Capitol riots: the power of conspiracy theories

IT IS a Wednesday evening, January 6, 2021, in the middle of a pandemic and national lockdown and we are all glued to our screens. We are stunned, scared and horrified as we watch the United States Capitol building — the pinnacle of western democracy — being stormed by pro-Trump supporters, turned rioters. There is a dystopian sense of chaos; the Confederate flag is being waved inside the building, men proudly wear T-shirts with the slogans “Camp Auschwitz” and “6MWE” (“Six million wasn’t enough”). Shots are fired, four people end up dead. We are shocked. But should we be?

It was reported that among the protestors who stormed the Capitol building were members of far-right groups, Neo-Nazis, QAnon figureheads and followers, as well as “stand back and stand by” Proud Boys.

These far-right groups have been steadily growing and becoming more violent over the past four years — as we saw in Charlottesville in 2017. They have been emboldened by a leadership that time and time again has failed to denounce a worrying return to widespread far-right ideologies and conspiracy theories in the mainstream of America’s public discourse.

In a year when we have spent more time online than ever before, conspiracy theories have found the perfect breeding ground. People around the world have been feeling vulnerable and scared due to the Covid-19 pandemic and are seeking community, answers and at times, recrimination. Many have been led down the rabbit hole of conspiracy theories.

All Maccabi GB school sessions empower young people to report hate crime. Initially, students think this refers only to street-level attacks, but when asked if they see hate crime online, the entire class puts up their hands; every single time.

This is why it is essential to report conspiracy theories online; because while platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram have become increasingly efficient and thorough in removing online hate, there is still a lot of work to do. Because we now know that somebody who posts an article about the dangers of a Covid vaccine is probably already reading the next article about another conspiracy theory, in an echo chamber from which it seems impossible to escape.