What are the most notable instances of left wing violence in the United States?

1. Summary of the results

The analyses reveal a complex and evolving landscape of left-wing violence in the United States, with significant changes occurring in 2025. According to multiple sources, 2025 marks the first time in over 30 years that left-wing terrorist attacks have outnumbered those from the far right ^{[1] [2]}. This represents a notable shift in domestic terrorism patterns.

However, the lethality of left-wing attacks remains dramatically lower than their right-wing counterparts. The data shows that left-wing attacks have resulted in only 13 fatalities in the past decade compared to 112 from right-wing attacks ^[1]. More specifically, only two fatalities have occurred from left-wing attacks since 2020 ^[1], demonstrating that while incidents may be increasing, the actual harm caused remains relatively minimal.

Historical context reveals that right-wing extremist violence has been more frequent and more lethal than left-wing violence, accounting for approximately 75% to 80% of U.S. domestic terrorism deaths since 2001 ^[3]. This establishes a baseline showing that left-wing violence has traditionally been less prevalent and less deadly in the American context.

Specific examples of left-wing violence mentioned include the Animal Liberation Front and Earth Liberation Front arson and vandalism campaigns ^[3], though these are characterized as relatively rare and less lethal than right-wing attacks. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security has highlighted arrests of Antifa-aligned left-wing violent extremists who have attacked law enforcement and committed other violent acts ^[4].

The analyses also note an interesting correlation: the dramatic drop in right-wing incidents may be tied to President Donald Trump's 2024 election win ^[2], suggesting that political developments can significantly influence extremist violence patterns.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several crucial contextual elements that emerge from the analyses. Most domestic terrorists in the U.S. are politically on the right, and right-wing attacks account for the vast majority of fatalities from domestic terrorism ^[3], which provides essential perspective on the relative scale of left-wing versus right-wing violence.

The analyses highlight significant definitional challenges in tracking political violence due to differences in definitions and reporting ^[3]. This methodological complexity means that different organizations may classify incidents differently, potentially affecting the accuracy of comparisons between left-wing and right-wing violence.

The Department of Homeland Security specifically mentions the increase in assaults against ICE agents and attributes this partly to the role of sanctuary politicians and legacy media in contributing to these attacks ^[4]. This suggests that political rhetoric and media coverage may influence the frequency and nature of left-wing violence.

The timing aspect is crucial but missing from the original question. The recent surge in left-wing incidents appears to be a 2025 phenomenon, with sources emphasizing that this is the first time in over three decades that such a pattern has emerged. This temporal context is essential for understanding whether this represents a long-term trend or a temporary shift.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question, while seemingly neutral, contains an implicit assumption that could lead to biased interpretation. By asking specifically about "notable instances of left wing violence," it may inadvertently suggest that left-wing violence is a significant or growing problem without providing comparative context.

The framing omits the well-documented fact that right-wing extremist violence has historically been more frequent and more lethal ^[3]. This omission could lead readers to overestimate the relative threat posed by left-wing violence compared to other forms of domestic terrorism.

Additionally, the question doesn't acknowledge the dramatic recent changes in 2025, where right-wing terror attacks have plunged dramatically with only one incident reported in the first half of the year ^[2]. This context is crucial for understanding current threat assessments.

The question also fails to mention the significantly lower lethality rates of left-wing attacks, which is a critical factor in assessing the actual public safety impact. Without this context, readers might assume that increased incident numbers translate directly to increased public danger, which the data does not support.