A University of California, Davis study last fall revealed some surprising beliefs in the United States. Nearly one in three respondents said violence was justified to further a political cause, such as stopping election theft, or to “protect American lives.” A way of life that I believe in. ”
This reflects a broader trend of growing support for political violence, which is already having real effects. In a 2021 survey, more than 80% of U.S. local officials said they had been threatened or harassed.
“A steady undercurrent of violence and physical danger has become the new normal,” my colleagues Danny Hakim, Ken Bensinger, and Eileen Sullivan recently wrote in the New York Times. “A barrage of threats, masked by online anonymity and often driven by extreme political views, is changing the way civil servants do their jobs, terrorizing families, and forcing some to be driven out of public life entirely.” There are too.”
I highly recommend their full article, which is important and compelling.
Reporters spoke with Joe Chimenti, former chairman of the Shasta County Board of Supervisors. He began receiving death threats shortly after taking office in 2019. A wave of anti-government sentiment began engulfing the county during the coronavirus pandemic and grew after Donald Trump’s defeat in the 2020 presidential election.
Chimenti, a Republican, has chosen not to run for a second term. “He went into this work to make a difference,” he said. “But I thought, why should I put up with this?”
Nevada County Clerk and Recorder Natalie Adna said county officials are used to confronting people who make threats over controversial issues such as election results and public health mandates.
“A lot of what we’ve experienced falls into this gray area,” Adna said. “It makes you look over your shoulder.”
And before we leave, we have some good news
Monday is Memorial Day, and California State Parks is offering free admission to 143 state parks for veterans, active duty and reserve military personnel, and their families.
A list of participating parks can be found here.
thank you for reading. I’ll be back tomorrow. — Soumya
P.S. Here it is today’s mini crossword.
Halina Bennett and brianna scalia Contributed to California Today. You can reach the team at CAtoday@nytimes.com.
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