‘The rot festers’: Green movement is silent on candidate Jay Jones’ violent comments

In the recent Virginia gubernatorial debate, Democrat Abigail Spanberger twisted herself into verbal pretzels, desperately dodging the one question that demanded moral clarity: Will she withdraw her endorsement of Attorney General candidate Jay Jones after his horrific text messages fantasizing about murdering a political opponent and violence against his young children? The answer, buried under layers of deflection, was a resounding no. When pressed by moderator and Republican opponent Winsome Earle-Sears, Spanberger condemned the “violent rhetoric” in vague terms but refused to urge Jones to exit the race or even confirm her ongoing support. “It’s up to every voter to make their own individual decision,” she demurred.

This isn’t leadership; it’s a craven sidestep, prioritizing political points over the integrity that should define public service. Spanberger had a golden opportunity to do the right thing—to stand against threats of child murder and reclaim some shred of decency for her party. Instead, she revealed her true priority: power at any cost.

Spanberger’s evasion is damning, but she’s far from alone in this moral abdication. Jones’ texts weren’t mere heated words; they explicitly advocated executing then-House Speaker Todd Gilbert with “two bullets” to the head, then chillingly added that his 2- and 5-year-old children “should watch daddy die.” It’s the stuff of nightmares. Yet, in the weeks since these revelations, there’s been no stampede to withdraw endorsements or yank financial support. That’s not just sickening—it’s a flashing red warning light, especially given the violent undercurrents in the movements propping up Jones.

Consider the money trail. According to campaign finance records, three of Jones’ top 10 donors are environmental groups, funneling nearly $2 million into his coffers: the Clean Virginia Fund ($1.6 million), the Virginia League of Conservation Voters ($182,000), and the Green Advocacy Project ($150,000). These aren’t fringe players; they’re powerhouse advocates for “green” policies, organizations that lecture America regularly on ethics, sustainability, and moral imperatives. And yet, when contacted about refunding their donations or pulling support in light of Jones’ bloodlust, not one of them responded. Their silence screams complicity.

To date, zero have withdrawn their endorsements of Jones. The Sierra Club Virginia Chapter, for instance, proudly announced its backing of Jones for Attorney General back in July 2025, and that endorsement remains plastered online with no hint of retraction. Jones’ own campaign site lists a parade of supporters, but the absence of any environmental pullback speaks volumes—apparently, threats against toddlers are forgivable when the candidate toes the progressive line.

This hypocrisy isn’t subtle; it’s deafening, especially from groups that sprint to every microphone when political violence targets their foes. The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) didn’t hesitate, blasting the events of January 6 as a riot and a “white supremacist takeover” and demanding accountability for “those who perpetrated violence and insurrection.” They called for President Trump’s immediate resignation, decrying him as a “clear and present danger” to the nation’s safety. Where is that outrage for Jay Jones? There is no press release, no tweetstorm, no demand for his resignation. Their selective silence isn’t oversight—it’s strategy. Condemn when it’s convenient, ignore when your guy is the villain.

This isn’t new for the environmental movement; it’s a pattern etched in decades of troubling history. It was just earlier this year when we witnessed a wave of attacks against Tesla and its infrastructure by radical activists. Sadly, that was just the latest chapter in leftist eco-violence. When Joe Biden nominated a woman who helped plan tree-spiking in the 1980’s, these eco-groups were also silent. It all proves the fight is never about the environment. It has always been about raw political power.

Dig deeper, and the rot festers. The Earth Liberation Front (ELF) firebombed a Vail ski resort for $12 million in damages in 1998, while the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) has bombed labs and issued death threats—all in the name of the planet. A 1996 Department of Justice report warned that such “ecological terrorist organizations” condition members “to devalue the lives of those they perceive to be obstacles.” These aren’t anomalies; they’re the ideological DNA of a movement that spikes trees it claims to love, burns SUVs to “save” the earth, and now shrugs at candidates who dream of harming children. When out of power, they spike and bomb; when in, they promote the spikers.

Environmental groups have this moment—a chance to prove that integrity trumps ideology, that morality outweighs electoral math. Withdraw your endorsements of Jay Jones. Demand your money back. So far, your silence has only exposed the truth: there’s no low you won’t plumb, no violence you won’t abide, as long as victory is the prize. It proves, once and for all, that your crusade was never about the environment. It was always, only, about dominance. And those who can’t summon the courage to condemn savagery against innocents—especially children—don’t deserve a seat at the table of power.