Hate in a Hallmark Town, Part 2: A Cautionary Tale About Power and Control

Never in my 40-year career had I encountered what was, on a small scale, political violence. What does it say about America?

This follows a previous post about the political controversy that put me on this journey into the world of hate and political extremism. I hope you will find this to be part of an important conversation and will spread the word!

Doremus Jessup, editor of the Forth Beulah Daily Informer, had taken a stand against the fascist regime that had seized power in America.

As residents in his Vermont community digested the stinging words of his editorial, Jessup stood in his office, looking down upon the street.

“The passing of people became a gathering, the gathering a crowd, the crowd a mob, glaring up at his office, beginning to clamor. There were dozens of people there unknown to him: respectable farmers in town for shopping, unrespectables in town for a drink, laborers from the nearest work camp….

“Their mutter became louder, less human, more like the snap of burning rafters. Their glances joined in one. He was, frankly, scared.”

Soon, the mob was storming the offices of the Daily Informer.

“T…