Taken from NYC Antifa: Click Link for full article along with prisoner information.

In the year since the first July 25th International Day of Solidarity with Antifascist Prisoners in 2015, there has been a disturbing increase of Far Right activity worldwide. Every day brings news of some new wave of reaction—in the name of nationalism and security—which demonizes refugees and immigrants, stokes hatred for Muslims, and attacks LGBTQ and other oppressed groups fighting for their liberation and their very lives.

We see Nigel Farage and UKIP in the UK, the Burmese magazine The Irrawaddy, the Front National in France, and Donald Trump in the U.S. all making the same racist claims about refugees using almost identical Far Right language. In response, anti-fascists from Poland, Thailand, Malaysia, England, Australia, Brazil, Burma, Greece, France, Sweden, the United States, and all points in between, have the same response to this bigoted garbage:

NO PASARAN!

Antifascists are on the front lines in the fight against these fascist and other Far Right nationalist nightmares. In the U.S. we have already seen a large increase in antifa arrests at increasingly confrontational demonstrations against KKK and similar rallies. Internationally, there has also been an increase in street confrontations, and unfortunately this means more repression by the State. We will not allow our comrades—surrounded by steel cages and concrete walls—to be forgotten.

The July 25 International Day of Solidarity with Antifascist Prisoners originated in 2014 as the Day of Solidarity with Jock Palfreeman, an Australian man serving a 20-year sentence in Bulgaria for defending two Romani men from an attack by fascist football hooligans. In 2015, we expanded our solidarity efforts to include all antifascist prisoners across the globe. There were a variety of actions around the world: groups held benefit concerts, movie nights, talks, raffles, banner drops, letter-writings, and literature distribution on the street and at a punk festival. Others did photo-ops and videos, and issued statements of solidarity.

We call on anti-fascists worldwide to act in solidarity with antifascist prisoners! Consider having an event or dedicating an action to them. They are in there for us, and we are out here for them!

No Pasaran!
Until All Are Free!

Below is a list of global antifascist prisoners. Translations of the call are coming shortly. Please contact us: if you know an antifa prisoner who is missing form the list (include their details, and what languages they can read); if you can help translate the call; or if you are planning an event that, so that we can help publicize it: nycantifascistaction@gmail.com.

Note that there is a separate call for International Days of Solidarity with Russian Anarchist and Antifascist Prisoners, from July 1-10, 2016. It doesn’t matter if you want to participate in one or both calls, as long as you show your solidarity!

From NYC Antifa:

The second day of the pro-Nazi, “Rock Against Communism” Oi Fest will be held at Santos Party House — where it was also held last year.

CONTACT THEM AND TELL THEM TO CANCEL THE SHOW!
WE WILL LAUNCH A FULL BOYCOTT OF SANTOS IF THE SHOW GOES ON!

We recommend writing a review on Facebook of the venue, calling them out for repeatedly hosting fascist bands. Santos is co-owned by Andrew WK, so feel free to contact him, too!

ANDREW WK on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/AndrewWK

SANTOS STAFF:
Chip Su: 212-584-5492, booking@santospartyhouse.com
Bryan: bryan@santospartyhouse.com.
Jackalyn Tipchaieuh: live@santospartyhouse.com (out of the office but send her an email anyway!)
also: info@santospartyhouse.com
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/santospartyhouse
INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/santospartyhaus

Videos from Saturday’s sets show the bands wearing Nazi skinhead t-shirts and playing Nazi skinhead songs, while the fans are sieg heiling. In the past, racist and antisemitic political groups have also tabled the Oi Fest and related RAC shows.

Make it clear that we will launch a citywide boycott of Santos if they Oi Fest is held there!

Our friends at NYC Antifa have discovered the venue for this year’s “NYC Oi Fest,” which (just like last year) is full of right-wing bands with ties to Neo-Nazi organizations, musicians and labels.

From their blog:

Another pro-Nazi, Rock Against Communism “Oi Fest” is being held this weekend at the Black Bear in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The first show is today, Saturday May 28, at the club located on 70 N. 6th Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. This is the second time this year that the Black Bear has hosted a fascist-linked show.

Call, tweet, Facebook, Instagram, and leave Yelp reviews for the Black Bear and tell them to cancel the show tonight, and what you think of them booking pro-Nazi bands.

Phone: 917.538.8399
https://twitter.com/BlackBearBKLN
www.instagram.com/BLACKBEARBAR/
www.facebook.com/blackbearbk
www.yelp.com/biz/black-bear-bar-new-york-3

“Rock Against Communism” (RAC) was a name invented by Nazi skinheads in the 1980s to make themselves sound less like, well, Nazis. Today the new RAC scene has become multi-racial, but the bands play the old Nazi songs, sieg heil at shows, play Blood and Honor concerts, welcome patched-in Nazi skinhead gang members at their shows, and have racist political groups table at their concerts.

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For more information on the fest and those involved organizing it, here are some recent articles from Idavox and The SPLC on it.

Gabriel Diaz: National Socialist Infiltrator and Stooge for the National Socialist Movement

About a year ago, Anti-Fascists around the country started seeing a man calling himself Mohammed coming out to demonstrations against Neo-Nazis and Klan as well as Anti-Fascist/Leftist events and conferences and trying to get involved in the Anti-Fascist movement.

“Mohammed” has been busy the past year, travelling from his home in the Bronx to places like Ohio, Georgia and here in Philly trying to make connections with Antifa and extract personal information from them. He managed to get a couple phone numbers and promptly handed them over to the National Socialist Movement (NSM). The NSM’s “head of security” Mike Scholer, then began making harassing and threatening phone calls to those Antifascists.

Fortunately, Scholer is about as smart as the rest of the NSM and couldn’t help but let certain clues slip during his calls that allowed Anti-Facists to realize not only that there was in infiltrator in their midst, but that the only person it could have been was “Mohamed.”

From there it wasn’t hard to figure out that “Mohammed” was actually Gabriel Diaz, also known as “The Nazi Cabbie,” who grabbed headlines 2 years ago when he suspended for 30 days after being photographed driving his cab around Manhattan wearing a Swastika Armband. Diaz got his license back after the suspension, but it is unknown whether he is still working as a cab driver or not.

Diaz was confronted when he attempted to join the May Day event in Union Square in NYC and sent packing. Scroll down in the link for video. Fliers with his face and affiliations were circulated among the crowd and he was told that if he is seen at any further leftist or Antifascist events he would be treated like any other Nazi bonehead.

Diaz is living in the Bronx, and during the time of his suspension was living with family. His parents had previously tried to blame Diaz’s fascist politics on mental illness, but when someone is putting Anti-Racists in danger by giving their information to members of the NSM, their mental stability ceases to be an issue. It is also all-too-common for people to try and pathologize Nazism as a way to avoid the hard truth that their friend or family member wholeheartedly believes in social Darwinism, eugenics, militarism, racism, sexism and homophobia. Furthermore, clearly Diaz’s parents claims that they would “handle” their son so he wouldn’t harm anyone were empty.

Here is an interview Diaz gave with the local news right after he was suspended. He proclaims himself to be a proud National Socialist, denies the holocaust and defends Hitler. Does Diaz appear to be unaware of his surroundings or not in control of his faculties? He certainly was sane enough to maintain an alter ego, book plane tickets, keep up correspondence with Antifa AND The NSM, etc. More to the point, there are many people who do not fit the definition of “sane” who manage to not engage in this bullshit. Anti-Semitic paranoia does sometimes manifest in Schizophrenics, but not usually accompanied with full National Socialist ideology. Nor spying for an all-white, Hitlerist, Klan-Allied, White Power organization like the NSM.

Gabriel Diaz being sane or not is not the reason he is the way he is. Fascist, racialist politics are not strictly the purview of white people. Diaz is a Nazi and a Fascist just as much as any bonehead or Klansmen and should be treated as one. If this is hard to wrap your mind around, we recommend this article by Spencer Sunshine, in which Sunshine gives an accurate account of the very complicated and nuanced state of the racist right today.

Anti-Fascists around the country should be vigilant that Diaz may try and form a new identity and start again infiltrating leftist circles or that the NSM may try again with another agent. The best way to prevent that is to spread this information far and wide.

If anyone spots Diaz at any Anti-Racist or Anti-Fascist events please e-mail us at PhillyAntifascists@gmail.com with details.

When: March 6th, 2016
When: 12:30pm
Where: 6th and Market

This Saturday, the Three Percenters — a militia grouping with close ties to group of white supremacists, right wing ideologues and anti-Semitic conspiracy theorists that recently occupied a wildlife refuge on stolen Native land in Oregon — are coming to Philadelphia and 21 other cities across the country. They will gather in front of regional FBI offices to “avenge the death of Finicum,” the man who was shot by the FBI as the occupation ended, and to gather strength for their cause.

The circumstances of Finicum’s, or the fact that law enforcement in the U.S. clearly has been given a license to kill under any circumstances aside, this group still must be opposed whenever mobilizing in our city. In fact, their attempting to organize in Philly under the auspices of opposition to state violence is even more of a threat because it makes their group seem more relevant and reasonable (as well as media savvy) due to all of all the recent momentum in the BLM movement and other movements against state violence.

Some of the 3%ers attending will most definitely include members of “Americans First,” who recently rallied in Reading and Lancaster against allowing Syrian refugees into the U.S. They were opposed by Anti-Fascists at both events.
A protest has been called by Philly Showing Up For Racial Justice (SURJ), a white liberal Anti-Racist group. In addition, we are calling on all Anti-Fascists to come out and show them some Philly hospitality.

The racists have called their meeting point at liberty plaza at 6th and Market for 1:00-2:00pm. The liberals will be marching in at around that time. We suggest Anti-Fascists should stay in buddies or affinity groups and keep a low profile until the racists show themselves to avoid early police attention. If you get there early to scout around, tweet us @phillyantifa with any info on the movements of the police or 3%ers. Once shit pops off, look for the Antifa Philadelphia banner.

Racists and Xenophobes are not welcome to freely organize in our city. That is true whether if it’s a Klan rally or a group of 3%ers standing around the liberty bell because the FBI shot their friend. We are not moved by their appeals to our opposition to state violence. Where were they for Eric Garner or Oscar Grant or Sandra Bland? Where is their solidarity for the Indigenous people murdered for the formation of their precious America and (white Christian) American Identity that they insist must always be “first?” Indigenous people whose land they occupied from federal control, not to return to the Paiute tribe, but in the name of privatization for capitalist exploitation.

Groups like the 3%ers and other pseudo-revolutionary reactionaries do nothing but harm real movements for liberation and revolution. Their racism and nationalism is incompatible with any sort of free world and we have no intention of letting them come through town without the welcome they deserve.

See you in the streets,

For those who haven’t heard, an attempt by the Ku Klux Klan to rally in Anaheim, CA was smashed off the streets by a group of Anti-Fascists and Anti-Racists as soon as they started unloading from their SUV.

From OC Weekly’s report:
“Today’s Ku Klux Klan rally at Anaheim’s Pearson Park turned to chaos before it even started. With no visible police presence at the scene, a black SUV carrying around five Klukkers pulled up by the park shortly after noon. They tried getting Confederate flags and “White Lives Matter” signs down from the back, when protesters swarmed them. After trading insults at each other, the counter-protesters started pummeling the Invisible Empire.”

The Klan immediately abandoned their plans to rally and fled in their SUV, complete with slashed tires and smashed windows. They failed, however, to remember to bring their “Grand Dragon,” who was treated to a boot party by the crowd. At some point in the melee, one of the Klan members stabbed 3 protesters with a pocket knife. All are in stable condition an expected to make a full recovery, but are now facing criminal charges.

Here is some video of the incident:

As usual, police protected the Klan, arresting a dozen protesters, charging 5, and not charging any of the Klansman, saying they “acted in self defense.” The reality is they provoked that situation and no person of color or Antifa in a reversed role would have been let off scot-free after stabbing 3 people in a brawl.

Anaheim has a long history of Klan involvement in law enforcement and city government. In fact, according to the LA Times, back in 1924 when the Klan’s secret membership list was leaked, 9 OUT OF 10 of the officers on the entire Anaheim police force at the time were members of the Klan. Put that together with the fact that both policing and Klan membership are often family tradition, and Orange County being the traditional stronghold of White Supremacists in Southern California, and draw your own conclusions.

Copwatch Santa Ana has set up a Fundraizr site for our POWs. Please give what you can.

In solidarity,

UPDATED: It appears that Return of Kings have cancelled all their public meetups do to the strong likelihood of being totally annihilated. Its members will still be meeting in secret, so one can expect Anti-Fascists aren’t done with this yet.
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Anti-Fascists in and around Eastern PA will have their dance card full this Saturday.

First up that morning, there is an Anti-Refugee rally being organized by whatever types of people want to be first in line to oppress and harass people fleeing for their lives under the banner of “America First: End Sharia Law.”  IDAVOX has more info on their site , but the event has the endorsement of at least one PA “politician” Berks County Republican committeeman , and is likely to draw members of the Keystone State “Skinheads” and  “3%ers” movement, a faction of the militia movement that have been in the news recently due to their involvement in the occupation of Malhuer National Wildlife Refuge, which is (of course) stolen Native land.

A counter protest has been announced by Central PA Antifa. Both rallies will take place at the Berks County Court house at Noon on Saturday 2/6/2016. Anyone who can get there to show support to our fellow Anti-Racists and Anti-Fascists should do so.

–

Finally, here in Philadelphia Saturday night, a demonstration has been called to counter a meetup by a group of internet troll misogynists and “Men’s Rights Activists” that is being organized by (among others) Daryush “Roosh V” Valizadeh. 

Valizadeh runs a website called “Return of Kings” which specializes in Anti-Women vitriol but also features tons of Anti-GLBT and racist postings (Link is NOT to their stupid fucking site). Valizadeh has been quoted as saying he supports legalizing rape “on private property.”

The meetup is one of over 100 worldwide. If is an effort by Return of Kings members to move from strictly online crying to crying in person. Probably because of the inevitable beating these fools will receive, if not on Saturday then one day really soon.

If you were ever unfortunate enough to read their site, you know that these guys have no idea what they’re talking about. One article they had was literally just 60 sexist quotes from a book of sexist quotations written over 100 years ago as some kind of evidence of the age old wisdom of misogyny in an attempt to get everyone to roll back their concepts of gender and sexuality to the level of the most reactionary idiots publishing books during the McKinley presidency.

What it is about our society that makes us produce people who think they live in a world without consequences? Is it a fundamental misunderstanding of the intent and scope of “freedom of speech?” Who knows?

What is known is that the local Return of Kings meetup rally and redirect point is in Washington Square Park at 7:30pm Saturday night.  A protest has been called at the park for the same time and location. Already Valizadeh is decrying the worldwide effort to shut down his events and (in this author’s opinion) laying the groundwork for what will inevitably be a lot of cancellations and last minute alterations.

Antifa Philadelphia hopes to see everyone in the streets this Saturday.

Our 2^nd annual conference was a huge success. Delegates were sent for the private plenary from Antifa Philadelphia, South Side Chicago Anti-Racist Action, Los Angeles People Against Racist Terror (PART)/A.R.A.-L.A., NYC Antifa (who are not TORCH members but were vouched in as observers), Rocky Mountain Antifa and the Antifa International Collective, based out of Quebec (also non-members). Antifa International traveled down to make connections between TORCH and Canadian Antifa, as well as to discuss their International Anti-Fascist Defense fund, which TORCH has endorsed and many of its members will be participating in.

Once the public section started we also met up with members of Asheville Anti-Racists, New Jersey Antifa, independent Anti-Fascists from all over the region, and even a pair of Dutch Antifa who happened to be in the city for holiday. Attendees were treated to a panel discussion and Q&A about Militant Anti-Fascists role in the Black Lives Matter movement, a video of which should be posted online shortly. Afterwards they saw a Russian documentary just recently translated to English “Ivan, in memory of our friend…” about the life and death of Russian Anti-Fascist Ivan Khutorskoi. They also got a sneak peek of the up-coming documentary about the Anti-Fascist movement in the U.S. entitled “No Fascist USA” by seeing a 10 minute trailer that will be uploaded shortly as well.

The conference show/after party featured some of the best bands playing in Philly right now and one visiting guest. Special thanks to Soul Glo, Fuck S.S., Autocracy East, Christopher Walking, Novatore (who came all the way from Chicago) and Leisure Muffin for playing. In addition to the acts we would like to thank The Rotunda for hosting, our panelists for taking the time, Black Orchid foods for letting use use their stuff, and Scranton IWW for providing security during our plenary so that all network members could participate.

It was a privilege to host the TORCH Conference and we thank everyone who attended, especially those who travelled from far away. We are already siked for next one.

In Solidarity,

Antifa Philadelphia

One People’s Project has a longer report back posted on Idavox (a new news service for Anti-Fascists from the people at OPP), but, yea, they didn’t show up.

Despite KSS co-founder Bob Gaus claiming on social media that LED 2015 would be on Saturday at Noon, as it had been almost ever previous year, when Anti-Fascists mobilized to confront them they were met with some very confused joggers and a Viking statue and gazebo that had been tagged with Anti-Fascist graffiti.

We waited around for a few hours, taunting KSS and Traditionalist Youth on twitter to come and “smash the reds” who were so patiently waiting like sitting ducks, but they demurred.

After it was clear they were not coming, we thanked those that had responded to the call and went to lunch with some new recruits/supporters who had come out to oppose the event where we sat around and talked about how improved the situation was in Philly in the past 4 years. So thanks for that, KSS.

Yesterday eventually a picture was posted on social media of the 2015 Leif Erikson Day celebration:

A bunch of boneheads who don’t know what “saturday at noon” means. Also that statue looks Photoshopped. Guessing the paint didn’t fit into their narrative.

Much like pacific northwest Neo-Nazi Jascha Manny did when he called a demonstration in Olympia, WA on a day that did not exist, the boneheads from KSS seem to have trouble using a calendar and clock. That is definitely not noon.

Look, we realize that this was a deliberate ploy by KSS to feed us misinformation so that they could hold their little nighttime demo to an audience of none without Antifascist opposition. What we don’t understand is why KSS could possibly think that proves anything other than Philly Antifa has lots of local supporters willing to mobilize on unconfirmed intel with a few days’ notice to keep their city an Anti-Fascist zone.

Here’s some (not even all) of the opposition who showed up Saturday:

This crowd was at least 90% Philly people, with some support coming in from NJ and NYC Antifa. When we look at the pic from the KSS demo, we see people from all over PA, Indiana, Ohio and probably a handful of other places. Could it be any clearer that Philly KSS is just a couple guys and an e-mail address at this point? Hell, we remember when these guys were going to counter Mumia demos and attacking Rambo shows. Now you can’t even directly meet us with an advantage of months of planning and support coming from hundreds of miles away. They can bluster and brag all they want, but that has to hurt.

We would like to thank everyone who took the time to come out and stand in solidarity with us. We are very proud of our city and the work everyone has done the past few years to drive Philly KSS underground and to the edge of extinction. Special shout out to NYC Antifa and NJ Antifa for making the trip.This fight isn’t over, but we are winning.

Eternal War on the Hitler Youth,

KSS Co-Founder Bob Gaus talking about this Saturday’s Leif Erikson Day event

It’s that time of the year again…

COMMUNITY ALERT

Neo-Nazis plan to rally and march in Fairmount Park.

Where: Thorfinn Karlsefni Statue, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia
When: October 10th, 2015 @ 11:00 AM
What: Stand up to racist hate and bigotry of all kinds.

For the past 9 years, the city of Philadelphia has played host to a gathering of Neo-Nazis right under the noses of it’s residents.

This gathering, known as “The Leif Ericson Day Celebration” is organized, promoted, and attended exclusively by members of Neo-Nazi organizations. In past years the gathering has drawn upwards of 50 hardcore racists and fascists to Philly and served as an recruiting and organizing tool for the main organization involved, the Keystone State Skinheads (KSS).

In addition to KSS, past Leif Ericson day celebrations have been attended by members of the Council of Conservative Citizens (CCC), The American 3rd Position Party/American Freedom Party (A3P/AFP), Volksfront (VF) , The Vinlanders Social Club (VSC) and the Hated Skins. All of those groups are considered hate groups by several independent organizations including the Southern Poverty Law Center, The Anti-Defamation League and the FBI. Furthermore, individuals who have attended past Leif Ericson day celebrations have been tied to racist terror organizations such as Blood and Honour and the KKK.

If past years are any indication, they will do a very short march in formation down lemon hill at Noon and attempt to lay a wreath and make speeches at the statue at the statue of Thorfin Karlson along Kelly drive.

After a massive turnout in 2013 to oppose that year’s event, KSS has worked to keep their plans very quiet to avoid having to face opposition whenever they come out. In 2014, they were successful in keeping those plans secret enough to hold the event without any opposition, but just this week, it was leaked that they are indeed planning something for this weekend. There is nothing publicly on the internet about it, no public announcement, and that makes it harder for people to organize against them, especially with a week’s notice.

Which is not to say we won’t try.

(Taken from the Philadelphia Residents Against Racism call put out on social media. Click the link for the full call and event page.)

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After last year’s clandestine, weeks-late flash demo, the boneheads from KSS apparently felt confident enough to move the event back to it’s traditional date, while still trying desperately to keep it a secret. They failed.

We are once again calling on all enemies of Fascism to join us in letting KSS know they are not welcome in Philadelphia.

Eternal War on the Hitler Youth.

Antifa Philadelphia