The January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol was an inflection point for extremism in America. Though the attack was in many ways predictable – extremists were increasingly active and emboldened across the United States in the years before the insurrection – the overt display of political violence and venom was nonetheless shocking. One year later, the ripple effects of that day continue to reverberate in the form of heightened displays of hate and extremism nationwide.

Politicians Glorify and Call for Violence

*Click on the map point or link for more information. This is not an exhaustive list, but rather a representative sampling.

Hate and Extremism Go Mainstream

*Click on the map point or link for more information. This is not an exhaustive list, but rather a representative sampling.

Conspiracy Theories Gain New Ground

*Click on the map point or link for more information. This is not an exhaustive list, but rather a representative sampling.

Threats, Plots and Attacks Targeting Political Figures, Institutions and Symbols

*Click on the map point or link for more information. This is not an exhaustive list, but rather a representative sampling.

Threats and Harassment Against Public School Officials and Medical Professionals

*Click on the map point or link for more information. This is not an exhaustive list, but rather a representative sampling.

Targeting Journalists

*Click on the map point or link for more information. This is not an exhaustive list, but rather a representative sampling.

QAnon Grows More Virulent and Hateful

*Click on the map point or link for more information. This is not an exhaustive list, but rather a representative sampling.

From the deadly violence on January 6, to the long-awaited verdict in the Unite the Right trial, 2021 has been a busy year for those who traffic in extremism, hate and disinformation. Some extremists were held to account for their actions – at the insurrection and in Charlottesville – while others joined forces to spread bigotry. Though it has always been part of this country, in recent years extremism has, for most Americans, become more visible than ever before, with violent expressions of hate populating our news feeds and screens daily. 

Meanwhile, the extremist landscape continues to shift as new, hateful groups emerge to champion fresh causes and conspiracies.

Image Credit: Jon Cherry / Stringer - Getty Images