.png "For an anti-fascist, revolutionary unionism.")
A statement by the African Peoples Caucus of the Twin Cities Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) about revolutionary unionism's responsibility to be anti-fascist.
Fascism is a concept that has grown a lot of particular interest since the election of Donald Trump and the failure of neoliberalism. While we don’t consider Trump himself to be a fascist but a right wing populist, we do recognize that he has mobilized a broad coalition of the right, which includes some fascists. However, reactionary violence is nothing new to black and African people living in the United States. Our communities have seen first-hand the terror campaigns of proto-fascist groups such as the KKK, and other kinds of organized white supremacist violence. Our oppression and exploitation have been central to the establishment of modern capitalism in the Americas. This also means we have been fighting back since we were brought here. Our stake in anti-fascism is not an academic question.
Fascism needs to be defined for our context: right now this is a smaller element participating within a popular front of the right wing. Most notable of this multi-tendency white nationalist milieu is the alt-right, who believe in atrocities such as "white" ethnic cleansing, misogyny, violence against a perceived "other" (minorities, refugees, Muslims, women, lgbtqia, Jews), and overwhelming worship of authority and class-based hierarchies. What allows this to spread is that neoliberal economic policies under capitalism cause the working class to suffer, and they are given scapegoats and offered false and authoritarian solutions. The reactionaries’ influence within the State will be strengthened, which will increase the suffering of black and African people at the hands of the police, prison, and poverty.
While fascism sometimes spreads using political opportunists like the electoral right wing, it is also an independent movement of the insurgent right wing and has an agenda separate from and opposed to the current state. Fascists also recruit through entryism into popular cultures and subcultures (music, arts, internet groups, faith-based, etc). Today’s fascists have improved the ability to hide within “legitimate” conservative political and social groups. Its spread is international and evident in the western turn away from neoliberalism towards economic nationalism, Islamophobic motives surrounding Brexit, and the State literally assassinating drug users in the Philippines. Trump is a big piece of this, but definitely not the only one. In addition to being aware of fascists attempting to turn the repressive state apparatus against us, we also have
to prepare to defend ourselves against reactionaries like George Zimmerman and Dylann Roof, who have terrorized us with direct extralegal violence since we got here.
It's important that we not let our history of struggle be claimed by the liberal narrative that the civil rights era was built on a dogmatic commitment to "nonviolence". Black and African people have had to physically, mentally, and emotionally defend their communities from State and white supremacist terror, and it was organized. Groups like the Deacons for Defense, Black Liberation Army, and Black Panther Party understood why a self-defense approach in the face of police and reactionaries was necessary. If a person knows the bloodshed that occurred at the height of the labor movement, one must also acknowledge there has been consistent violence against black and African people for centuries. Labor organizers and specifically the IWW have long-opposed class traitors like the Ku Klux Klan. White supremacists despise the radical left because of their commitment to solidarity with all oppressed people. The IWW will remain a target of the State and the far right, especially as our activity gains momentum and size. The General Defense Committee has been and can continue to be an excellent vehicle to grow the anti-fascist movement. Anti-fascism needs to grow into an extremely popular movement in order to win. Communities that build their capacity for organized defense against the State and organized hate will be major contributors in the fight against capitalism.
We black and African workers face this threat in many places within and beyond our workplaces, and a fascist threat to any of the working class is a threat to the entire class. We have no choice but to confront organized white supremacists, just as we have no choice but to struggle against the bosses in our workplaces. We are calling on our comrades in the IWW and elsewhere, to join us in confronting white nationalists organizing to direct further violence against our people. We are calling on the General Administration to give our rank and file militants the support we need to organize in defense of ourselves and
our class on the ground. We believe that the slogan “an injury to one is an injury to all” should also be demonstrated by our white comrades who feel as though confronting fascism is optional or of little importance.
For an anti-fascist, revolutionary unionism!
Twin Cities IWW African Peoples Caucus
Originally posted: April 2, 2017 on Facebook
Comments
I saw the interview with General Defense Committee on It's Going Down, cool stuff I have to say. In terms of antifascism, I hold the view that through the rise of multiculturalism the nature of racism has changed , that it is enacted more structurally than through mob based violence making antifa actions in the U.S. somewhat out of date (although there is no denying that in the past it has been quite necessary to arm small groups against racist mob violence). There is also the issue that, based on some discussions I've had and it's general perception in the media, it is widely unpopular as people see it (probably correctly) as a violation of the constitution to deny people free access to speech and assembly.
The other main issue is it seems to signal that antifas would prefer a smooth talking neo-con to out and out white supremacist like Trump. That antifas are not opposed to the policies of Trump (which are just an escalation of what's been occurring for the past 30+ years) but rather the way he says things, which doesn't really resonate with me.
Hmm, where to start? You express some really crude and strawman views on race in the U.S., fascism/antifascism and the far left in general.
I'm not sure who is saying that racism in the U.S. has gone unchanged in the forms which it is expressed. Also, besides during specific times and specific locations, I'm not sure there was ever a time where mob violence was the primary enforcer of racial hierarchy either. The state has almost always had that role, with mob violence residing in the background as a last resort for when the state failed to uphold white supremacy in "adequate" ways.
Regardless, just because white supremacy has changed...this isn't an argument against anti-fascism. If there is a nationwide mobilization between numerous fascist groups who have been networking (such as the recent situation in Berkeley), whether the forms in which white supremacy usually is expressed have changed is not an argument for not opposing this.
This is something that you seem to be continuously stuck on. The question of arms and violent self-defense. I don't believe any group is prioritizing this as the primary thing, although some may believe this is important to incorporate into something broader.
During the occupation of the 4th Precinct by Black Lives Matter and Justice 4 Jamar activists, /pol/ organized a campaign of disinformation in the hashtags associated with the occupation. Out of this alt-right cesspool, a few people came to the occupation armed, with the intent to start trouble and then harm or kill occupiers. They did exactly that. 5 were shot.
The shooting at the 4th Precinct has two lessons. One, that it does make sense to think about self-defense from the far right and two, when spaces open up for the far right to congregate, network and organize, this means extra-state violence against the left and minorities. If this violence can come out of virtual, online worlds like 4chan, then it can only get worse as these far right groups and individuals establish themselves in the offline world.
What "the public" thinks should not be a main consideration of the left's activities. I think the media and political class has made it seem as if there is consensus on this issue. I don't buy that. Ask the average working class black or Latino whether they think a neo-nazi group trying to organize in their neighborhood should have their meetings physically disrupted and I think you'll find a different narrative.
This is a completely invented opinion based on nothing. The statement this article is by is from a caucus within the IWW, an anti-capitalist union. Most people who would identify as antifa are going to be socialists or anarchists of some kind. Probably most non-new comers would have been involved in some leftist organization, Black Lives Matter or Occupy, so not exactly satisfied with the business as usual neoliberalism of the last 8 years.
Just stop Soapy, you're embarrassing yourself.
Yeah Soapy, take a break until you're able to make sense.
Out of curiosity, why is ann coulter targeted but not paul ryan? What is the difference other than one know how to couch their opinion in politically acceptable language and the other doesnt bother?
Who's targeting Ann Coulter? And answer your own question: why would Paul Ryan be targeted? And by whom? Soapy, sounds like you can't stop creating strawmen.
The Milo speeches, the Tax Day fascist gathering at Berkely, the white nationalist meet-up in Minneapolis have been disrupted because these situations involved the periphery of the alt-right or fascistst and the events mobilized elements of this. When these elements are mobilized, when they network, etc., this means an increasing chance of extra-state violence targeting the left and minorities. This is Fascism 101.
You seem to be saying that people are against fascism, but not against the more normal neoliberal order that is more powerful and dangerous. If that is what you are saying, you would need to provide evidence that shows that virtually every leftist organization wasn't heavily involved in Black Lives Matter and Occupy, the two most significant social movements of our lifetimes, which occurred during the presidency of a cookie cutter neoliberal. Or that militant anti-fascism is the only thing the far left is doing. I also think whether a growing extreme right movement is more dangerous or if the status quo is may be a discussion worth having, but you've not offered that up as easily identifiable opinion. Nor have you provided any sort of thought out opinion on how we should be dealing with far right groups, when they are growing and networking.
A few things about rhetoric and audience here:
I've heard this a few times this year- the idea that "things aren't so bad", "it used to be so much worse", "it's probably just some lone wolf", and even literally "it's not like neo-nazis have become some daily nuisance". It seems incredibly insensitive and dangerous that those sitting with you on the fence are comfortable waiting on the far-right AND the State to reach the lynch-mob proportions of those days. Those levels of terrorism reached so high because fascists had time to organize and convince the public that their views were normal- they used Universities, doctors, religion, entertainment, and certainly the State to legitimize their platform which enabled them to enact mob violence. Doesn't it make sense to hamper fascist organizing efforts BEFORE it comes down to creating defense militias? And if you can't even see the utility in that then please pony up the rifles to me and my crew.
The second extremely off base point you're trying to make is based off assumptions you've made about the writers and other antifascists (saying "antifas" makes you sound terribly disconnected with struggle....WHICH antifascists? Groups or individuals?). To claim that APC is only opposed to Trump's rhetoric is to be completely ignorant of who we are and the other mass work we're engaged in. One of our members has proudly preached the horrible celebration of "black representation" under the office of the US President/white house. 3 of us are members of First of May Anarchist alliance and I promise you we know full well how to oppose Paul Ryan Ann Coulter Barack Obama and the entire LOT of em.....
Secondly you're treating antifascists as some recent monolith. As Juan correctly pointed out, antifascists have long been involved in struggle, from civil rights to anti-globalization to and beyond black lives matter......you're seeing a swelling of activity not just based on Trump's rhetoric but because he's emboldening people who would enact racist and sexist mob violence. Where I'm at, groups like Identity Evropa, Vinlanders/Suidlanders, NSBM bands and the larger alt-right are networking with more latent 3pers and Oathkeepers and Aryan brotherhood and it's precisely this networking and their hiding behind/inside the State whom we have ALWAYS opposed that concerns us.
Finally your ideas about free speech are part of the liberal status quo that is damning us to extralegal violence.....
http://libcom.org/library/free-speech-its-limitations-response-dealing-far-right
Also wanted to point out that we can disagree and talk about antifascist tactics and strategy all day, and SHOULD. We definitely have some critiques of the current prominent US antifascist tactics, but there's a completely better way to have that conversation
Seems relevant to this discussion:
Berkeley, CA: Racist Attacks on Black Owned Cooperative Follow Alt-Right Trump Rally