Earlier this month, it didn’t take long for many Republicans to blame Democrats for the assassinations of Minnesota political couple Mark and Melissa Hortman.

Several Republican politicians, including Vice President J. D. Vance, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, and Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise, (whose life a Black, liberal, lesbian police officer saved), blamed the shootings on the “far left” and liberals’ continual demonization of President Donald Trump.

Others on the right avidly jumped into the political fray. Right-wing social media personality Mike Cernovich, with 1.5 million followers, amplified the falsehood that Governor Tim Walz demanded the assassination. Laura Loomer, a far-right conspiracy theorist and Trump whisperer, posted that “Walz’s goons are now assassinating lawmakers who support legislation Walz opposes” and denounced the Democratic Party as “a terrorist organization.”

Elon Musk, a Trump “frenemy” and frequent poster of unproven right-wing claims, enhanced the narrative to his 200 million followers, quote-tweeting claims “the left” killed Hortman and writing, “the far left is murderously violent.” Viva Frei, a far-right X user with more than 700,000 followers, posted a thread casting doubt on suspected shooter Vance Boelter being a Trump supporter.

Such nonsensical and despicable lies overlook indisputable evidence of Boelter’s authentic political leanings. His roommate, David Carlson, told reporters Boelter voted for Trump and “was a strong supporter” of the president. Other longtime friends told local media Boelter was right-leaning. His recorded sermons expose his extremist views. In a sermon he delivered in Congo a few years ago, he is documented as stating “The churches are so messed up, they don’t know abortion is wrong.” He ranted against LGBTQ+ people as “confused,” claiming “the enemy has gotten so far into their mind and their soul.” His alleged hit list included abortion providers, pro-choice advocates and other Democratic politicians. His most recent voter registration indicated he was a registered Republican in Oklahoma in 2004.

Police captured Boelter on June 15 after allegedly murdering Hortman, a Democratic house speaker, and her husband. He also wounded state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife. Wearing a mask, the suspect reportedly went to the homes of the state lawmakers in the early morning hours disguised as a police officer. According to the Department of Justice, he allegedly first drove to the Hoffmans’ home and repeatedly shot them after they tried to close the door on him. The gunman later went to the Hortmans’ home and killed them.

The Republican Party of 2025 is alarmingly and tragically duplicative of the Democratic Party of the 1850s: callous, arrogant, confrontational, violent, and prone to dishonest messaging and propaganda. The primary issue of that era was slavery. Today, the dissension is stratified across several issues, including immigration, race, abortion, sexuality, free speech, and religious freedom.

The current Republican Party has become so rapacious, barbarous, and amoral in its blind thirst for power that it seems determined to attack and, if possible, overturn any social movements and political norms established in our constitution’s fabric. The party is willing, even eager, to disregard any organization, laws, or movements not conducive to its agenda. We have already seen the GOP engage in this sort of undemocratic activity with the voter registration and education laws enacted in various state legislatures.

The far right’s acrimonious rhetoric betrays an undeniable truth: they are terrified and aware their current political stronghold will erode if they are unable to manipulate the laws and future elections. Thus, they are attempting to establish a form of minority rule. As many left-wing activists have observed, such retrograde antics are a form of “Jim Crow 2.” In fact, some scholars have argued that November 5, 2024 was the end of America’s second reconstruction (1964–2024).

I hope they are wrong.

Fear, resistance, and anxiety permeate the current political climate. Things certainly are tense and depressingly adversarial but, in my opinion, redeemable. Those of us committed to maintaining equality and equal rights for all citizens as opposed to a select few are facing an uphill battle, but we must continue to fight and fiercely agitate against such repressive forces. We can and must do it.

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Copyright 2025 Elwood Watson, distributed by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate

Elwood Watson is a professor of history, Black studies, and gender and sexuality studies at East Tennessee State University. He is also an author and public speaker.