The Right’s Normalizing of Political Violence

ByJosé Luis Granados Ceja

Right-wing forces across the globe have crossed a line. We are witnessing the emergence of a consensus that not only tolerates violence but fully embraces it, a fascist ideology centered on physical threats or even homicidal intent to all who oppose them.

Over the last few weeks, we have witnessed the assassination of Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi, the US deployment of Navy ships off the coast of Venezuela and daily examples of Zionist genocidal actions in Palestine. The rationalization and normalization of Zionist violence by both liberals and conservatives alike have played a huge role in the development of this new violent consensus.

The normalization of political violence by not only fanatical far-right forces but also the so-called “moderate” opposition is a terrifying development. In the same week that saw US military maneuvers in the Caribbean aimed at intimidating Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, we saw Mexican Senator Lilly Téllez openly call for US military intervention inside Mexico. Whether it be Venezuela or Mexico, US unilateral military action will result in civilian bloodshed. This point cannot be emphasized enough. Be it María Corina Machado in Venezuela or Téllez in Mexico, their calls for “help” from the US military mean only one thing: the killing of innocent people.

The rationalization and normalization of Zionist violence by both liberals and conservatives alike have played a huge role in the development of this new violent consensus.

Téllez’s treasonous statements are treated as if they form part of a rational discussion. Corporate media outlets bear much responsibility for normalizing this new consensus. As journalist Adam Johnson pointed out, it is offensive that an outlet like Axios should grant anonymity to US government officials talking openly and casually about assassinating the Venezuelan president.

Last Wednesday, Mexican PRI opposition leader Alejandro “Alito” Moreno physically attacked Senate President Gerardo Fernández Noroña, and various outlets and journalists, most notably Ciro Gómez Leyva, went into overdrive to justify the aggression.

But the video evidence is there for all to see. Moreno and five other PRI lawmakers surround Noroña, and when Noroña attempts to shake off Moreno’s grip on his arm, Moreno begins striking him. Noroña’s fellow Morena lawmaker Dolores Padierna tries to escort him away, but PRI lawmaker Carlos Gutiérrez Mancilla grabs his coat and again attempts to strike him. Afterwards, Alito and his gang showed no remorse, instead doubling down and threatening further violence.

Noroña is absolutely correct to call out the media’s naked attempt to recast the aggressor as the victim, a page out of the fascist playbook. Porrísmo (a Mexican term for organized, violent groups who intimidate or harass political opponents) has a long history, and it’s time to draw the line.

Politicians like Téllez have alleged that President Claudia Sheinbaum’s government has ties to organized crime. Will it be long before they call for the US to “take out” the president? We must put a firm stop to the Mexican right’s continuing use of political violence; this slippery slope can lead to tragedy.

US imperialism itself is moving into a more dangerous phase. Writing about the Twelve-Day War against Iran, Ali Terrenoire speculates that the war’s goal was not regime change. Terrenoire writes that instead it was “de-development…the West no longer needs to ‘win over’ hegemonic states — but can simply destroy their state capacity (or the state in its entirety).”

We can make the case that this is also the deadly logic at play in Venezuela. Continuing to normalize violence in Mexico could very well lead us to the same place.

José Luis Granados Ceja is a journalist and political analyst based in Mexico City. He is co-host of the Mexican public television show Sin Muros, staff writer with Venezuela Analysis, writes a monthly opinion column for the Mexico Solidarity Project and also co-hosts the Mexico Solidarity Project’s weekly podcast, Soberanía.