Background

QAnon is a loosely organized, far-right network of people who believe the world is controlled by a satanic cabal of pedophiles and cannibals, made up of politicians (mostly Democrats), mainstream media, journalists, and Hollywood entertainers. This cabal is accused of controlling a “deep-state” government whose purpose is to undermine and attack President Donald Trump and his supporters.[1]

Antisemitic conspiracy theories about Jewish elites, globalists, and bankers are part and parcel of the QAnon belief system and George Soros and the Rothschilds are consistent targets. The nefarious antisemitic forgery Protocols of the Elders of Zion continues to be invoked by QAnon supporters, and even elevated by political leaders.[2]  In addition, the use of children in the conspiracy—the need to rescue children from the hands of the powerful globalists—harkens back to medieval blood libel accusations against Jews.

QAnon conspiracy theorists are waiting for the “Storm”—the mass arrest of people in power—and the Great Awakening, where everyone will realize the QAnon theory is the truth. While supporters argue that QAnon does not promote violence, members of the group have been linked to several violent crimes, including a planned kidnapping and a murder, reportedly because of their beliefs in QAnon.[3]

In May 2019, the FBI identified QAnon as a potential domestic terrorist threat, stating these anti-government, identity-based conspiracy theories, including QAnon, “very likely encourage the targeting of specific people, places and organizations, thereby increasing the likelihood of violence against these targets.”[4]

QAnon first emerged in October 2017 when anonymous messages appeared on 4chan, an online messaging board and favorite forum of the far-right. “Q” refers to the top security clearance of the U.S. Department of Energy, while “Anon” references the anonymity of the Q source. “Q” is believed to be a government insider, revealing secrets to his/her followers; QAnon operates like a game on 8kun (previously 8chan) in which these secrets, or “Q” drops, are written in spy jargon and released like breadcrumbs, encouraging followers to pursue a trail of clues both on and offline and solve a puzzle.[5]

In addition to the excitement that comes with solving mysteries and winning games, QAnon, like many conspiracy theories, gives people a sense of community. Its motto is “Where We Go One, We Go All,” often written as “WWG1WGA.”  Followers are encouraged to become “digital soldiers” and take an oath pledging support to the cause. 

On July 4, 2020, Michael Flynn, former National Security Advisor to President Trump, posted a video online of a small group, including himself, taking an oath and reciting the “Where We Go One, We Go All” slogan.[6]  While Flynn is the most senior former government official allegedly pledging allegiance to QAnon, he is not alone; a number of GOP candidates running for political office have made a similar pledge. Others have sympathized with QAnon supporters or shared QAnon language. President Trump has retweeted QAnon supporters and material, and most recently said he appreciates the support he receives from QAnon followers.[7]

Since the pandemic, QAnon conspiracy groups have increased in popularity on social media and moved from the fringes of the internet to the mainstream. In July 2020, Twitter announced it will be removing QAnon content from its platforms. Facebook followed suit with a similar announcement in August 2020.  Despite increased public awareness and content removal, QAnon supporters, including those propped by Russian-backed organizations, continue to engage in information warfare on alternative platforms to spread their message, presumably hoping to impact November’s election.[8]

AJC Position

Two of AJC’s top priorities are combating antisemitism and upholding democratic values. QAnon is anathema to both. 

In a time of rising antisemitism and growing distrust and division in our country, AJC condemns the QAnon worldview in the strongest terms. 

  1. AJC calls on our government officials, political candidates, and civil society leaders to condemn the QAnon movement as well as other extremist movements in their entirety. It is incumbent upon us as citizens to not allow these conspiracies to become normalized and part of our political discourse.
  2. AJC calls on President Trump and the administration to publicly denounce the QAnon conspiracy and disavow those who accept QAnon beliefs.  AJC expresses its gratitude to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) for denouncing QAnon, and we call on all GOP members to do the same. There is no place for QAnon in the Republican Party.
  3. AJC supports the adoption of bipartisan H. Res. 1094 introduced by Representatives Tom Malinowski (D-NJ) and Denver Riggleman (R-VA), titled “Condemning QAnon and rejecting the conspiracy theories it promotes.”
  4. AJC urges the FBI to persist in its investigation of QAnon and its links to domestic terrorist threats. 

If we are serious about rebuilding trust and transparency in our government and our democracy, fighting antisemitism and hate, and preventing the spread of misinformation and lies, then we must insist there is no place for QAnon in America or for QAnon followers to gain a foothold beyond the societal fringe.  

 

[1] “Anti-Government, Identity Based, and Fringe Political Conspiracy Theories Very Likely Motivate Some Domestic Extremists to Commit Criminal, Sometimes Violent Activity,” FBI Intelligence Bulletin. May 2019. https://info.publicintelligence.net/FBI-ConspiracyTheoryDomesticExtremism.pdf.

[2] Jacob Knutson, “RNC drops speaker after anti-Semitic QAnon conspiracy tweet,” Axios. August 25, 2020.

https://www.axios.com/mary-ann-mendoza-rnc-qanon-antisemitic-0def1387-2ebe-4547-90e1-f7bee980a055.html.

[3] Amarnath Amarasingam and Marc-André Argentino, “The QAnon Conspiracy Theory: A Security Threat in the Making?,” CTCSentinel 13, no. 7 (July 2020): 39. https://ctc.usma.edu/the-qanon-conspiracy-theory-a-security-threat-in-the-making/.

[4] “Anti-Government, Identity Based, and Fringe Political Conspiracy Theories Very Likely Motivate Some Domestic Extremists to Commit Criminal, Sometimes Violent Activity,” FBI Intelligence Bulletin. May 2019. https://info.publicintelligence.net/FBI-ConspiracyTheoryDomesticExtremism.pdf.

[5] Amarnath Amarasingam and Marc-André Argentino, “The QAnon Conspiracy Theory: A Security Threat in the Making?,” CTCSentinel 13, no. 7 (July 2020): 38. https://ctc.usma.edu/the-qanon-conspiracy-theory-a-security-threat-in-the-making/.

[6] General Mike Flynn, Twitter post. July 4, 2020, 6:39 PM. https://twitter.com/GenFlynn/status/1279590652200849409?s=20.

[7] President Donald Trump, response to NBC reporter on August 19, 2020, 3:06PM, NBC news clip. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-qanon-conspiracy-theory-suppose-be-bad-thing-n1237358.

[8] Joseph Menn, “Russian-backed organizations amplifying QAnon conspiracy theories, researchers say,” Reuters. August 24, 2020. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-qanon-russia/russian-backed-organizations-amplifying-qanon-conspiracy-theories-researchers-say-idUSKBN25K13T.

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