This article examines the role of the QAnon conspiracy theory in motivating rioters during the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. It highlights the testimony of individuals like Douglas Jensen, who explicitly stated their desire for 'Q to get the attention' by wearing pro-QAnon attire. The article also discusses the broader context of QAnon's influence, noting its cultivation by Trump and his allies.
A QAnon sign at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Many of the rioters who attacked the Capitol later told investigators they were motivated in part by the online conspiracy theory .through a broken window on Jan. 6, 2021, a lone Capitol Police officer, Eugene Goodman, diverted the group away from the Senate chamber. The pack of protesters then chased Goodman up a staircase.
The theory, which emerged in 2017, claims that Trump is involved in a secret battle against evil members of the alleged deep state, or in other tellings, a powerful cabal of government and Hollywood elites engaged in satanic child abuse. Some QAnon claims and themes. An anonymous source called Q, who supposedly had access to high level intelligence, posted cryptic clues, known as Q drops, on online message boards.
By that point, there was a rich online ecosystem of QAnon influencers who had figured out how to monetize spreading QAnon-related content and analysis. In response to the crackdown, influencers "It's incredibly dangerous when we do see high profile figures amplify this language and symbols because it provides adherents this perceived legitimacy to their beliefs and their movement," said Keneally, who pointed out that QAnon has been associated with violence, including the Capitol riot.
One challenge is that QAnon is hard to define. Various conspiracy theories that had been floating around the fringes of American culture for decades became incorporated into the movement."Everything has sort of been sucked into QAnon at one point or another," said Adam Enders, an associate professor of political science at the University of Louisville who studies belief in conspiracy theories.
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