Polarization & Extremism Research & Innovation Lab (PERIL)

PERIL exists to build a world without hate. Today is International Day to Combat #Islamophobia. Take a look at all of our published resources, from helping faith leaders to educators and mental health counselors. As always, feel free to reach out to us for specific assistance! [email protected] https://lnkd.in/eEFjvX3J

Cynthia Miller-Idriss participated in this article for Rolling Stone, about #misogyny and safety in online spaces, specifically women content creators and digital streamers on Twitch: "Though the details differ, the story remains the same for many women on Twitch: A man starts watching their streams, then eventually becomes obsessed with them, transitioning from fan to serial harasser or stalker. For Cynthia Miller-Idriss, founding director of the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab (PERIL), online misogyny has remained a constant for the last 15 years. “We’ve been tracking the increasing online misogyny, which is documented to have increased regularly since 2011,” she says. “This exposure and escalation [of misogyny] is happening at every level — elementary, middle school, college … the escalation of physical violence and threats is part of the same online trend that we’re seeing. You have this political climate where young men suddenly feel empowered to assert control, even physical control or ownership, over women and their bodies,” Miller-Idriss explains. The men stalking Mae and Rhodes both expressed a feeling of ownership over them, and resorted to violent rhetoric and obsessive behavior when that ownership was questioned. The individual who threatened Valkyrae, Cinna, and Emiru did so immediately after being turned down romantically, an all-too-common phenomenon amongst men." Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eFcuC6cv

Cynthia Miller-Idriss along with our Deputy Director of Training and Partnerships at PERIL, will be speaking on live stream from Germany tomorrow, Thursday, March 13, 2025 at 8:30 AM EDT, hosted by Amadeu Antonio Stiftung. Learn more about the prevention strategies of #extremism from various cross-national research initiatives. https://lnkd.in/dBsfKXDY

Happy Friday everyone! Sharing our next event with you on Tuesday, March 25, 2025 at 7 pm ET: https://lnkd.in/e53FHhD3 When signing up, please select the workshop titled "Addressing the Rise and Impact of Misogyny Among Students in Grades 6-12"

Why the link between the recent White House pardons nudge fringe movements closer into a mainstream normalized state, and what that does to #extremism - in this article, PERIL's Cynthia Miller-Idriss was mentioned in our work: “It creates immediate national security risks from people who are pledging revenge and retribution and who have now been valorized,” Miller-Idriss said. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eWb2Vetq

We are excited to announce another milestone achievement this week! American University has achieved R1 status, which recognizes our very high research activity and places us among the nation’s top research institutions! This prestigious designation from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education reflects AU’s growth in scholarship while we continue our commitment to excellent teaching, experiential education, and student success. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/42PrWxG

The United Nations General Assembly declared February 12 as the International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and when Conducive to Terrorism, in order to raise awareness of the threats linked to violent extremism. At PERIL, our mission is to focus on evidence-based prevention tools to combat extremism and hate. We hope you will join us in our efforts to build a better world. Take a look at our unique approach here: https://lnkd.in/enwbvUYR

Have you noticed an uptick in openly racist remarks lately? It's not all in your head. Cynthia Miller-Idriss writes: "This combination of discriminatory rhetoric and policies coming from the top of the federal government is normalizing hatred and harassment. A right-wing group has now published a?DEI watch list?website targeting federal workers — including names, titles and photos — whose jobs or social media posts relate to racism or the promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion. And on the heels of?already-spiking?hate crimes?at the?local level?across the country, we are now seeing new mobilization of old-school racist organizations, including the Ku Klux Klan and the neo-Nazi Goyim Defense League." https://lnkd.in/g-ZpyFes

The latest MSNBC Op-Ed by Cynthia Miller-Idriss addresses how the 'America First' federal foreign aid freeze actually hurts Americans and compromises national security, foreign aid and diplomacy: https://lnkd.in/eZevNsHp

Join us next Thursday, February 6, 2025, to watch the screening of the documentary film: "Against All Enemies". Why would US military veterans take up arms against the country they swore an oath to protect? Through gripping personal perspectives from all sides of this ongoing crisis, Against All Enemies goes deep inside the violent extremist movement in America, alongside the Proud Boys, 3 Percenters, and with never-before-seen footage of the Oath Keepers. This captivating documentary explores the historical roots of insurrectionism, its conspiracy-fueled draw for veterans, and the top-cover coming from powerful politicians and highly decorated former military officers. Against All Enemies is both a warning about an existential threat to democracy and a beacon for those hoping to combat it. "Against All Enemies is powerful, and heartwrenching… a vital reminder of our responsibility to safeguard our democratic systems," The Los Angeles Times.? Director Charlie Sadoff, Film subject and Former Air Force Officer Denver Riggleman, and American University Professor and Director of Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab (PERIL) Cynthia Miller-Idriss will be in attendance for a post-screening conversation. Get your tickets here: https://lnkd.in/gKu7iu9n