Michael Knowles Addresses Political Violence and Left-Wing Terrorism at Senate Hearing

Condemning Political Violence

• 💡 Michael Knowles begins by agreeing that political violence must be condemned, but stresses the importance of identifying the source of the problem.
• 🎯 He notes that the murder of his friend Charlie Kirk by a leftist assassin highlights a pattern of left-wing terrorism in the country.

Left-Wing Violence vs. Right-Wing Violence

• 📊 Knowles cites an article from The Atlantic, referencing a study from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, suggesting the left is more violent today than the right.
• ⚠️ He disputes Democrat Congressman Seth Moulton's claim that 3/4 of political violence comes from the right, citing examples that contradict this assertion.
• 🚫 Examples of alleged left-wing violence include the Covenant School massacre, the Black Lives Matter riots, and an attack targeting Knowles and other conservative students.

Incident at the University of Pittsburgh

• ⚡ Knowles details an incident on April 18, 2023, where he was invited to debate transgenderism at the University of Pittsburgh.
• 🔥 Hundreds of protesters gathered, burning him in effigy with a Hitler mustache, and chanting "Fascists go home."
• 💥 An Antifa operative, Brian De Pippa, threw smoke bombs and a firework, injuring several police officers, including one with life-altering injuries.
• 🚨 The debate was cut short due to the destructive nature of the protests, and a safety emergency was issued.

Extremist Group Involvement and Justice System Response

• 🧩 Knowles identifies Brian and Crystal De Pippa as members of an extremist cell linked to an anarchist bookshop and the Torch Antifa Network.
• 💰 This network allegedly raised funds for the De Pippas through a tax-exempt nonprofit organization.
• ⚖️ Despite the severity of the actions, Knowles criticizes the justice system for giving Brian De Pippa minimal jail time for obstructing law enforcement and his wife probation, calling it a "slap on the wrist."
• ⚠️ He urges the federal government to act to stop the trend of leftist terrorism, stating that legislators who deny the threat are complicit.