Military veterans from Common Defense Fund and Courage for America called on GOP leaders to condemn political violence after the January 6th attack. They pushed back against efforts to rewrite the event as justified and worked to hold perpetrators accountable. Despite their advocacy, Republican leaders refused to change course, and the broader discourse on political violence remained unchanged.

The Standing Rock protests began in April of 2016 in response to the building of the Dakota Access Pipeline near the Standing Rock Reservation. While the protests remained peaceful, a mix of police, National Guard, and private security forces responded with violence, attempting to repress protesters. In response, the protesters shared footage of the violence across the internet. As the videos went viral, a wide coalition of actors – ranging from veterans to environmentalists or social justice activists – mobilized to defend the protesters and their cause.