In his decision, a judge agreed that the alleged white nationalists were being selectively prosecuted instead of 'far-left extremist groups, such as Antifa.'
What do I know, I only have a history of direct action as an anarchist.
Antifa is a set of tactics and actions done specifically in opposition to fascist organizing. That lady who died at Charlottesville died being antifa.
There have been people who engaged in antifa before the modern fascism problem. The need is rising. Some will claim that label and when they do it’s their right as long as they do what it says on the tin. It’s a lot like food not bombs in that way. You aren’t FNB because you gave away free vegan food, but you don’t have to get permission to use that label if you’re giving away free vegan food and there’s no organization or hierarchy. It’s just a thing you can do and a label you can claim in the doing.
The problem is that it’s been demonized and used as a label for those not claiming it. But head on down to your local punk scene and there’s probably someone with an antifa patch who may very well have punched a Nazi
Again, you are suggesting that there are these positions: Fascism and anti-fascism. This also implies a third, neutral, position.
There is fascism, and there is everyone else. Everyone but fascists are ‘antifa.’ It’s a meaningless word which is just used to demonize people and you are, I assume unwittingly, being used to make fascism sound less extreme by making opposing it sound more extreme.
There is passive anti fascism and active anti fascism. That’s the point here. Most people are passively anti fascist. At different points different people will be driven towards becoming actively anti fascist. For me it was the echoes of Charlottesville and the kkk marching near my home.
Fascism is the most extreme anti human stance. Active anti fascism is noble rather than extreme. It is noble like feeding the hungry. Everyone should be able to agree that it is the right thing to do, and we should be proud of all who do it, but it can be difficult and inconvenient or any number of other things can get in the way rather than it being “too extreme”. And in fact plenty of non radical people do celebrate acts of anti fascist action in our modern era. That gif of Richard Spencer being punched is something most folks lack the courage to do but can acknowledge that it’s right and good.
The hit on antifa is a specific disinformation campaign by right wing media. It’s akin to their attacks on blm. Trying to portray loose resistance to fascist organizing as the left wing equivalent to the proud boys instead of just normal people opposing fascists and deciding to make that opposition material.
Wait… so you’re saying antifa is “anyone who opposes a fascist?”
Because, that kind of sounds like it’s not a thing.
You seem to think that there are two concepts- “fascism” and “anti-fascism.” There aren’t. There’s fascism and then there’s everything else.
There is no antifa. There’s just everyone who isn’t a fascist that isn’t going to let them get away with running roughshod over their country.
What do I know, I only have a history of direct action as an anarchist.
Antifa is a set of tactics and actions done specifically in opposition to fascist organizing. That lady who died at Charlottesville died being antifa.
There have been people who engaged in antifa before the modern fascism problem. The need is rising. Some will claim that label and when they do it’s their right as long as they do what it says on the tin. It’s a lot like food not bombs in that way. You aren’t FNB because you gave away free vegan food, but you don’t have to get permission to use that label if you’re giving away free vegan food and there’s no organization or hierarchy. It’s just a thing you can do and a label you can claim in the doing.
The problem is that it’s been demonized and used as a label for those not claiming it. But head on down to your local punk scene and there’s probably someone with an antifa patch who may very well have punched a Nazi
Again, you are suggesting that there are these positions: Fascism and anti-fascism. This also implies a third, neutral, position.
There is fascism, and there is everyone else. Everyone but fascists are ‘antifa.’ It’s a meaningless word which is just used to demonize people and you are, I assume unwittingly, being used to make fascism sound less extreme by making opposing it sound more extreme.
There is passive anti fascism and active anti fascism. That’s the point here. Most people are passively anti fascist. At different points different people will be driven towards becoming actively anti fascist. For me it was the echoes of Charlottesville and the kkk marching near my home.
Fascism is the most extreme anti human stance. Active anti fascism is noble rather than extreme. It is noble like feeding the hungry. Everyone should be able to agree that it is the right thing to do, and we should be proud of all who do it, but it can be difficult and inconvenient or any number of other things can get in the way rather than it being “too extreme”. And in fact plenty of non radical people do celebrate acts of anti fascist action in our modern era. That gif of Richard Spencer being punched is something most folks lack the courage to do but can acknowledge that it’s right and good.
The hit on antifa is a specific disinformation campaign by right wing media. It’s akin to their attacks on blm. Trying to portray loose resistance to fascist organizing as the left wing equivalent to the proud boys instead of just normal people opposing fascists and deciding to make that opposition material.