What Everyone Can Do to Help Prevent Political Violence

In the wake of last week’s assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk—the latest in a string of high-profile attacks targeting public figures from across the ideological spectrum—there are widespread fears about further political violence. Although Americans overwhelmingly reject political violence, the risk of future attacks remains.

RAND's John Hollywood outlines practical steps that all Americans can focus on to prevent such incidents:

• Understand the warning signs. Look for signals of real commitment to carrying out an attack. Motivation and preparation are concrete steps toward violence.
• Know how to report suspicious activity. For imminent threats, call 911. State and regional tip lines are also a key resource.
• Resist the pull of fear, rage, and terror. These feelings spread rampantly online and may overhype risks without contributing to solutions.

These collective actions can help ensure that acts of violence do not define America’s future. “The nation’s strength lies in its ability to confront political violence not with despair,” says Hollywood, “but with resolve and unity.”