Online threats and hateful rhetoric against pro-Palestinian protesters have escalated following comments made by Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, encouraging people to take matters into their own hands. A report from Advance Democracy, a nonpartisan research organization, found an increase in calls for violence against pro-Palestinian protesters on social media platforms after Cotton’s remarks, with users threatening to kill or injure protesters. Many of these threats were directly in response to Cotton’s post, as well as posts from right-wing accounts and personalities who shared the post online, including Fox News commentator Sean Hannity.
The report uncovered alarming messages on social media platforms, such as calls to run over protesters, label them as terrorists, and suggest violent acts like mugging, hanging, executing, or throwing protesters off bridges. Some users even made disturbing suggestions like ripping off protesters’ arms or cutting off their hands to counteract the protesters’ tactics. Cotton’s initial post encouraged people to take action against the protesters, accusing them of being pro-Hamas without providing any evidence to support his claim.
Cotton continued to advocate for a vigilante approach in subsequent interviews with Fox News and NBC News, stating that people should physically move protesters blocking roads. This is not the first time Cotton has used charged language to describe how nationwide protests should be handled. In a 2020 op-ed, he called for sending in National Guard troops to stop protests following the murder of George Floyd. He also referred to those who vandalized monuments during the protests as “mob vigilantes.”
The comments made by Senator Cotton have been widely criticized as irresponsible and dangerous. Daniel Jones, the founder of Advance Democracy, expressed concern that such rhetoric not only complicates the work of law enforcement but also leads to a surge in calls for violence against protesters online. Jones emphasized the importance of other elected officials and political leaders condemning such comments, regardless of political party, to prevent the normalization of divisive and violent rhetoric that can incite real-world violence.
Advance Democracy, led by Daniel Jones, conducts weekly monitoring of far-right media, foreign state media, and select social media platforms to track the spread of hateful and violent rhetoric. The organization’s report sheds light on the concerning trend of increased threats and calls for violence against pro-Palestinian protesters in the wake of Senator Cotton’s comments. CBS News reached out to Cotton’s office for comment but did not receive a response. The report underscores the need for responsible leadership and condemnation of dangerous rhetoric to prevent further escalation of violence and harm towards protesters.
