I can't believe anyone listens to this guy.
Posted on 09/12/2017 10:41:43 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Bluestockings bookstore quickly filled to capacity last night for Mark Bray, a former Occupy Wall Street organizer turned Dartmouth history lecturer who is making waves with the publication of Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook.
Soon after its release last month, the president of Dartmouth rebuked him in a strongly worded statement after Bray, appearing on “Meet the Press,” expressed support for the sometimes violent tactics of Antifa, that mysterious network of masked anarchists, socialists, communists and varied others who have clashed with white supremacists and neo-Nazis, tragically in Charlottesville.
About 100 of Dartmouth’s faculty then attacked the president for criticizing their 34-year-old colleague and demanded a retraction. If the once obscure academic was feeling the heat, Bray didn’t show it as he amiably addressed a friendly crowd at Bluestockings, first reading an excerpt from his book. It traces the rise of mostly leftwing groups or cells that have long battled fascism, abroad and in the U.S., some well before the rise of Hitler and Mussolini.
During a question and answer period, Bray made it plain that he has no problem with militants on the far left defending themselves with weapons against activists on the far right. “I’m not trying to tell people in politics what to do,” he said. “But I don’t think it’s ludicrous that if white supremacists will be carrying guns then anti-fascists might carry guns too. I’ll leave it at that.”
Bray also quoted Cornell West, one of the counterprotestors at Charlottesville, saying that Antifa “saved his life” from mob of alt-right protestors attending the rally.
B+B asked Bray to respond to the notion that Antifa is a criminal gang–one whose activities have reportedly been classified as “domestic terrorist violence” by the Department of Homeland Security.
“That doesn’t make any sense,” he replied. “Antifa isn’t one group. It’s many groups. In essence, it’s a social revolution against the far right that focuses on direct action. ‘Terrorist organization’ is not a useful term. It’s ridiculous and typical of how the government responds to radical politics.”
Bray couldn’t estimate how many members Antifa has in the U.S. “They don’t give out membership lists, so it’s impossible to say.”
Based on the dozens of anti-fascists Bray has interviewed, he believes most of them use violence as a last resort. “Most anti-fascists would rather do other kinds of work. They’d rather be organizing to save the environment or organizing to destroy capitalism. They might infiltrate a group online or talk to a venue owner and organize a boycott. That would be great.
“But when it comes to hundreds of neo-Nazis marching down the street, then you have to make some changes. Ultimately, it’s by any means necessary,” he said, quoting a much used phrase by the Black Panthers of yore. He added: “It’s often not necessary.”
So far as we could tell, there was one recognizable member of antifa who had come to hear Bray at Bluestockings. That would be a 21-year-old from Wisconsin who donned a face mask at one point in the discussion and later identified himself only as Drew. He said he turned to the movement after working first for Bernie Sanders and then Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. Drew noted he was “shocked” when Clinton lost to Donald Trump. He then joined up with an unidentified group to protect “Somalians in the rural areas.” He also noted: “I identify as a feminist.”
Most criminals prefer they not be called criminal.
I don’t see Antifa growing in numbers. If they do, it will be temporary.
Problem is, “social revolution” and “terrorist group” are synonyms. They sure have some short straws to grasp at.
I prefer “Fascist Terrorist Group” to me more accurate in their true nature and intentions.
I can't believe anyone listens to this guy.
I prefer ‘yet another craven scam funded from the coffers of George Soros aka György Schwartz’.
They probably prefer to not be called smelly weak-minded lunatics either.
Of course, those blocks may be ignored quite easily if you creeps want to push things.
The word communist used to be preferred when describing communists. These people make the mistake of thinking that they are somehow superior to the neo-Nazis when in fact it is very much of a pot/kettle situation. I guess being leftists, they are pot.
Commie pussies.
Well, gee, I prefer flamethrowers and fragmentation grenades to rubber bullets and tasers in police department battles against Antifa gangs. So what’s his point?
Unfortunately, at the moment, the government kind of lets their side push it, but certainly will not let our side push it. Maybe that will change in the future. Who knows for sure?
And another bearded White guy with glasses, waddya know?
still terrorists
still terrorists
Most likely. fake clear glass glasses to try to add an "intelligent" air. Millennials seem to love that "look">
Refer to those moron ditzes Obunga kept trotting out at his wretched State Department.
Hack, Barf, whatever, was the most hilarious with her fake glasses. Stupidity is not so easily hidden.
He’s a momma’s boy.
I just realized that most of these nerds are just too pathetic to shoot.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.