By Michael Mottern and Stacey Barber
Antifa or antifascist, even though it was a core US value since WW II, is something Trump absolutely loathes and is currently classified by this administration’s FBI and Homeland Security department as some kind of amorphous “terrorist “organization. Recently, Trump signed an executive order authorizing a huge swath of funding for a ten-agency center dedicated to specifically identifying and rooting out “domestic terrorism “under the 21st century version of McCarthyism, but this time questioning one of the rudiments of our Constitution, separation of church and state, making even milquetoast liberals suspect. Apparently, the US Left is way more united than Trump thinks it is. He seems to be afraid that somehow, all the social justice and economic equality the Left has traditionally stood for has magically morphed into something like Nelson Mandela ‘s former South African party, the African National Congress (ANC).
In Buffalo, NY, in 1919, there was a quasi-revolt, brief and minor, when compared to the 1932 Bonus Rally that set WWI veterans off so badly that undeniably, they wanted to revolt. In 1932, similar to the Occupy encampment of 2011, assembled a group, the DC Bonus March rally of 1932. It was a group of highly disgruntled “unemployed “soldiers, sailors, farmers and workers who assembled in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC. Also, there was a similar attempt in Buffalo very briefly: the official rallying cry was all gather round “The Buffalo Soviet”; however, that quickly got put down. As ordered by then-lieutenant colonel, George S. Patton Jr, future hero of the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium during WWII, the Bonus marchers in DC were eventually thwarted by the police. Patton later called the beating down of the Bonus marchers the lowest point of his career.
Occupy 2011 was no different. However, we learned something from 1919 and 1932. The Occupy Encampment, Buffalo, NY, was not only the longest running Occupy, but worked with the city of Buffalo to divest its money from Chase Manhattan Bank to a more local bank, one of them being first Niagara. The lesson learned is that it is better to be more diplomatic and united on common principles of class solidarity, economic justice and fights of Iiberations of all the oppressed, and the steadfastness and consistency in Buffalo Occupy pointed the city in the right direction
In these dark, xenophobic times, even a former MAGA Christian who may have snapped out of the cult by seeing families torn apart in their own neighborhood by ICE would potentially be considered Antifa by Trump and his goons.
We the people are all Antifa! Down with fascism worldwide!
Michael Mottern is First Vice-President of Social Democrats USA.
Stacey Barber is a member of SDUSA Buffalo.
While I have read the text and agree with it in principle, the Antifa that I know about are not “We the people.”
As always, MAGA goes over the top, and exaggerates. Speaking as a Social Democrat, I cannot in good conscience support the present iteration of “Antifa” that magically appears at No Kings rallys. With their black garb and pepper spray. Getting into fights with the police is good copy for the Far Right to depict us all as “agitators,” which again overstates who we really are.
Non-violent action I consider as one of our core principles and pillars.
Thank you for your thoughtful and necessary contribution. Opposing judicial overreach on the part of the FBI and Homeland Security should not blind social democrats to the fact that our political differences with Antifa are not a gap but a chasm. The SDUSA must reject authoritarianism whether it comes in the form of a MAGA hat or a black mask.
While I agree with the gist of the piece, I do not agree with the methods of Antifa in America. They are good copy for the far right. The only time I actually notice their presence, recently, are at our No Kings demonstrations. They magically appear in their dark gear and pepper spray. They claim to be the demonstrators’ defenders.
I see it differently. They like to physically fight. My opinion is that non-violent action is our real pathway, not American Antifa, though I get and agree with your point.