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1 [1] (March 1, 2018)

handle is hein.crs/govchvq0001 and id is 1 raw text is: '. ~**\**\ &~ ~ riE SE ~$rCh &~ ~ ~ March 1, 2018 Antifa-Background Pudhdik Reafm Some Americans describe themselves and their ideological outlooks as antifa, shorthand for antifascist. As antifa suggests, followers focus on countering the views of people they deem fascist or white supremacist. They see themselves as part of a protest tradition that arcs back to opposition groups in Nazi Germany and fascist Italy prior to World War II. A portion of antifa movement members are willing to commit crimes to promote their beliefs. Antifa groups in the United States have gained prominence following violent clashes between white supremacists and their opponents in Charlottesville, VA, on August 12, 2017. Also in 2017, according to news reports, antifa protesters scuffled with people they opposed at public protests in locations such as Portland, OR, and Berkeley, CA. The U.S. antifa movement appears to be decentralized, consisting of independent, radical, like-minded groups and individuals. Its tenets can dovetail with the principles of anarchism, socialism, and communism. Adherents do not necessarily just hold these opinions, however. Among many other things, they may also support environmentalism, the rights of indigenous populations, and gay rights. Antifa activism traces its U.S. roots back to antiracists who mobilized in the 1980s. Some of these antiracists were willing to break the law when opposing the activities of people like racist skinheads, members of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), and neo-Nazis. For at least two reasons, contemporary U.S. antifa adherents likely don't share a list of enemies. First, the movement lacks a unifying organizational structure or detailed ideology that might shape such a list. Local groups do not have to listen to each other's pronouncements and might aim their animus at specific enemies. Second, fascism is notoriously difficult to define. Thus, particular antifa groups may oppose different things based on how they identify who or what is fascist. Much antifa activity involves nonviolent protest such as hanging posters, delivering speeches, and marching. As a core purpose, antifa groups track and react to the activities of individuals or groups they see as advocating fascist views, such as neo-Nazis, racist skinheads, white supremacists, and white nationalists. Antifa adherents believe that civil liberties protections provide safe harbor to ideas and people bent on harming vulnerable populations in the United States. Thus, antifa followers tend not to accept that the conventional capacities of American society will thwart the rise of fascist movements. They lack faith in the ability of federal, state, or local governments to properly investigate or prosecute fascists who break the law, especially during shows of force at public marches. This lack of faith can result in a willingness to engage in criminality-taking the law into their own hands-when confronting their foes or expressing their own ideas. While few concrete antifa principles exist, U.S. supporters have articulated four obligations for all groups. According to a movement text, antifa groups must (1) track the activity of fascist groups, (2) oppose their public organizing, (3) support antifascist allies attacked by fascists or arrested by police, and (4) not cooperate with law enforcement. When it has occurred, interpersonal violence during demonstrations has ranged from street fights involving groups to Nazi-punching, which, as the term suggests, involves an individual assaulting a perceived enemy. A September 2017 incident in the Seattle, WA, area reportedly began with people using antifa-linked social media accounts to post photographs of a man sporting a swastika armband around town. Someone presumably following the social media posts caught up to him and knocked him out with a blow to the head. According to police, the victim refused medical treatment and declined to report the crime. Antifa followers have also caused property damage at protests. When they harm property or brawl with opponents, antifa members tend to rationalize such crimes either as defensive reactions to the aggressions of their foes or as part of their own need to defend society from fascism. In some instances, antifa followers show up at protests prepared for physical skirmishes, carrying weapons as well as gear such as shields and helmets. Antifa movement literature emphasizes a number of ways to take action. The same movement source that describes antifa obligations urges followers to pursue some activities that appear to be fairly ordinary, lawful protest fare, as well as other activities that seem more confrontational. Among its suggestions, it encourages adherents to do the following: * Develop an online/social media presence to promote antifa views and recruit. * Monitor the activities of groups such as the KKK, racist skinheads, and neo-Nazis, as well as people who describe themselves as white nationalists, among others. * Throw fundraisers and set up promotional tables at a variety of public events to recruit new members. * Join rallies held by like-minded organizations opposing people or groups that antifa supporters dub fascist. Antifa groups also stage their own counter- demonstrations opposing fascist rallies. * Compel outside organizations hosting speakers or rallies with a fascist bent to cancel such events. Protest in these instances can involve obstructing access to venues and the intense lobbying of hosts. This sort of activity has .O 'T mppm qq\ p\w gn'a', ggmm a 's I 11LIANJILiN,