Fact check: The far-left is as violent as the far-right

1. Summary of the results

The claim that the far-left is as violent as the far-right is contradicted by several analyses. Radical acts perpetrated by individuals associated with left-wing causes are less likely to be violent ^[1], suggesting that the far-left is not as violent as the far-right. Additionally, right-wing terrorism has significantly outpaced terrorism from other types of perpetrators ^[2], implying that the far-right is more violent than the far-left. Some sources provide empirical assessments of ideologically motivated homicides, but do not directly compare the violence of the far-left and far-right ^[3]. Other sources discuss the polarization of political parties and the increase in liberal identification, which may be relevant to understanding the context of the claim ^[4]. President Trump's comments and actions may embolden violent far-right radicals ^[5], which could contribute to the perception that the far-right is more violent.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Some key context is missing from the original statement, including:

• The definition of "far-left" and "far-right": Different sources may have different definitions of these terms, which could impact the comparison of violence ^[1].
• The time period being considered: The level of violence from the far-left and far-right may vary over time, and the original statement does not specify a particular time period ^{[3] [2]}.
• The role of external factors: External factors, such as social media and political rhetoric, may contribute to the level of violence from the far-left and far-right ^{[5] [6]}.

Alternative viewpoints include:

• The idea that the far-left is more prone to silencing dialogue ^[7], which could be seen as a form of violence.
• The notion that the media landscape and potential biases ^[8] could impact the perception of violence from the far-left and far-right.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement may be misleading or biased because it:

• Lacks context: The statement does not provide enough context to support the claim that the far-left is as violent as the far-right ^[1].
• Ignores empirical evidence: The statement ignores empirical evidence that suggests the far-right is more violent than the far-left ^[2].
• May be influenced by political rhetoric: The statement may be influenced by political rhetoric, such as President Trump's comments and actions, which could embolden violent far-right radicals ^{[5] [6]}.

The beneficiaries of this framing include:

• President Trump and his allies, who may use the statement to downplay the violence of the far-right and shift attention to the far-left ^[6].
• Those who seek to silence dialogue, who may use the statement to justify their actions and label their opponents as violent ^[7].