Is Antifa a terrorist group and should it be banned?

[Rusozak]

Tell that to all their victims in NS and in real life.

If antifascist attacks you,, I have some news you might not want to hear.

There's that black and white mindset again. "If an antifascist is opposed to you, you MUST be a fascist." I think we've already established "anti-fascist" is as diverse as it is fractured, and we've seen that not all antifa targets are actually fascist. But they like to think so. Simply labeling everyone who opposes them to be fascist. Apparently not being communist is "fascist" if you believe the radicals.

[Lower Nubia]

I mean, that's not a terrorist designation. So I'll ask again.

"Racism is evil"
"Criminals and thugs, including the KKK"
"Repugnant to everything we hold dear as Americans"
Already seems implied, but sure, he could be a bit harsher. But such are small physical differences, anyways - perhaps Trump (or his scriptwriter) overlooked the opportunity to go one step further. It's not like Trump was trying to defend or revive the KKK.

Oof. What do you call it when a man says something that completely contradicts what he said in the past? It's been what? A day, since our conversation?

[Strahcoin]

There are peaceful members?

If there are peaceful, law-abiding members of Antifa, then I'm okay with them. But they should distance themselves from Antifa and create a new, peaceful organization to protest fascism. (Maybe name it "Peaceful Protesters Fighting Fascism" or something, and perhaps have a common set of rules/guidelines strictly stating to not use violence against innocents.)

There aren't really any members because there is no real organization. For that reason, there is nothing to distance yourself from. Creating an organization at all, no matter how peaceful, in the current culture would lead to the members being labeled terrorists.

Also, there is absolutely peaceful antifa. I'm very nonviolent and am against fascism, as most people who call themselves antifa are.

I'm antifascist, yet not Antifa.

This "non-organization" really seems to likes to let everyone know that they are Antifa (capitalized).

Hmm, okay, let me check who Neville Chamberlain is- ah, I see what you did here. Very funny.

Rebuttal: If an individual fascist or a group of fascists enacted undue aggression, then I support one's right to self-defense. If an individual fascist built a dictatorship, tyrannized its population, and attempted to expand its totalitarian regime, I believe it is the duty of the free world (America) to deter/intervene. But if someone innocent of such expresses an opinion you don't like, don't become the monster you've sworn to destroy.

Thing is, when Chamberlain was appeasing Hitler, it wasn't letting him say what he wanted. It was standing back and allowing him to conquer territory from other nations as he (Hitler) expanded his totalitarian dictatorship, in a (failed) effort to prevent another world war. Meanwhile, Antifa is on the other extreme - assaulting and threatening those who just say things they don't like.

The organization I was thinking of would be in between: peacefully debating innocents who say things with which they disagree without completely disarming themselves from potential terrorists/criminals.

Someone from Antifa might respond when they perform an act of violence against a fascist, they're trying to nip fascism in the bud. It's easier to handle a single weed than a field full of weeds, especially since fascists won't be open about their intentions nor even have the capability to cause large-scale harm until they've already got a strong base.

Fascists don't care about free speech at all nor do they engage in debates out of good faith. Their purpose is to subvert democratic institutions and entice people into their camp. Which is why they ought to be ostracized. Don't invite them to debates, don't share interviews with them, keep them in the political fringes. Should we haphazardly punch or assault them? Probably not, but also while acknowledging we won't respond pacifically if they threaten us with violence.

1. By performing violence against peaceful people they claim to be fascists, Antifa will prove nothing except that they will attack anyone they don't like.
A powerful way to spread a widely-condemned ideology is for the supposed primary opposition to appear worse.
2. A lot of people could argue that [insert ideology they strongly oppose] does not "care about free speech at all" or "engage in debates out of good faith". And while fascism - like communism - is an evil ideology, people who believe it could be misguided. Showing that you're listening to their ideas - even though they're terrible - may make them realize that the opposition is not the bogeyman they thought it is, and maybe moderate or even convert their opinions. Or they might refuse to listen - in that case, ignore them.
If they threaten violence against innocents, then by all means defend. I'm not arguing against that.

Who is there to fight? You act like it's a noble crusade against a global threat like Hitler was. All I see from modern fascists are devolved bands of troublemakers. Fringe extremists with no power, already shunned by society. It seems like they're just beating a dead horse.

I act like it's a noble crusade against a global threat? What did I say?

I certainly think contemporary fascistic movements are a long way from Hitler, but especially now as we're seeing a resurgence of nationalism and right-wing authoritarian populism, we have to be ever-vigilant for fascists and proto-fascists.

Good thing that the nationalism that's resurging is civic nationalism (the kind that fascists despise and denounce as "fake nationalism"), not ethnonationalism.

Tell that to all their victims in NS and in real life.

If antifascist attacks you,, I have some news you might not want to hear.

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend" is not necessary true.

The enemy of someone who thinks he/she is antifascist is not necessarily a fascist.

"Racism is evil"
"Criminals and thugs, including the KKK"
"Repugnant to everything we hold dear as Americans"
Already seems implied, but sure, he could be a bit harsher. But such are small physical differences, anyways - perhaps Trump (or his scriptwriter) overlooked the opportunity to go one step further. It's not like Trump was trying to defend or revive the KKK.

Oof. What do you call it when a man says something that completely contradicts what he said in the past? It's been what? A day, since our conversation?

He does sometimes contradict himself.

I don't remember him claiming that any race is genetically superior, however.

[Geneviev]

There aren't really any members because there is no real organization. For that reason, there is nothing to distance yourself from. Creating an organization at all, no matter how peaceful, in the current culture would lead to the members being labeled terrorists.

Also, there is absolutely peaceful antifa. I'm very nonviolent and am against fascism, as most people who call themselves antifa are.

I'm antifascist, yet not Antifa.

This "non-organization" really seems to likes to let everyone know that they are Antifa (capitalized).

If you're antifascist, you are antifa. It's literally a shortened version of the word antifascist. And calling yourself what you are doesn't make you a part of an organization.

[Rusozak]

Good thing that the nationalism that's resurging is civic nationalism (the kind that fascists despise and denounce as "fake nationalism"), not ethnonationalism.

Isn't civic nationalism not the purest form of fascism though? If I recall, Mussolini was notably against tagging a racial component to his ideology. It was Hitler pressuring him during the war to be more ethnically minded and the fact Nazism had a more lasting impression that modern fascism often includes ethnonationalism.

[The Reformed American Republic]

Tell that to all their victims in NS and in real life.

If antifascist attacks you,, I have some news you might not want to hear.

That statement of yours is total bullshit! Here's a liberal being attacked by your ilk.

[West Leas Oros 2]

Anyone who considers themselves “Antifa” should be gathered in a public square and forced to either pledge themselves to the revolution and reject their idiotic anarkiddy beliefs, or get the bullet with the libs. /s

But seriously, fuck most of them. They’re LARPing rioters and other such criminals with no values or goals. If they had a centralized leadership and were an actual group with a strict code of ethics, maybe I’d like them more. Right now though, they are criminals engaging in wanton violence, not “revolutionaries fighting fascism”. Bludgeoning random people and burning shit isn’t “praxis”. It’s you being a dumbass or an edge lord.

[Mandicoria]

last i checked antifa wasn't a group, and the whole "banning" of it is just a kosher way of violating the first ammendment

[West Leas Oros 2]

last i checked antifa wasn't a group, and the whole "banning" of it is just a kosher way of violating the first ammendment

It isn’t a group, hence why it’s more prone to abuse. We can’t ban them, but we can certainly prosecute individual offenders.

[The Reformed American Republic]

last i checked antifa wasn't a group, and the whole "banning" of it is just a kosher way of violating the first ammendment

It isn’t a group, hence why it’s more prone to abuse. We can’t ban them, but we can certainly prosecute individual offenders.

This.

[West Leas Oros 2]

It isn’t a group, hence why it’s more prone to abuse. We can’t ban them, but we can certainly prosecute individual offenders.

This.

After the revolution, I guarantee you that we’ll take care of those idiots. Fire up the gulags!

[Mandicoria]

This.

After the revolution, I guarantee you that we’ll take care of those idiots. Fire up the gulags!

calm down tankie

[West Leas Oros 2]

After the revolution, I guarantee you that we’ll take care of those idiots. Fire up the gulags!

calm down tankie

Okay. No gulags. But maybe we can recreate Kronstadt...

[Mandicoria]

calm down tankie

Okay. No gulags. But maybe we can recreate Kronstadt...

w-what if we kissed in the Great Plains Free Territory in front of Makhno's ghost

[The Alma Mater]

So have we, after 23 pages, decided whether or not I'm a Soros funded terrorist yet?
Or am I still a harmless soyboy?

I need to know what to put in my résumé.

I'd pick the Trump version. You are a sorospaid highly effective globally operating enemy of Trump.

I mean, it just sounds better than reality .

[Alcala-Cordel]

If antifascist attacks you,, I have some news you might not want to hear.

That statement of yours is total bullshit! Here's a liberal being attacked by your ilk.

I stand by what I said.

[The Reformed American Republic]

That statement of yours is total bullshit! Here's a liberal being attacked by your ilk.

I stand by what I said.

Then any rational person should take what you say with a grain of salt. Obviously, you don't care about petty facts, but I really shouldn't be surprised. You are communist after all.

[West Leas Oros 2]

That statement of yours is total bullshit! Here's a liberal being attacked by your ilk.

I stand by what I said.

On the one hand, liberals will probably get the bullet anyway, but on the other... attacking random people isn’t a good look.

[Rojava Free State]

Antifa itself isn't dangerous at all, which is why I declared my opposition to this move. That being said, Antifa is prog, and American/British progs are bad.

Tell that to all their victims in NS and in real life.

Did you know that once upon a time a mailman murdered a guy?

Ban mailman. They're terrorists since one of them fucked up.

[The Reformed American Republic]

I stand by what I said.

On the one hand, liberals will probably get the bullet anyway, but on the other... attacking random people isn’t a good look.

It's a stupid to claim that Antifa never attacked a non-fascist, then ignore evidence to the contrary.

[West Leas Oros 2]

On the one hand, liberals will probably get the bullet anyway, but on the other... attacking random people isn’t a good look.

It's a stupid to claim that Antifa never attacked a non-fascist, then ignore evidence to the contrary.

Yeah, I will say, as a leftist, I don’t like most so-called “antifascists”. But I sure as hell will take them over fascists.

[Albrenia]

They're not a very effective terrorist organisation if they are one. To me they just look like a bunch of jerks who resort to property damage and more rarely, actual violence.

[The Alma Mater]

They're not a very effective terrorist organisation if they are one. To me they just look like a bunch of jerks who resort to property damage and more rarely, actual violence.

They have Trump wetting his diaper. Give them some credit.

[Page]

They're not a very effective terrorist organisation if they are one. To me they just look like a bunch of jerks who resort to property damage and more rarely, actual violence.

They have Trump wetting his diaper. Give them some credit.

Despite 99% of antifa fearmongering being total bullshit, they have succeeded to some extent at "making racists afraid again."

[The Alma Mater]

They have Trump wetting his diaper. Give them some credit.

Despite 99% of antifa fearmongering being total bullshit, they have succeeded to some extent at "making racists afraid again."

Well that, or racists see them as a useful scapegoat because they are deemed weak and pathetic.
But let us hope for the other option.