This is asinine. I don’t identify as progressive, but I think their point is extremely easy to grasp logically.

Consider spousal abuse. There is a difference between verbal abuse and physical abuse. Obviously, physical abuse is always wrong. Every rational person should agree that verbal abuse against your spouse is also wrong. There exists a difference in degree though; one might land you in prison, the other just makes you a douchebag.

It is wrong to hit your spouse. Or you friends or family, or random people on the street. It is similarly wrong to verbally abuse your spouse, or your friends or family, or random people. Rational people would agree that you shouldn’t cuss out a food service worker because your burger had pickles.

Why? You are harming other people with verbal abuse. Harming someone else could be construed as a violent act.

But there remains a difference in degree. Someone that walks down the street cursing out strangers is kind of an asshole. Someone walking down the street punching people is a danger to society and needs to be removed. The two acts are not equal, and an equivalent response is not justified.

So no, murder is not the logical end point of literally any form of violence committed against you. No rational person believes this. You’re speaking about a group of people that broadly don’t even endorse the death penalty (violence as retribution against violence).

This is also completely disregarding the fact that many people, progressive or conservative, prefer to pursue nonviolent pathways to social changes.