Left-Wing Violence Surges as Charlie Kirk Assassination Spur National Concern
The assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah has rekindled national interest in political violence, as a new study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) reveals left-wing terrorism in the U.S. reached a 30-year high in 2025. The report highlights a marked increase in incidents compared to past decades, with a significant portion of attacks now attributed to left-wing extremists.
Kirk’s assassination, which occurred on September 10, is the most prominent case in a series of assaults against political figures. Prosecutors have charged 22-year-old Tyler Robinson in connection to the crime, citing it as the most high-profile attack in a surge of left-wing violence identified by terrorism researchers. The report indicates that such attacks have been on the rise, with the number of terrorist incidents reaching over 750 in the U.S. between 1994 and July 2025.
For the first time in more than three decades, left-wing attacks and plots now outnumber those from the far right, according to the study. The report defines terrorism as ‘violence or threats by nonstate actors meant to achieve political goals and spread fear,’ emphasizing that the rise is mostly attributed to attacks on government facilities and plots aimed at conservative leaders. Despite the increase in incidents, the report notes that the lethality of left-wing attacks remains low compared to past decades’ right-wing or jihadist terrorism.
Recent examples of this trend include an incident on July 4, in which black-clad suspects armed with rifles and fireworks stormed the ICE Prairieland Detention Facility in Alvarado, Texas. Prosecutors allege the attackers sprayed anti-ICE graffiti, shot a police officer in the neck and exchanged fire with correctional officers before fleeing. Fourteen suspects have since been charged with attempted murder of federal officers and firearms offenses.
In January, Capitol Police arrested Riley Jane English, 24, on the National Mall, citing court documents that revealed she was carrying a folding knife and two Molotov cocktails, having threatened to kill top Republican officials, including Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Another case involved arsonists targeting the Republican Party of New Mexico headquarters in March, leaving behind graffiti that read ‘ICE = KKK.’ These incidents, while less lethal than previous decades’ attacks, highlight a notable shift in the landscape of domestic terrorism in the U.S.
Despite the relative low lethality of left-wing attacks so far, the CSIS report emphasizes the need for vigilance. The study warns that sweeping crackdowns on nonviolent groups could risk spurring more extremism, highlighting the delicate balance required in addressing this growing threat. As the report concludes, ‘U.S. political leaders and activists need to lead by condemning violence on their side and calling for calm when it involves violence on the other side,’ underscoring the importance of addressing the root causes of political violence.