Squire was cited in articles appearing in two articles in the New York Times and one in The Canadian Press about a gun rally in Virginia.
Two reports by the New York Times leading up to a gun rally in Richmond, Virginia, include insights from Megan Squire, professor of computer science whose research is focused on online extremism.
The articles appeared before the Jan. 20 rally in the Virginia capital and followed the arrest of three suspected neo-Nazis. Squire focused on the roles of online extremists in raising tensions in advance of the event, which was peaceful but which many had feared would turn violent.
Squire noted that some extremist organizations were calling the rally “the boogaloo,” which is a term used by some extremists to refer to an event expected to accelerate a race war. “They are fanning the flames for this event,” Squire told the Times for the Jan. 17 article published in advance of the rally. “They want chaos.”
Squire was also quoted in a different Jan. 17 article by the New York Times that focused on Philip Van Cleave, who has been active in lobbying Virginia legislators over gun rights legislation. Van Cleave opposes any new measures that would restrict firearm ownership.
Van Cleave has been criticized by some for his rhetoric, which includes embracing the label of extremist. “He is a showman trying to get attention,” Squire told the New York Times in the second article.
Squire has been widely cited for her research into online extremism, which focuses on the connections on social media between groups and their members and their utilization of alternative social media platforms to communicate and build support.
She was also cited in a Jan. 22 The Canadian Press article that was focused on an accused white supremacist who authorities believe was going to try to sow violence at the gun rally in Virginia. The article referred to a broader investigation into The Base, a white supremacist group.
Squire notes that there was significant discussion online related to The Base about attending the rally in Virginia. “It got very quiet on (messaging platform) Telegram while these guys tried to figure out what was going to happen, if it was serious,” said Squire.
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