Antifa. The latest movement composed of leftists who perceive the Trump Administration and conservatives as fascist, racist, and sexist. Claiming to be anti-Fascist (for which the name Antifa is actually short), this group is nothing more than a bunch of anarchists who cause havoc in the streets. They have made headlines in the past few months, from the riots in Berkley, California to the leader of Antifa’s Boston Chapter calling for violence against the Trump Administration.
But what exactly is Antifa? And where did it come from?
Anti-Fascism originated as a response to the rise of the Fascist Movement in Italy (which had brought Benito Mussolini to power in that nation). As previously mentioned, it was a leftist organization, and it was militant. Similar groups would arise in Germany after the First World War, as well as being involved in the Spanish Civil War. Anti-Fascists were also involved in various resistance movements during World War II, thus playing a role in defeating the Axis Powers in the European Theater. They were also present in the United States and Britain, mainly as a counter-movement to those who sympathized with the Axis Powers prior to World War II.
In the aftermath of World War II, the Anti-Fascist Movement continued to be active, taking on various elements of the far-right. Naturally, it would also continue to be associated with the Left. With the end of the Cold War, the movement continued to function. Examples include Anti-Fascists taking on Neo-Nazis in Germany and opposing anti-immigration groups in Britain and France. In 2004, the Anarchist Federation, Class War, and No Platform all got together in Britain and formed the group Antifa. Antifa would soon spread across Europe, and eventually to the United States. In addition to taking on far-right and alt-right groups, Antifa appears to oppose conservatism, as well as capitalism.
So despite the claims of being anti-racist, Antifa’s goal is anarchy. It has proven this by the violence committed by its members, as well as the calls for violence by its leaders. And given its opposition to the Trump Administration, it is practically following in the footsteps of the Occupy Wall Street Movement and Black Lives Matter.
Apparently Antifa and other elements of the Left are not aware that conservatism does not equal racism, or any other prejudice for that matter. But such groups do not care, because their goal is revolution via chaos and anarchy.
Image: Excerpted from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/antinazi/481315908/; CC BY-SA 2.0
