The Minneapolis incident also reignited debate about political violence that does not fit traditional definitions. No one was seriously injured. No weapon in the conventional sense was used. Yet the psychological impact was undeniable. Fear was injected into a space meant for dialogue. That alone constitutes harm.

Scholars of political extremism have long warned that intimidation does not begin with physical injury. It begins with disruption, with forcing people to calculate risk simply for participating. A syringe, even filled with vinegar, accomplishes that goal efficiently. It leaves everyone asking the same question: what if next time it isn’t harmless?