Pipe bombs & political divides
A view of the CNN office building in downtown New York, which received a bomb in the mail and broke the story.
Courtesy of aylamillerntor/Flickr
In the midst of explosive political divides, USD students cope with increased tensions and violence
Paulina Sierra / Opinion Editor / The USD Vista
Sophomore Lauren Harmon, a registered Republican voter, joined the country in shock last week upon hearing the news that 14 pipe bombs were mailed to major figures within the Democratic party.
“It was quite disturbing,” Harmon said. “No one should ever be targeted in that manner. My political position definitely does not affect the way I view it.”
Some of the major political figures the bombs were mailed to include former President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Vice President Joe Biden, current California senator Kamala Harris, New Jersey senator Cory Booker, billionaire and Democratic donor George Soros, and the downtown New York CNN news offices, to name a few.
The bombs were made using PVC pipes and used a notable amount of black duct tape. All the packages were strategically addressed, using the return address to target a different political figure in case delivery to the original victim failed. All the packaging was similar; the bombs were sent inside a manilla folder stamped with six American flag stamps emblazoned on the front. None of the bombs detonated, and were intercepted before arriving at their intended destination.
Cesar Sayoc, 56, was arrested on Friday Oct. 26 in Plantation, Fla. on the accusation that he is responsible for sending the explosive devices. He had recently been asked to leave his parents’ residence, and was living inside his van, which was adorned with several images of President Trump and Vice President Pence, as well as a sticker that said “CNN Sucks.” Inside the van was evidence that the bombs were made and prepared from within it, which included mailing supplies, soldering equipment, and a white powder that is, as of now, still unidentified, but is being tested by investigators.
While Sayoc, now facing trial in Florida, claims that he never intended to have the bombs detonate and that they never could have hurt anyone, investigators concluded that the bombs had been intended to work, as they contained all the parts and efforts to make them functional, but were simply crafted poorly.
Barack Obama, one of the political figures targetted by the attack, at a rally in 2011.
Courtesy of Marc Nozelll/Flickr
While Sayoc was not being monitored by the Secret Service as an active threat, he had been arrested eight times since 1990 for various charges including drug possession and theft. The arrest most related to his current criminal charge took place in 2002, when he was arrested for threatening to bomb the Florida Power and Light Co., specifically threatening that “it would be worse than September 11th.” While this threat was significant, it was not considered threatening enough to place him on a watch list.
While the event was jarring, Harmon has concluded that in terms of voting, events like this should not have a major influence.
“Though I am voting, I think it is important to not let outside factors affect the way that I vote,” Harmon said. “For me, it’s important to look at the facts and the moral obligations that I have to my values and what I want to see in my future that helps me vote. It’s not necessarily about the here and now for me, but the long haul and how my vote affects my future.”
Sophomore Maisy Dombo, a registered Democrat, believes this event is indicative of an increase in radicalism in the America.
“The one thing it emphasizes for me is the fact that dangerous radicalism, from both the far right and the far left, has been passed over as normal or acceptable,” Dombo said. “I can only hope that this man’s actions aren’t praised or don’t embolden those who may be anti-Democrat.”
Dombo states, however, that the election will be influenced by this event, and that the political climate will, in turn, be affected.
“I believe that every election greatly affects the political climate whether we expressly address it or not because those who we elect are those who are making law and policy which of course influences daily life,” Dombo said. “However, this election seems as if it could be very impactful particularly due to the media campaigns and pleas from celebrities for young voters to register and utilize their constitutional right.”
Sayoc has now revealed that he intended to send bombs to hundreds of major Democratic players. While the impact of Sayoc’s threat was minimal, the threat posed by intense political divides continues to jeapordize the way our democracy is run.