A recently released Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) document titled “Domestic Terrorism Symbols Guide”* links common protest symbols to “terrorism” — another marker in a common theme of conflating militant protest for social justice with deadly terrorist violence within the United States. Groups like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Brennan Center have raised warnings about such documents, citing inadequate protections for people’s constitutional rights.
Labelling Antifa as a terrorist group is basically admitting you are a fascist.
I think there’s more nuance on the topic than you’re implying. While there’s no actual group called antifa, there are plenty of groups who oppose far right ideology (i.e. anti-fascist/antifa). Some of these groups have definitely become heavily armed and radicalized. I don’t support fascists, but I also don’t support radicalized zealots of any creed. Does that make me a fascist?
While I’d prefer peaceful resolutions to our problems, I fully understand why left leaning groups are becoming more radicalized. There is little compromise with the theocrats who want to eliminate or subjugate various minority and underrepresented groups within our society, continually hand more and more power to corporations, wholeheartedly believe the end of days is coming once Israel fully takes control of the holy land, and will scream “Second Amendment” and “Crisis Actors” every time kids are killed in school shootings. They violently stormed the US Capitol many of whole had intent to kill Senators and Representatives.
There is no compromise or peaceful resolution with people who want to hurt you or worse because their pastor said you’re a demonic sinner who must be cleansed from the earth.
Yeah those fuckers want to kill me for even existing, if i armed up it would be entirely to defend myself.
Maybe with another organization you would have a point, but in the case of the FBI which has been known to aid and recruit fascists I don’t see this holding any water.
I think you’re thinking of the CIA.
Does that make me a fascist?
No, it makes you a person that probably won’t do squat to stop fascists.
It’s no coincidence wthat it’s only radicals that show up to physically confront fascists while the so-called “enlightened centrists” do nothing but heckle from the sidelines.
Yup. Or when anyone tries to do anything they will just come up with reasons why it’s wrong.
So would you label “maga” as heavily armed and radicalised?
If you read the article, FBI labeled them too.
So would you label “maga” as heavily armed and
radicalisedextremified?FTFY.
For most of Lemmy, yes, that makes you a fascist.
Well, you know *gestures vaguely at all the far-right stuff going on in the United States"
yes that makes you a fascist.
i think that you should be quiet and postulate that garbage to the dump.
https://www.businessinsider.com/right-wing-extremists-kill-329-since-1994-antifa-killed-none-2020-7
Radicals aren’t the same as extremists. And that is an important distinction to understand when dealing with politics. Being armed and willing to defend yourself isn’t an act of extremism. Being violent towards violent fascists isn’t extremism. It’s community defense. When you break down politics into it’s most base element, it’s about the distribution of the legitimate use of violence. Understanding and working within that framework isn’t extremism, it’s politics 101. Philosophy Tube has a good video on this in relation to fascism. Skip to ~20 mins in for the violence bit.
A group can be right and also be violent and extremist.
In this context they’re using “extremist” to mean “goes too far”.
Do they? It didn’t really seem like a value judgment to me.
But you can also be right and go to far. I don’t know if these groups do go to far, but nuclear annihilation for example would definitely be too far.
In that case they’d be right about just the problem, but not right in their entire position which includes a solution. Nobody who thinks we should nuke the world for anything is right.
The site doesn’t refute violent extremist beliefs point by point or discuss matters of faith or politics. Instead, it makes teens aware of the destructive reality of various forms of violent extremism, including hateful attacks based on race, religion, or other factors. Through its Don’t Be a Puppet theme, the program encourages teens to think for themselves and display a healthy skepticism if they come across anyone who appears to be advocating extremist violence.
and display a healthy skepticism if they come across anyone who appears to be advocating extremist violence.
…except when it comes to the violent extremism of the FBI and other alphabet agencies, of course.
They don’t recognize it as extremism, and might even have the gall to deny that it’s violence.
I think we’ll have to agree to disagree as to what constitutes an obvious value judgement.
But anti fascist are fascist. we must lock them up and … \s
Isn’t their whole thing arguing that terrorist tactics are justified, helpful and necessary? Every time I see antifa supporters talking online that’s the thrust of the discussion. What is the case for them not being a terrorist group?
Gotta love the black and white picture that has different coloured flags that most likely look completely different to each other…
I think it’s helpful to remind people that the word Anarchy basically means ‘without hierarchy’, or it describes a condition or ideal characterized by the absence of hierarchical ordering.
The FBI special agent pool is lousy with white power fascists and Christian nationalists. Since its directorship isn’t willing to clean house this is all a public relations front to suggest the FBI isn’t as captured as it is.
But James Comey did it no favors, and even ushered in the MAGA era during which Trump ousted him.
You can expect about as much professionalism from the FBI as you can the DEA or ICE. And they all deserve capture and prosecuton by International nazi-hunters once the hounds are released from their slips.
This is nothing new, either. For those that don’t know, the FBI under Hoover worked to undermine protest movements, resorting to blackmail and political assassinations to meet their ends. This is verified and accepted fact; COINTELPRO documents were stolen by activists and released, and details psychological warfare carried out on MLK, to the point of encouraging him to commit suicide, the murder of Fred Hampton and other prominent members of the Black Panthers, and many, many other atrocities committed against so-called subversives.
Emily Maitliss did an excellent podcast for the BBC on Hoover (called ‘The People Vs J Edgar Hoover’) Not sure if it’s available abroad, but well worth a listen.
Where do they rank on the list compared to Juggalos?
Juggalos are basically irrelevant now.
Juggalos are violent extremists now, too?
They were considered a gang by the FBI for a long time, not sure they still are but they did make the list for quite a while
Nah, just an affront to nature and an abomination in the eyes of God.
God isn’t real.
Alright nerds, hit me with the facts. How many acts of violence or terror have been committed by people claiming to be Antifa? This is not a rhetorical question; I genuinely don’t know, and I bet someone here has stats on it. I don’t know how to feel about this without knowing whether any leftist groups are actually committing violence like the right. All I can think of is right-wing groups claiming to be Antifa lol
I think it’s mostly that leftists dislike the status quo, and the FBI prioritises maintenance of the status quo.
Antifa? Terrorists?
Not the first time I’ve been labeled a terrorist incorrectly, probably won’t be the last.
In the US, to be labeled a terrorist, you only need to be brown and intelligent. Being Arab or Muslim will get you the label according to right-wing media, including OAN and FOX News.
But these days, terrorist is less about indiscriminate killing to influence others politically, and more about having sentiments against an administration or against a common system. So if you’re anti-capitalist, or against US imperialism, terrorist is a title you can proudly wear, even if all that you do is legal and ethical.
That said, I’d encourage considering adding saboteur to anyone’s repertoire of skills and activist efforts. State agents have long crossed the lines of violence against the innocent in order to influence others, making themselves and the states they represent terrorists in the OG sense.
well yah fbi and langely will be the first to burn once the revolution begins
Violent (against people who deserve it and) extreme(ly based)ists.
