The term "brownshirts" refers to members of the Sturmabteilung ("assault division") who were very useful in Germany during the early rise of the Nazi party. These men were recruited from the tougher corners of German society and were prominent participants in organized marches and rallies. Their whole purpose was to use violence and intimidation against political opponents and Jews. Their leader in the early 1930s, Ernst Röhm, saw the Brownshirts as having the potential for equal influence with the German army and the Party.
No, I don't think that conservatives or Republicans (if one can distinguish between the two anymore) are equivalent to Nazis. However, when watching the clip above, as well as similar clips from other places in the country, one can't help but make the comparison. These disruptions have been shown to be intentional actions directed by right wing political groups rather than organic populist uprisings. The participants, almost all of whom appear to be aging white people, have been identified as Republican operatives in a number of cases.
Isn't this how the Brownshirts worked? Stifling reasoned political discourse with the threat or violence and/or revenge?
We need to be very careful, and watch these people and organizations like a hawk. Don't ever underestimate the gullibility and fearmongering capacity of certain elements of the American public.
