Calls for Political Action Draw Controversy
Hasan Kwame Jeffries, a history professor at Ohio State University and the brother of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, has sparked controversy by urging citizens to challenge the system, drawing inspiration from John Brown. Brown is known for his violent actions against pro-slavery individuals in the 19th century.
In a social media message highlighted by Libs of TikTok, Jeffries stated that John Brown believed eliminating white supremacists was key to eradicating white supremacy. He suggested Brown was correct then and now. This message has been seen by some as endorsing political violence, contributing to a climate of increasing attacks and assassinations.
Other academics have also cited Brown as a model for using violence to combat societal issues. Stacey Patton, a journalism professor at Howard University, has expressed similar views, criticizing white liberals for seeking to be better allies without considering the risks faced by minorities.
“It’s a question that always lands heavy. Not because I doubt their sincerity, but because the question itself is still a form of protection that centers the asker’s confusion instead of the target’s danger,” Patton explained.
John Brown’s legacy includes his role in the “Bleeding Kansas” period and the 1856 Pottawatomie massacre, where Brown and his followers executed settlers with pro-slavery sympathies. His raid on Harpers Ferry led to his capture and execution. Brown is often seen as a catalyst for the Civil War, using terror to achieve abolitionist goals.
Frederick Douglas acknowledged Brown’s role in sparking the struggle for freedom, though he criticized the Harpers Ferry raid. Douglas believed in political change rather than violence, stating that he never supported the raid on Harpers Ferry.
Abraham Lincoln labeled Brown an insane zealot and viewed his actions as futile and misguided. Lincoln compared Brown’s efforts to historic assassination attempts and believed brown was wrongly trying to instigate a slave revolt.
Professor Jeffries echoed these themes, suggesting Brown’s violent actions could serve as inspiration today. He teaches courses on power, culture, and race at Ohio State University and has been featured in PBS’s “Black America Since MLK.” His brother, Hakeem Jeffries, has been criticized for contributing to societal rage.
As figures like Charlie Kirk and Brian Thompson face threats, the call to follow John Brown’s legacy suggests that violence is justified. Politics today sees increased support for extremists, with candidates in Texas and Maine advocating aggressive and violent views.
The rise of radical voices parallels historical events like the French Revolution’s “Reign of Terror,” where citizens acted without restraint. Robespierre, a lawyer during the Revolution, declared terror as justice, but ultimately, he and many others faced execution.
The warning is clear: Revolutions can turn against those who start them. French writer Jacques Mallet du Pan famously noted that “Like Saturn, the Revolution devours its children.”
Jonathan Turley is a legal scholar, Fox News Media contributor, and author. He serves as the Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law and has testified before Congress on various issues. His book, “Rage and the Republic,” explores America’s revolutionary history on its 250th anniversary.