Historically, the Far-Right Has Never Liked Losing Elections

The worst society has to offer has often suggested they were wronged politically and resorted to violence

Photo by Bonnie Kittle on Unsplash

When Donald Trump claimed the elections were rigged in 2016 many voters couldn’t believe he would suggest such a thing before an election he would later win. When he did it in 2020, leading to an attempted coup of the U.S. government, voters were again shocked at the result of his loss to President Joe Biden. However, many fail to realize that this has been common for far-right politicians in the United States and around the world.

Most recently, we saw former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro mimic what Trump did in 2020 leading to a similar insurrection to what occurred in the U.S. on January 6, 2021. We also saw Maria Corina Machado attempt it in Venezuela (with help from the U.S. Department of State) leading to much opposition-backed violence and we’re again seeing it with Trump and his cronies in this election. Sadly, people fall for it each time without fail.

While not uniquely a U.S. issue, declaring fraud before, intimidating voters during, and claiming fraud after elections (along with horrifying violence) have been prevalent in U.S. politics for more than 100 years.

In the 1850s, the American Party – a racist and anti-immigrant party – often employed violence against immigrant voters. On election day in Detroit, the group better known as the Know Nothings shot and killed a Democrat voter leading a firefight between Democrats and the far-right group in what was referred to as “guerilla warfare” that killed five people.

In 1834, Whig party members and Democrats engaged in a battle that led to the burning down of an entire city block. In 1874, supporters of Louisiana’s Republican governor, William Kellogg, and Democrats aligned with the White League led to more than five thousand men fighting in the streets of New Orleans.

During the Reconstruction Era, the country witnessed many conservative white nationalist groups violently targeting Black people at the polls and later after elections. In 1920, what is known as the most violent Election Day in U.S. history occurred in Ocoee, Florida when the majority of the town’s Black citizens lost their homes and 60 were killed.

The events in Florida culminated from decades of Ku Klux Klan aggression. In 1868, the KKK’s aggression expanded across the South during that year’s presidential election. The group used threats of violence, beatings, and murder to intimidate Black voters and their white allies. Their campaign of terror increased the closer they came to election day.

In Kansas, there were more than 2,000 politically motivated murders. In Georgia, the number of threats and beatings was even higher. And in Louisiana, 1,000 freed people were killed.

“Violence surrounding the 1868 election thwarted reform efforts by preventing Republicans from voting. New Orleans had 21,000 voters registered as Republicans, but only 276 people cast votes for the Republican candidates because voters were intimidated and threatened with violence. Despite Democratic victories in states like Louisiana, Kansas, and Georgia, Republicans ultimately prevailed in the 1868 presidential election and sent Ulysses S. Grant to the White House.” – The Bill of Rights Institute

While the violence has been quelled for the most part since the passage of the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act, voter suppression and intimidation have not while the re-emergence of post-election day violence made a major comeback in 2021 with the January 6, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Now, we’re seeing threats of violence again gaining steam across various social media platforms like Telegram, Gab, and Truth Social.

Coded language has also been spotted on bigger platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok. These threats are not only undeniable but worrisome for nonwhite groups, their allies, and perceived Democrat voters. Essentially, if a voter isn’t a straight white male with a MAGA hat, they can easily become a target of violence by people who harbor fascist ideals.

These threats are based on false claims of a rigged election – something Trump, Republican lawmakers, and their hardcore followers are all pushing. While much of this misinformation can be credited to foreign actors, the people who fall for it do so willingly even after the lies have been debunked. That level of willful ignorance is typically driven by hate and is often used as justification for violent and threatening actions.

It’s worth remembering that the threats of violence and violent attacks against civilians, police, and the government over elections are built on the same culture of repression and violence that was the basis of this country’s foundation. Having an understanding of what we are seeing today and the connections to the Christian white nationalist thinking that drove the KKK is crucial to better addressing the issue on a more personal level.

If we don’t take the initiative to address this level of racial, ethnic, and cultural hate in our proximity – among our friends, family, and coworkers – we may never bring it to an end. Today, nonwhite groups are facing growing threats not just from bigots and fascists on the Internet, but from our neighbors and members of our communities as well.

That in itself is the scariest part of all of this.

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I’m a freelance journalist. Find my work at Latino Rebels, Unicorn Riot, The Antagonist Magazine, and more. I’m also on TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, and Threads. To support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber or donate on Venmo, PayPal, or CashApp