Like many of its predecessors, the 2024 presidential election has sparked intense emotions as partisan divisions emerge across the nation. As the race between current Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump intensified, many people worried that this divide would lead to violence.
With the recent history of violence in America because of politics, voters and the people of America were worried about what the 2024 election season might bring. In January 2021, Trump was nearing the end of his term and was expected to peacefully transfer power to President-elect Joe Biden later that month. However, on Jan. 6, protests from Trump supporters turned violent as Trump’s continued denial to concede the election stoked his most loyal followers into action at the nation’s capital.
Though much that took place that day is still debated among voters, it marks a day when the election process lost people’s faith so severely that they turned to violence. With the first presidential election since that event and already multiple assassination attempts made on candidates in the past year, many people were uncertain what new unprecedented events might unfold.
“I think that the increasing political tension during elections in America will lead to more violence and unrest in the country,” said Rory McInnis, a junior political science major. “This is because less people are communicating about issues and not believing in compromise. Bipartisanship is decreasing in America, and this is causing a lack of education for voters or ability to realize a party’s faults or wrongs, especially during election time.”
The Jan. 6 events came after Trump had held a rally where he made claims that the election was stolen. Rioters breached security, vandalized offices and disrupted the certification of Biden’s victory. The attack resulted in deaths, injuries and damages.
It shocked the nation, leading to numerous arrests and a historic second impeachment of Trump. After this, some were shocked to hear of Trump’s rerun, while others were enthusiastic for another chance to cast a ballot in support.
“I think it would be very unlikely for something like that to happen over the next four years,” said Hut Fahnestock, a senior management major. “There’s also evidence that proves the CIA and Chief of Police at the Capitol had intel of this event 4-5 days prior to it happening and did not take proper steps to prevent it.”
Before the winning candidate had been announced, some feared an event, such as a riot or protest-turned-violent, would occur again if Trump did not win. Many believe Trump advocates for that type of violence and encourages it from afar. The election cycle has already seen burnt ballot boxes and threats to poll sites, so more violence did not seem that far off.
Fahnestock said that due to the over 600 arrests that were made, many of the people who protested revealed themselves as extremist, and he believes something like it will not happen again based on national security plans to prevent it.
In the days before Election Day, the White House prepared its defenses. The Secret Service erected a ten-foot-tall metal fence around the property, leaving many voters anxious, thinking that security officials, too, must sense violence on the horizon.
Leading up to the election, rallies on both ends got voters and supporters excited for the upcoming administration of their candidates. Many were confident that it was unlikely that America would see as much violence as on Jan. 6, but there was a chance some rioting could occur, especially as tensions around key social and political issues continue to escalate.
“I think people may argue that violence can draw attention to certain issues, however, more often than not, violence discredits the issue at hand,” said Ava Farmer, a sophomore biology major. “Non-violent forms of protest are more effective for social change. People can sympathize more easily with a peaceful protest rather than a violent one. The point is to create a long-lasting influence in your community to foster change, there is no place for violence in doing so.”
