Going after "Antifa" as a "terrorist organization" is like...

[Tommy_Carcetti]

...trying to throw a snowball with nothing but cold air.

It's a non-entity. There's nothing there.

Trump talks like he's going after Al Qaeda or ISIS, groups with formalized infrastructure. This isn't that. This isn't even the KKK, which exists on something like a confederation (pardon the pun) style level.

As far as we know, there are a couple of sites claiming to be local "Antifa" groups. We don't know how legitimate they are, and even if they are, they don't appear to have any sense of organization or hierarchy to them. Presumably anyone in them could claim to be legitimately anti-facists, but there's nothing to confirm this.

The only visible presence of people who call themselves "Antifa" are at otherwise peaceful demonstrations against racism or fascism, where these people wearing masks (long before our current pandemic) came in and appeared to want simply to create chaos and havoc. Now, it's possible that some of these people might legitimately be people who think they are somehow doing this in the interests of fighting racism or fascism. It's possible. However, it's far more likely that the people who do this as supposed "Antifa" are simply either anarchists who love chaos, or right-wing provocateurs who want to make people protesting racism look as bad and as violent as possible.

Now, the name "Antifa" of course comes from "anti-fascist." And if everyone who is against fascism is considered "Antifa", then, well, it would be a rather large group, right?

But the thing is, being against racism and fascism is, by all accounts, the normal point of view. It's common sense. So you don't have to call yourself "Antifa" or some silly name just to show you have common sense when it comes to racism and hatred.

The idea that there can be a crackdown on "Antifa" is downright comical. At best, they might end up with a handful of oddball anarchists or their own provocateurs. At worst, it's a backdoor attempt to demonize the entire protest movement on the basis of a largely fictional concept and strawman.

[Blue_Tires]

1. That's the point...

He can now declare us ALL "antifa"

[Celerity]

6. +100000

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213515566

Link to tweet

Bill Barr in 1992:



He’s always been that guy.

[underpants]

2. This is propaganda becoming policy

at least FOR the consumers of the propaganda.

For the believers Antifa is omnipresent all powerful.

The really ironic thing is that Antifa in the US really began in Minneapolis in the 80’s. Fighting skin heads on weekends.

[BComplex]

8. Interesting! I never heard of them until this week.

Antifa is all of America, and our traditional foreign policy, in that case.

[underpants]

19. They've been a big thing for the right for a while

Going back to Obama’s administration. Why they picked Antifa as the super bad guys I don’t remember.

[CousinIT]

3. That's the point. "Antifa" is whatever the authoritarian regime says it is at the moment.

Link to tweet

[SKKY]

4. Can we declare "Trumpism" as a terrorist organization?

[H2O Man]

5. Recommended.

My cousin directed me to a group on FB that is convinced that "Antifa" is being directed by billionaire Democrats to attack a town near us in very rural, upstate NY. By "coincidence," the local Trump supporters believe this to be true.

[global1]

7. Legitimate Question Here - What's The Opposite Of Antifa?.....nt

[spanone]

18. Supporters of fascism?

[global1]

23. Profa....

I guess I would agree with you. Supporters of fascism. So does that mean Trump & Barr are fascists?

[spanone]

24. Looks that way to me.

[Shiv]

9. I think the concern is..

that it will be used like "Commie" and be a new McCarthyism, but rather difficult to get traction with the current state of Congress for a full on mass round-up. I wouldn't do anything but be vigilant and outraged about all of it though. It is a very dangerous direction.

[Budi]

10. Yes..this.

Remember who's playbook they're using ..so far it's working for them.
They hold a lot of power.

[kurtcagle]

11. Of course

The biggest setback for the GOP was the implosion of the Communists in the 1990s. It would take 9/11 and the rise of Al Qaeda to create an effective boogeyman, and that lost its momentum as the two wars wound down.

Antifa is primarily a construct of the far right, used to make false equivalency arguments and scare rural farmers. They are the devils in the dark, the spooks in the shadows, part of the playbook. They are part of an abuser's toolbox, intended to keep their victims afraid.

[Miguelito Loveless]

12. Oh, I don't know

any living World War II vet who served in the European theater is an OG anti-fa. Perhaps Trump can start arresting them. Also, didn't they liberate France, and overthrow the fascist Vichy gov't? Sounds like people in need of an internment camp.

[jmg257]

14. Don't think they're quite the same thing.

No vet I know
Would be in Antifa.

[Miguelito Loveless]

15. You are missing the irony

that U.S. troops, who put down the Hitler and Mussolini regimes, are by default, "anti-fascist". They are also the demographic most likely to support Trump.

[jmg257]

17. Ah there ya go.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

16. No, they're veterans.

And yes, they're anti-fascist....or hopefully they are.

But "Antifa" as an actual group is a very questionable concept.

[Miguelito Loveless]

20. "Antifa"

comes from "anti-fascist" The activities of anti-fascist groups were certainly viewed as criminal by a lot of people during the Nazi occupations. Later, they were heroes, despite the fact that they stole, blew up things, and murdered people.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

22. I know that.

It's pointless to use the term to describe an actual group that hardly exists.

Like I said, to be against fascism is the normal default and common sense. No need to confuse people by acting like veterans are part of some "Antifa" movement.

[Miguelito Loveless]

25. Again, I my comment is about the irony of the tactic

and illustrating the silliness. As to being officially part of a movement, I doubt members of the Underground and other "partisan" anti-fa(scist) groups in occupied countries were carrying membership cards.

[jmg257]

13. Let's see what the manual says...

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1en7RmfNttXrBKDv7f2dqDNyh8i7ZrXvL/view

Lots of Good info on the new world order and how to bring it about

[lame54]

21. Fahrenheit 451...

Pick a suspect
Build your fake narrative
Televise his apprehension and death
People will believe he's guilty

[trackfan]

26. I've never seen any evidence that Antifa, as portrayed/perceived, exists.

It's kind of like the weapons of mass destruction.

[pansypoo53219]

27. antifa red herring to cover up for the far rite.

[BrightKnight]

28. I think the "anarchist" groups that disrupt demonstrations

are working for big oil or whatever right wing group that doesn’t find the demonstration convenient. They are not a new problem.