‘All the red flags’: Political analysts warn of U.S. election violence in November – By Elliot Smith (CNBC) / Oct 1 2020
- During Tuesday’s debate, President Trump again cited unfounded claims about mail-in ballots leading to widespread voter fraud in justifying his reluctance to accept the election result should he lose.
- The president also refused to disavow white supremacists and militia groups in his corner, telling the Proud Boys — a violent, all-male far-right extremist group — to “stand back and stand by.”
With President Donald Trump refusing to commit to a peaceful transition of power in the event that he loses the upcoming election and violent clashes already unfolding in a number of states, political analysts are uniquely fearful as November approaches.
Asked last week to commit to conceding should the November 3 election go in favor of Democratic nominee Joe Biden, Trump again cited unfounded claims about mail-in ballots leading to widespread voter fraud in justifying his reluctance.
He reiterated this during Tuesday night’s chaotic presidential debate, calling mail-in voting a “disaster” and again suggesting that he would not accept a result that goes against him.
The president also refused to disavow white supremacists and militia groups in his corner, telling the Proud Boys — a violent, all-male far-right extremist group — to “stand back and stand by.” He instead directed his ire at Antifa and “far-left” groups.
The comment was interpreted across the group’s social media pages as marching orders, according to NBC News, and the Proud Boys have already made t-shirts available emblazoned with Trump’s words. The Proud Boys were classified as an extremist group by the FBI in 2018.
Continue to article: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/01/all-the-red-flags-political-analysts-warn-of-us-election-violence.html
