Staff Reports
There’s a glaring double standard in how political violence is remembered and discussed in America, especially by those who shape the national narrative. When events fit the preferences of progressive commentators, every detail is parsed and publicized; when violence erupts from the left, such as the destructive summer of 2020, these incidents are minimized, rebranded, or outright ignored. Cities burning, police precincts overrun, citizens harmed—these weren’t isolated disruptions, but high-profile manifestations of a deeper problem that many would rather forget.
The pattern is hardly new. Far-left violence has deep historical roots, extending back to the radical bombings and attacks of the 1960s, when the FBI tallied more than 2,500 bombings or attempted bombings in just a few years. Such staggering figures should be etched into our collective understanding, yet they are conveniently tossed aside by pundits who find them politically inconvenient. It’s no mystery why: to acknowledge the left’s long record of violence undermines the messaging of those who perpetually posture as guardians of peace and justice.
Consider Portland, a city that has been practically synonymous with anarchic outbursts in recent years. The actions of Antifa—property destruction, intimidation, open defiance of law—are well documented, but many on the left deny the group’s existence or paint their antics as heroic resistance. This denial borders on the delusional, as if facts can be erased by simply refusing to acknowledge them. It’s the kind of fantasy that belongs in fiction, not responsible governance or authentic public debate.
Selective memory serves those who wish to maintain self-righteous narratives and avoid reckoning with uncomfortable realities. When violence is chronic and ideologically driven, it demands acknowledgment; silence only enables more chaos. The self-styled defenders of justice who refuse to confront these truths do a disservice to every American who believes in order, freedom, and genuine public safety.
Ultimately, real justice requires honest recognition of violence, regardless of the perpetrator’s politics. To highlight only one side’s transgressions while ignoring the other’s erodes national unity and reveals cowardice behind the mask of activism. Until those responsible for shaping opinion choose reality over fantasy, inconvenient truths will continue to cast a long shadow over their carefully crafted narratives.
