Let’s take a trip down memory lane to the events of January 6th, notably marked by the outrageous actions of a certain rioter. If you haven’t been hiding under a rock, you’ll recall the man in the fur costume and Viking helmet, looking like he’d just stepped off a festival stage. His face was painted, his body inked with tattoos, and his eyes held a wild gleam. The media labeled him the “Q-Anon Shaman,” a title that disrespects shamans everywhere but accurately captures his Q-Anon affiliation. He wasn’t alone in that chaotic crowd; many of the rioters were followers of Q, an anonymous figure sharing a convoluted narrative about a cabal of Satan-worshiping, child-trafficking pedophiles (with names like Oprah tossed in), who supposedly drink children’s blood for eternal youth, believe the election was rigged, and consider Donald Trump their savior.
According to a survey by the Public Religion Research Institute and the Interfaith Youth Core, a striking 15% of Americans subscribe to Q-Anon’s core beliefs. This significant figure translates to around 30 million U.S. citizens, which is comparable to the total number of white evangelical Protestants or white mainline Protestants. Alarmingly, 23% of Republicans also identify with these notions.
Furthermore, 20% of Americans believe that “a storm is coming soon to eliminate the elite in power and restore rightful leaders,” with 28% of Republicans agreeing. Disturbingly, 15% of the population believes that “true patriots may need to resort to violence to save our country.” These are not just abstract beliefs; they represent real individuals contemplating real violence, and given their numbers, many of them could very well be living in your community.
Exploring Q-Anon’s Beliefs
While the aforementioned statements encapsulate Q-Anon’s primary ideas, the conspiracy theory is much broader. Emerging from the depths of 4chan in 2017, a supposed insider known as “Q” claimed to reveal the truth behind an expansive conspiracy involving figures like Robert Mueller and the alleged child-trafficking activities connected to a pizzeria linked to Hillary Clinton. The theory is pro-Trump and anti-establishment, often adapting to fit the desires of its followers.
According to this conspiracy, celebrities such as Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, along with the Obamas and Clintons, are implicated in heinous acts. Events like the Parkland shooting are dismissed as fabrications, with survivors labeled as “crisis actors.” Even an online furniture retailer like Wayfair has been accused of trafficking children through its products.
Cristina Lopez, a researcher on Q-Anon at Media Matters for America, suggests that this conspiracy primarily targets the Democratic establishment. High-profile deaths, from chef Anthony Bourdain to musician Chris Cornell, are viewed as murders orchestrated to silence whistleblowers about the alleged pedophilia.
The followers of Q-Anon often utilize numerology, Illuminati symbols, and other strange methods to interpret Q’s cryptic messages, leading to various interpretations that suit their narratives. For instance, a supporter once prompted Trump to say “tip-top,” and when he did during an event, believers took it as proof of Q’s influence.
A significant proportion of Q-Anon supporters, around 40%, think that the Covid-19 vaccine contains a microchip for surveillance, echoing biblical prophecies, as highlighted by The New York Times. Notably, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene initially endorsed Q-Anon before pulling back after the election, and Trump has refrained from disavowing the movement.
Historical Parallels
The hysteria surrounding Q-Anon mirrors past episodes of mass paranoia, notably the Satanic Panic of the 1980s, which saw unfounded allegations of ritual abuse proliferate, including the notorious McMartin Preschool trial. This trial, notorious for its length and expense, ultimately cleared the accused of all charges, revealing the falsehoods behind the accusations.
Q-Anon echoes these themes: allegations of elite exploitation, sinister plots, and ritualistic abuse, but with a twist—the movement advocates for armed revolution. The FBI classified Q-Anon as a domestic terrorism threat in 2019, well before the Capitol riots, highlighting the potential danger posed by its followers who believe in a “big lie” regarding the election outcome, think Joe Biden is not the legitimate president, and await a storm to restore their vision of rightful leadership.
They are armed, they are dangerous, and they form 15% of the American populace. If the Capitol riots didn’t convince you of the severity of this situation, these statistics should. As David Bowie once sang, “I’m afraid of Americans.”