Fact check: The vast majority of political violence in this country (USA) comes from people on the right. - Mehdi Hasan

1. Summary of the results

The statement that the vast majority of political violence in the USA comes from people on the right, as claimed by Mehdi Hasan, is supported by several analyses ^[1], which cite research from the ADL Center for Extremism and a University of Maryland study, indicating that right-wing extremists are responsible for a significant proportion of extremist-related killings and violence. For instance, the ADL Center for Extremism found that 75% of people killed by extremists between 2013 and 2022 were killed by right-wing extremists ^[1]. However, other analyses ^{[2] [3] [4]} provide alternative perspectives, suggesting that the issue is more complex and that Americans express roughly equal levels of concern about left-wing and right-wing extremism and violence ^[3], or that the majority of murders are committed by Islamist terrorists when considering all terrorist attacks on US soil since 1975 ^[4].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

A key missing context in the original statement is the definition of "political violence" and how it is measured, as different sources may have different criteria for what constitutes political violence ^[2]. Additionally, some analyses highlight the importance of considering the historical context of political violence in the US, which may involve a range of ideologies and actors beyond just right-wing extremism ^[2]. Alternative viewpoints, such as those expressed in surveys where Americans are concerned about both left-wing and right-wing extremism ^[3], or data analyses that suggest Islamist terrorists are responsible for the majority of murders in terrorist attacks on US soil ^[4], are also essential to understanding the complexity of the issue. Furthermore, some sources provide anecdotal evidence of violent rhetoric associated with the far-right, which may contribute to a nuanced understanding of the relationship between ideology and violence ^[5].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement may be subject to potential misinformation or bias, as it presents a simplistic view of a complex issue, which may not fully account for the diversity of ideologies and actors involved in political violence ^{[2] [3] [4]}. Mehdi Hasan and his supporters may benefit from this framing, as it reinforces their narrative about the dangers of right-wing extremism ^[6]. On the other hand, sources that provide more nuanced or alternative perspectives may be seen as benefiting those who wish to downplay the role of right-wing extremism in political violence or shift attention to other forms of extremism ^{[3] [4]}. Ultimately, a comprehensive understanding of political violence in the US requires considering multiple sources and perspectives, including those that may challenge or complicate the original statement ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}.