The Pizzagate Conspiracy Theory Rises Again: The Week in Extremism from USA TODAY
The investigation into the shooting of three Palestinian-American men in Vermont this week is focusing on determining whether it was a hate crime, as hate incidents continue to rise across the country. Meanwhile, reports suggest that far-right extremist Ammon Bundy and his family have disappeared from their home in Idaho. Additionally, a new study reveals that extremists are continuing to make money across different social media platforms.
It’s the week in extremism.
Vermont Shooting Raises Wartime Tensions
Hisham Awartani and two friends were attacked while taking a walk around the neighborhood. Police have arrested 48-year-old Jason Eaton and are investigating if the shooting was motivated by bias. Two of the victims were wearing traditional Palestinian neck scarves, and speaking Arabic when they were attacked.
- All three victims survived, but one has a bullet lodged in his spine.
- Eaton was arrested at his home on Sunday and has pleaded not guilty.
- Hate-fueled incidents, crimes, and speech have been soaring since the start of the Israel-Hamas war as reported by USA TODAY.
Report: Ammon Bundy Has Disappeared
Right-wing extremist, conspiracy theorist, and firebrand Ammon Bundy seems to have abandoned his Idaho home following a $50 million civil judgment against him, as reported by The Atlantic.
- Bundy gained national attention after organizing the 2016 occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, leading to a standoff with federal agents.
- In July, he lost a defamation lawsuit brought by St. Luke’s Regional Health in Idaho.
- The Atlantic’s in-depth story examines Bundy’s two decades of extremist activism on behalf of conspiracy theorists and far-right militia groups.
- Bundy has apparently abandoned his home and may be living in Southern Idaho, according to The Atlantic. His father and brother claim not to know where the former Idaho gubernatorial candidate is hiding out.
Report: Extremists Fundraising on Social Media (Still)
Extremists, including white supremacists and anti-semites, continue to raise funds using mainstream social media platforms, as revealed in a report released this week by the Anti-defamation League and the Tech Transparency Project.
- The report concludes that dozens of groups violating platforms’ terms of service are making money through merchandise sales and donations.
- “Much of this activity is taking place in plain sight. In some instances, the companies’ own products are helping hate groups achieve greater fundraising reach,” the report states.
- Meta and YouTube both took down the content featured in the report once it was shared with them, while X, formerly known as Twitter, did not respond to the report’s authors.
Statistic of the Week: 9501.5%
The Pizzagate conspiracy theory saw a 9501.5% increase in posts on X after owner Elon Musk tweeted about it last week, according to a newly released study by researchers at Montclair University.
Researchers found a total of 375,140 posts referencing PizzaGate in November, with most appearing after Musk’s post. The completely discredited idea stems from a false – and rather absurd – claim about Democratic leaders and sex abuse at a pizza parlor, hence the name.
“The reaction to Musk’s post indicates that receding conspiracies are potentially better understood as dormant with a prominent event allowing them to be reawakened,” the study states.
