What is Antifa?

Sep 25

Trump thinks they’re a terrorist organization. We spoke with someone on the inside.

After attending a Charlottesville preparation workshop, I learned the following: do not rub your face after being pepper-sprayed, do not separate from your group, and do not engage the Nazis. Importantly, this was the workshop where I first learned about the antifascist or antifa group. Confusingly, this is not a concrete organization, but rather a shared, far-left belief system held by various activists who periodically convene to oppose Nazi rallies and to provide protesters with protection. Antifa members are socialists, anarchists and communists who research, expose, and confront Neo-Nazis. What’s more, they were there at the Charlottesville protest, and they protected myself and others from incendiary harm- even fatality.

Later on, after reading right and even leftists critiques on antifa, I sought out the man with whom I spent time at the Charlottesville protest. In its aftermath, I had to ask him about issues of gender, violence and other distress I picked up from antifa critiques.

Although he offered to use his real name, as he was pictured on CNN and has been outed by white supremacists on their platforms, I want to respect the slight anonymity he still has in this movement. There was a lot we couldn’t talk about, but I especially didn’t want to approach the death of Heather because it was clear everyone was tender and grieving. Here is our exchange:

Can you tell me a little more about Antifa and its mission?

There's no hierarchy whatsoever and it’s really a tactic as well as any. I wish we could just call it antifascists or antifascist action which is actually what it was originally called. I mean really, it’s a tactic which I'd like to kind of briefly and concisely explain into two things: No platform for white supremacy because white supremacy is violence. Secondly, any expression of white supremacy is a form of hate and actual violence and we will confront that.

How do you organize with locals? From various sources and readings, I see you all clash with local organizers or work on their behalf. Can you explain that dynamic and relationship?

Now because antifa is a tactic, it works as a community strategy. That's how we describe it amongst ourselves: above all else it is community defense. And you know that's why I wanted to reach out to you all when I went to Charlottesville or when I went to Virginia---so you know that's as close to locals as I could. In Arkansas, for example, is the headquarters of the Ku Klux Klan and in the past few years they've had really really big and successful Pride Parades and a lot of antifascist activists who wanted to get out to confront the Klan whom we knew was going to be there. And the liberal groups told us our presence would make them feel less safe because they would have to suffer the consequences, so we stood down. It's a lot more than just punching cops.

Because antifa is known so much for physical violence and reaction, I caution to ask about gender dynamics and values. Can you explain that to me?

I really believe the most effective and wisest and intuitive leadership comes from the women in our group and that didn't happen because we decided it...it just happened. I think in organizing it’s just kind of the nature of horizontal decision making––women get a better voice.

I believe egalitarian structures are inherently matriarchal and that’s one of the most inspiring things about this approach to coalition and organizing.

The women in our group are the best at sensing trouble. They're the best at predicting what's going to happen next, like reading the more liberal groups that are maybe collaborating with police...they might be trouble. There's just all types of people we have to watch out for. For [women] it's just very spur.

How has your life changed now from organizing?

At this point, I've been doxxed and identified by many fascist groups as to where to find me. I've been sent pictures of my mother's face. You know I was sent a satellite view from my house and a photograph of my front door and stuff like that.

What provisions do you all or can you all take for safety?

Well you know actually I don't want to give away any tactics for you, but I would like to explain the covering of the face. You know most people see that and they say why are you wearing a mask. You know why. Well because I don't want to be identified by fascists because they will terrorize me, but that just goes in one ear and out the other. Certainly you know baby boomers they think wow your face is covered. You must be up to no good. Then there’s the technology aspect and FBI attempting to infiltrate our chat groups. It’s never-ending anxiety and paranoia but we have a pretty good intuition.

What else would you want people to know about DSA, antifa and other underground groups?

Like before, we’re not just cop-punching folks. I’m on medication for sleep and a mood disorder and, I like, I can't sleep if I don’t get that medicine, but if something happens with intervention or violence, why is it that the police are the first people to show up?

And I know in some places like in Charlottesville, for example, they told me that the police don't have training, but, you know what, social workers are the ones that are solving domestic disputes. Now, I understand that you can’t have social workers doing that kind of work, but there’s an education neglect there. Who are they choosing and why?

So it goes back to the horizontal decision making and moving towards community autonomy and that's a huge priority for me in my community: just making sure that everyone has been heard and that continues in other coalition strategies, like so people won’t have to ask their parents for pure dependence. Young folks and poor folks don't have healthcare and need help now and a platform for voice––we shouldn’t have to own a car in order to go job hunting because you have to have a job, make money to buy a car in order to afford to go job hunting and sustain capital and have a family. And you shouldn't have to track transportation infrastructure, but it’s a corrupt, marred infrastructure too. Everyone has to depend on that system though––a bad system in order to get a job. I want to fight class structures too. We want that too.

I just I would love to see policies [and] investment in things that benefit everyone. [...] I just want us to say something and smash the patriarchy and rape culture. People keep on saying “Wait, be patient and settle down,” like from university professors to community folks. When will we ever have time for that? When did being slow and quiet ever help anyone?

Sometimes, I remain unsure of my placement in antifa as a queer, black woman even though I have seen evidence through social media of celebrating queer history and activists. I know there are women and queer people in antifa. However, I also know that a system that is built on resistance and reaction will internalize those modes of violence, hierarchy and oppression. We internalize and eat poisons everyday. We really don’t have a choice in that matter. And I hate to operate in a system in which I need saving because that means I have little power, but I don’t have a choice in that matter either. It seems, at the very least, antifa is aware of those elements and is trying to remain afloat in a current state that is desperate to incite fear, break bones and take my life. I don’t think antifa is fighting for that impossible object called justice; I just think they are trying to survive and ensure others can have that ability too.

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