wing extremism is a major problem in the country, while 76% of Democrats said that right-wing extremism is.
York noted, however, that 85% of Americans said political violence is increasing.
York listed the politically motivated attacks on both Democratic and Republican political figures, including the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the firebombing of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s (D-PA) home, the murder of the former Minnesota State House Speaker Melissa Hortman, and the assassination attempt on President Donald Trump.
In addition to the attacks on political figures, York also mentioned the violence in the streets as another example of political violence.
“Plus all of this violence we are seeing in the streets now,” York said. “An incredible antifa attack on July 4 in Texas, where antifa protesters had AR-15s, bulletproof vests, intending to kill, and the attack on ICE in Dallas, where two people were killed.”
Fox News anchor Dana Perino also asked York about recent comments from Texas State Rep. Jolanda Jones, who is running for Congress.
“If you hit me in my face, I’m not going to punch you back in your face, I’m going to go across your neck,” Jones said in an interview with CNN. “…You got to hit hard enough that they won’t come back.”
York noted that the Pew Research Center found Democrats mostly blame Trump, while Republicans blame increased polarization and rhetoric from the left.
“Yes, the word ‘fight’ is often used in a political context and does not mean punching somebody or knifing somebody, but it can also be used in a violent context,” York said.
“When you see what we’re seeing now, especially, especially, in the attacks on the enforcement of federal immigration law, we’re seeing all over the country, it’s hard to interpret that any other way,” York added.
