George Wallace and Lester Maddox.... are they the racist Democrat governors you are referring to? Or are you referring to all those Democrat senators, like Al Gore Sr., who voted against the Civil Rights act?
In terms of the geopolitical global context, yes, those who adhere to traditional Judeo-Christian philosophy are under assault in these same ways, as individuals, and their states as nations. Evidence of Christianity and religious Judaism - the culture that produced the tradition of law and history that underlies the foundation of America is systematically being attacked and erased in the courts, the culture, and the symbols of the nation. There are attacks on that culture not only here but also abroad, and we but wait to import it in full measure - sectarian violence - unless we act to defend this civilization. The barbarians at the gates are the socialist left and the Islamokazis, whom are working together to achieve the same goal - the destruction of that culture. Americans are getting their heads cut off, and the Democrats are caught in vapor lock, having no sensible public explanation for their behavior, only heated rhetoric and name-calling.
Thus anything that would reinforce or sustain that culture has become anathema to the Democrats and socialists in our government. Conservative judges are the representatives of that civilization in the field of law and liberal activist judges are the last stand of the Left, who have lost on all levels at the ballot box and look to do so again and again. Having nothing positive to offer, they can only hold their influence - and in this case, their best trump card, too - by extending the relative influence of Carter and Clinton nominees (and some of Bush Sr.'s mistkaes, as well.)
You want to talk about violence? I have seen many a socialist riot in New York, they are as predicatable as clockwork. Hollywood stars have urged the literal stoning of Representatives; the New York Times - among others - openly prayed for an assassination. A grenade tossed at our own President. Politicians and artists, murdered alike, by socialists and Islamists in the Netherlands. Synagogues burned in Canada and France. Arsonists and terrorists in California. The situation is so bad you can get strip searched for no reason other than the need to board an airplane.
Thus the last stand of the socialists is the filibuster, which can preserve an established order - the status quo