In 2016, a man burst into a DC restaurant, firing an assault weapon and demanding the release of the children he claimed they were trafficking. This year, the tag “Frazzledrip,” went viral, referring to an unseen video depicting two adults drinking a child’s blood. At the heart of both crazy conspiracies is Hillary Clinton, who allegedly leads an international syndicate of elites who abuse and kill children in satanic rituals. Far-right conspiracy theorists have made graphic allegations and graphic threats against Hillary and her allies.
An Ancient Lie
While new online platforms have helped spread the wild theory, its gory origins lie in the old anti-Semitic blood libel. For centuries, Jews have been baselessly accused murdering Christian children in religious rites. A repeated claim holds that the Jews drink Christian blood and mix it into their matzah (unleavened bread) on Passover.
The first well-documented case of the blood libel occurred in 1144 in Norwich, England. There, the tiny community of Jews were blamed for the death of a young boy named William. A religious cult grew around William, who was venerated as a Christian martyr. This pattern was repeated in other English cities: a child went missing, the Jews were blamed, and the town erected a shrine to the new “child saint." These shrines became popular medieval tourist attractions and major revenue sources for local clergyman.
Blood libels often inspired deadly violence against the Jews. In 1171, almost every member of the Jewish community in Blois, France was burned at the stake after a Christian child allegedly went missing. In 1255 the death of a Christian boy in Lincoln, England led King Henry III and the local bishop to order the torture and execution of dozens of Jews. The dead Jews’ property was given to the king, Lincoln became a religious shrine, and donations from pilgrims helped the city to build the world's tallest cathedral.
For the next few centuries, blood libels inspired brutal pogroms across Europe. Christian lynch mobs often formed during Passover, whipped into a frenzy by lies about Jews using Christian blood in religious rituals. Thus, the holiday celebrating the redemption of the Israelites from Egypt became a time of terror for the Jews of Europe.
In the early modern age, the blood libel continued to inspire injustices and atrocities. In 1840, when a Catholic priest disappeared in Damascus, prominent members of the Jewish community were arrested and tortured by authorities. With no evidence and facing an international outcry, the Jews were ultimately released, although 4 had died in custody.
In 1911, in Kiev (then within the Russian Empire), a Jew named Mendel Beilis was charged with the murder of a young Christian boy. Although Czarist authorities had identified the real murderers, Beilis was tortured and imprisoned for two years while awaiting trial. The Czarist regime had often supported pogroms and anti-Semitic policies. As the regime battled liberal reformers, the Czar paid reactionary groups to spread anti-Semitic propaganda to distract citizens from imperial corruption.
The blood libel persists even today. Saudi and Iranian clerics frequently proclaim Jewish ritual murder to be a historical fact, and it is taught as such in many Muslim nations. In 2013, when Obama hosted a Passover seder (dinner), a Western-funded Palestinian group asked whether he knew the “truth” about the Jews and Passover.
Believing the Unbelievable
The blood libel’s long history testifies to its power to incite ordinary people. Each part of the libel almost appears designed to maximize emotional outrage. There is a hidden enemy working against society: the Jews. There is a compelling victim: an innocent Christian child. There are allegedly secret rituals: Passover traditions. The Hillary conspiracy theory shares these themes. While Hillary isn’t Jewish, she is part of the “global elite,” a nebulous band of powerful people who Trump has repeatedly attacked. Like the Jews, Hillary is a boogeyman to her foes, who allege she has excessive, almost supernatural powers. To conspiracy theorists, Hillary and the Jews hold values completely at odds with society. If Christian society values faith and family, then its enemies must practice debauched, diabolical rituals.
The originators of hateful libels often have clear reasons for sharing them. In Europe, taking Jewish property and building shrines to “child saints” had distinct economic benefits. Today, in certain Muslim nations, rhetorical attacks on Jews are politically energizing. Far-right agitators like Alex Jones recognize both the political and entertainment value of spreading conspiracy theories about Hillary.
Yet, how could people believe such absurd and easily disproven lies about either Hillary or the Jews? The question gives too much credit to logic in human decision-making. People believe libels and conspiracy theories because it is emotionally convenient to believe. Creating a common hated enemy draws a community closer together. For those who hate Hillary and think global elites are destroying America, the Hillary conspiracy theory fits neatly into their worldview. For European villagers, the blood libel supported their pre-existing bigotry against their Jewish neighbors.
A major difference between the blood libel and the Hillary conspiracy theory is the speed of transmission. Our hyperconnected world creates self-reinforcing rabbit holes for conspiracy theorists to find supportive communities and new “evidence.” Unsurprisingly, the internet has accelerated the development and evolution of new conspiracy theories.
The latest Hillary conspiracy theory may spread more quickly than medieval blood libels, but the fundamentals remain consistent. Both play on human weakness and are deliberately lurid and deliberately provocative. Those who believe such conspiracies are indulging in illogical but emotionally satisfying fantasies. However, the history of the blood libel proves that such fantasies are destructive and deadly.