Two academic researchers analyzed the backgrounds of 193 people charged in connection with the January 6 attack on Congress, and came to some surprising conclusions.

- The arrestees were markedly older than participants in earlier right-wing outbreaks that they had studied.

- As a group they were comfortably off, including business owners, professionals and white-collar workers.

- Around 90% had no connection with far-right movements such as the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers or Three Percenters. (None had any known connection with Antifa or BLM either.)

Conclusion:

“What’s clear is that the Capitol riot revealed a new force in American politics—not merely a mix of right-wing organizations, but a broader mass political movement that has violence at its core and draws strength even from places where Trump supporters are in the minority. Preventing further violence from this movement will require a deeper understanding of its activities and participants. But Americans who believe in democratic norms should be wary of pat solutions. Some of the standard methods of countering violent extremism—such as promoting employment or waiting patiently for participants to mellow with age—probably won’t mollify middle-aged, middle-class insurrectionists. And simply targeting better-established far-right organizations will not prevent people like the Capitol rioters from trying to exercise power by force.”

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/ar...emists/617895/


Looks like Trump achieved something. He tipped part of the right-wing middle class over the edge.