FBI Labels Anti-Fascists and Anti-Racists as Violent Extremists
FBI Labels Anti-Fascists and Anti-Racists as Violent Extremists
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FBI Labels Anti-Fascists and Anti-Racists as Violent Extremists - UNICORN RIOT
A recently released Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) document titled “Domestic Terrorism Symbols Guide”* links common protest symbols to “terrorism” — another marker in a common theme of conflating militant protest for social justice with deadly terrorist violence within the United States. Groups like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Brennan Center have raised warnings about such documents, citing inadequate protections for people’s constitutional rights.
Labelling Antifa as a terrorist group is basically admitting you are a fascist.
I think there's more nuance on the topic than you're implying. While there's no actual group called antifa, there are plenty of groups who oppose far right ideology (i.e. anti-fascist/antifa). Some of these groups have definitely become heavily armed and radicalized. I don't support fascists, but I also don't support radicalized zealots of any creed. Does that make me a fascist?
While I'd prefer peaceful resolutions to our problems, I fully understand why left leaning groups are becoming more radicalized. There is little compromise with the theocrats who want to eliminate or subjugate various minority and underrepresented groups within our society, continually hand more and more power to corporations, wholeheartedly believe the end of days is coming once Israel fully takes control of the holy land, and will scream "Second Amendment" and "Crisis Actors" every time kids are killed in school shootings. They violently stormed the US Capitol many of whole had intent to kill Senators and Representatives.
There is no compromise or peaceful resolution with people who want to hurt you or worse because their pastor said you're a demonic sinner who must be cleansed from the earth.
No, it makes you a person that probably won't do squat to stop fascists.
It's no coincidence wthat it's only radicals that show up to physically confront fascists while the so-called "enlightened centrists" do nothing but heckle from the sidelines.
Maybe with another organization you would have a point, but in the case of the FBI which has been known to aid and recruit fascists I don’t see this holding any water.
Radicals aren't the same as extremists. And that is an important distinction to understand when dealing with politics. Being armed and willing to defend yourself isn't an act of extremism. Being violent towards violent fascists isn't extremism. It's community defense. When you break down politics into it's most base element, it's about the distribution of the legitimate use of violence. Understanding and working within that framework isn't extremism, it's politics 101. Philosophy Tube has a good video on this in relation to fascism. Skip to ~20 mins in for the violence bit.
The problem is that letting fascist types run rampant and hoping they'll just go away historically doesn't tend to work out well.
I live in Portland. Up until 2021 or so fascists, proud boys, Patriot prayer, etc. All ran rampant in cahoots with local law enforcement. People were menaced, paintballed, attacked and all that. It sucked. The sniveling mayor begged those groups not to come in (they're never local) and act like that. Shockingly they did anyway.
Portland fought back
It was unpleasant, but it worked. Those assholes haven't tried to have their gatherings here in a couple of years. Self described antifa groups are still on edge but have largely diminished in activity. You don't see antifa rallies designed to menace going out to the surrounding small towns where those assholes largely come from. Unless you're sporting some obviously fash flair pretty much everyone gets left alone in town.
Both sides are not the same
So would you label “maga” as heavily armed and radicalised?
yes that makes you a fascist.
i think that you should be quiet and postulate that garbage to the dump.
https://www.businessinsider.com/right-wing-extremists-kill-329-since-1994-antifa-killed-none-2020-7
For most of Lemmy, yes, that makes you a fascist.
Well, you know *gestures vaguely at all the far-right stuff going on in the United States"
Yeah, actually, it kinda does.
A group can be right and also be violent and extremist.
Not untrue, but antifa in general would cease to exist if fascists stopped coming to cities to menace people
In this context they're using "extremist" to mean "goes too far".
Isn't their whole thing arguing that terrorist tactics are justified, helpful and necessary? Every time I see antifa supporters talking online that's the thrust of the discussion. What is the case for them not being a terrorist group?
Oooh... fascists are afraid of scawy antifa - that must mean antifa must be terrorists.
Good job demonstrating how much moral weight you ascribe to the feelings of fascists, Clyde.
I wonder if my profile pic puts me on that list.
-FBI, in the document referenced.
Only if you're dumb enough to just assume whatever a group titles themselves actually reflects their beliefs.
Do you think the Nazis were socialist? How about the Soviets?
You can call yourself whatever you want, if your group is anti fascist and acts in an authoritarian manner, then you're the same thing with a different economic outlook.
Yes but antifa is anti fascist.
Calling antifa a terrorist organization because in another universe an organization sharing the name could be bad is like banning ice cream because it could be made out of maggots.
But anti fascist are fascist. we must lock them up and ..... \s