General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Does Antifa actually exist or is it a figment of the disturbed Republican psyche? [View all]Tommy Carcetti
(43,182 posts)There is the concept of being anti-fascist, but that doesn't need a silly name like "Antifa". That's just common sense. Most normal minded people are against fascism.
And no, your father or grandfather who served in the US Army during World War II was not "Antifa" either. They were just serving their country. That's all. You might think it's cute to call them "Antifa" but that's not an accurate way of describing them.
As for the strange group of people who seemed intent on wrecking a certain amount of chaos surrounding otherwise peaceful demonstrations, I see them as falling into mainly one of three categories:
1. Anarchists who love creating chaos and mayhem for the sake of chaos and mayhem, and see these types of protests as a convenient excuse to do so.
2. Right wing infiltrators who seem keen on painting as violent and negative a face as possible on otherwise peaceful protests against racism and fascism.
3. People who legitimately think they are somehow doing the work of fighting against racism and fascism by breaking shit.
Of the group, the third category is the far least common in my opinion.
But there's no centralized, legitimate Antifa organization in the US dedicated to fighting against fascism and racism. No hierarchy, no infrastructure, no dues, nothing like that. Groups such as the Proud Boys and the KKK have far more of a sense of organization that what people on the right insist "Antifa" is.
It's mainly a ghost of a movement that does little to actually help with the fight against racism in this country, whether that be by accident or design.