University of Dayton - Human Rights Center
Summary of Conclusions
Preventing and Responding to Political Violence, Extremism, and Hate in Ohio Background On November 16, 2021, the Human Rights Center at the University of Dayton hosted local, national, and international experts and stakeholders for a roundtable discussion entitled “preventing and responding to political violence, extremism and hate in Ohio”. Since the 2020 election and the January 6 attack on the United States Capitol, national and international experts have raised concern about increasing political violence in the United States, particularly by white supremacist or racially and ethnically motivated violent extremist groups. This event explored current trends in increased radicalization and the rise of racially and ethnically motivated violent extremist groups in Ohio, the United States, and globally.
Key Takeaways Ohio is ripe for prevention and response activities, particularly in communities, though current efforts are few and community engagement is nascent on these issues. Community based efforts should be highly contextualized and approach specific groups with a narrative that doesn’t alienate them. Finding common experiences and values with which to make initial connections, even if those at first seem unrelated to the ultimate goal of countering extremism, is critical to the success of those efforts. Further efforts to convene stakeholders, form partnerships, and build an evidence base for “what works” in preventing political and extremist violence are essential and urgent.
Extremism and Political Violence Context in Ohio The Southern Poverty Law Center has identified Ohio as having the second highest number of hate groups in the United States. Thirty-eight Ohioans have been charged in relation to the January 6 insurrection, making it the 9th state in indictments per capita.1 Rural communities are not a monolith, but they are often treated as such in the media and by politicians. Lack of opportunities, disinvestment, and isolation in rural areas can be a driver of acceptance of extremist ideas and entrance into extremist circles, particularly online. Extremist groups harness individuals’ sense of grievance or relative deprivation. Dominant narratives describing the negative impact of globalization on Ohio’s economy and social progress could be a source of such grievance or sense of deprivation.
1
https://extremism.gwu.edu/Capitol-Hill-Cases
Prevention and Response in Ohio The Department of Homeland Security Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships (CP3) has shifted from response-oriented to prevention-oriented counter-extremism work in the wake of January 6. CP3 provides threat briefings for both local officials (Community Awareness Briefings) and law enforcement (Law Enforcement Awareness Briefings). Bridge building efforts across political and cultural divides and extremism threat recognition training for emergency responders in rural and suburban communities are also underway. With veterans in particular (including those in law enforcement), there is a need to develop a solid narrative and approach. This is a nascent area for outreach and engagement by the Veterans Administration and Department of Defense.
Lessons from Global Peacebuilding Approaches Preventing violent extremism (PVE) programs need to be context specific, target key groups with clear objectives, respond to evolving features of the problem, and have credible means to assess effectiveness. The landscape of political violence and extremism is regularly shifting and dynamic, and rapid changes in institutions and social norms should be expected. A challenge is that extremist groups and actors react and move quickly, unconstrained by norms, processes and institutional procedures that accompany government action and democratic civil society. There are substantial civil and human rights concerns with countering terrorism efforts worldwide. Trends include general failures of governments to consult stakeholders on antiextremism programs and that the administrative state is taking a larger role in PVE work, including highly unaccountable surveillance and intelligence arms, giving governments leeway to target actions they dislike (e.g. opposition protests).
Next Steps Continue convening stakeholders and interested parties to foster a community of learning and practice around prevention and response to political and extremist violence in Ohio. Engage potential partner organizations and groups that are not currently working directly on these issues but in key adjacent fields such as violence prevention, social services (including support to veterans), democracy strengthening, and media. Explore tools and initiatives (e.g. hotlines, learning centers, information hubs) that the community of learning and practice will need moving forward, and the potential financial and other resources necessary to support these initiatives.
To view the full agenda, the roster of speakers and panelists, or a recording of this event, please visit the event page https://udayton.edu/artssciences/ctr/hrc/calendar/extremism-roundtable.php