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The Backlash Playbook: How Right-Wing Revenge Politics Threatens Civil Rights Gains
These actions are far from spontaneous; they’re part of a deliberate strategy to exploit fears, divide communities, and erode hard-won freedoms.
The Backlash Playbook: How Right-Wing Revenge Politics Threatens Civil Rights Gains
Throughout history, every step forward in civil rights has been met with resistance. Gains in areas like racial equity, LGBTQ+ rights, and social justice often provoke backlash from those invested in maintaining the status quo. Today, this pushback is especially visible in the systematic efforts of right-wing politicians and activists, who cloak their attempts to roll back progress in rhetoric about “traditional values” or “parental rights.”
These actions are far from spontaneous; they’re part of a deliberate strategy to exploit fears, divide communities, and erode hard-won freedoms.
Step 1: Stirring Up Fear and Misinformation
A core tactic in the backlash playbook involves fueling fear. Right-wing groups frequently cast progress in civil rights as a threat to deeply held norms or personal freedoms…
