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CSUSB professor discusses role of extremist groups at California lockdown protests
Los Angeles Times
May 23, 2020

In California and across the country, protests over COVID-19 stay-at-home restriction, have drawn a melting pot of participants, including peaceful activists such as the DeBows and militias such as the Boogaloo Boys, who have credos that call for civil war, said Brian Levin, professor of criminal justice and director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at Cal State San Bernardino.

“Different people are showing up with different goals, but when they collect together, they influence each other,” he said, creating a “petri dish for conspiracy theories and bad information, as well as aggressiveness.”

That mishmash, Levin said, could make make the events a “recruiting rabbit hole” for groups that struggle to find inroads with mainstream audiences.

It’s unclear how large a role extremist groups are playing in protests over the COVID-19 stay-at-home restrictions. The demonstrations have drawn people with a wide array of concerns, including those who feel it’s wrong for the stay-at-home orders to cover religious institutions and libertarians who fear the rules are destroying the economy. At many events, there have been numerous signs supporting President Trump. Some people who oppose vaccines have also taken up the cause.

It’s uncertain to what extent extremist groups are trying to recruit at the events. Saturday’s Sacramento gathering, estimated by city police to be the largest yet, with 2,000 in attendance, resembled a family carnival, with an organic-gelato vendor, and music performances sprinkled among political speeches.

Levin said that as the “initial grievance” of the stay-at-home order faded from view, he expected the groups to grow online and on the ground and to refocus on new shared concerns. Levin said many groups shared strong support of Trump, and the president’s backing of the notion of personal freedom amid the pandemic has resonated with them.

“Shortly after the president talked about liberating various states,” Levin said, “that’s when we saw this really take off, and we went from seeing a few dozens to hundreds of these nationally.”

Read the complete article at “Role of extremist groups at California lockdown protests raises alarms.”

COVID-19 stay-at-home protest attracting fringe elements and extremists, CSUSB professor says
The Fresno Bee
May 22, 2020

An article about the cost incurred by the California Highway Patrol to police a series of protests in Sacramento against Gov. Gavin Newsom’s stay-at-home order due to the COVID-19 pandemic included an interview with said Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino.

“These protests are almost like a bug lamp for everyone from those with legitimate gripes to a ragtag collection of others who glom onto them,” said Levin.

“Certainly, the stay-at-home orders and whether they should be lifted are a legitimate topic of debate. But these protests are obviously not only individuals with legitimate grievances but those with crackpot theories related to a Second Amendment right to insurrection and the illegitimacy of vaccinations. It’s really an interesting assortment which varies by geography.

“So, in California, we have a combination of small business owners, anti-vaxxers and surf enthusiasts, as well as mainstream people legitimately concerned about the economic costs. …

“This is illustrative of the powerful emotional draw that people have from these lockdowns, which have have enabled fringes and extremists to hijack public policy discussions with not only their single-issue advocacy but also a tidal wave of conspiracy theories,” Levin said.

Read the complete article at “Anti-shutdown protests at state Capitol have cost CHP nearly $1 million in OT, other costs.”

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