non-appearance of antifascists on Jan. 6 played a critical role in the failure of Trump's coup

[Novara]

This is a thread:

Link to tweet

Unrolled text (there are links in the thread):

An unremarked aspect of this fascinating thread is that the non-appearance of antifascists on the scene Jan. 6, played a critical role in the failure of Trump's coup attempt. 1/

Trump had been building the "Antifa/BLM/Violent Left" narrative all year, but he focused on Antifa particularly after he lost the election, and stepped up the vitriol. 2/

It is now apparent that this was part of his scheme to invoke the Insurrection Act amid massive crowd violence. The Jan. 5 timing of the memorandum declaring Antifa a "terrorist organization" was not coincidental. See the resolution's language. /3

It's the first official move Trump has made against the left-wing militant movement since it was thrust into the national spotlight during last year's protests for racial justice.

Trump supporters eagerly prepared for their designated enemies to turn out in force, and shared “sightings” of them in the days leading up to them. This is was from a prominent QAnon supporter on Jan. 2. /4


There was just one flaw with all these plans. Antifascists were able to see Trump’s scheme from miles away, and encouraged all their colleagues to avoid the capital city on January 6. /5

On social media, they shared hashtags like #DontTakeTheBait and #January6TrumpTrap that spread the word. /6

So when the mob gathered on the National Mall on January 6 and headed toward the Capitol, they encountered no resistance from any counterprotesters, much to their surprise. /7

Oath Keepers and Proud Boys alike had been warning each other for weeks to prepare for Antifa or BLM violence. Instead, the only resistance they encountered came from Capitol Police. /8

The first key step in Trump’s plan—for Pence to play along and decline to accept the ballots from the key battleground states—fell apart when Pence did his constitutional duty and certified the Electoral College vote in the Senate. 9/

Then, Trump’s plans to use intended violence between his army of “Patriots” and Antifa as the pretext for invoking the Insurrection Act vanished back into the mists of their imaginations.

We were very, very lucky. Credit Trump's foils for seeing through him. /10

[mopinko]

1. the oaf creepers thought they were the ones who would get the call. i wonder why.

[Novara]

3. That's exactly the question

The motherfucker might be in more legal trouble than we think. Could he be charged with inciting a riot as well?

§ 22–1322. Rioting or inciting to riot.

(a) A riot in the District of Columbia is a public disturbance involving an assemblage of 5 or more persons which by tumultuous and violent conduct or the threat thereof creates grave danger of damage or injury to property or persons.

(b) Whoever willfully engages in a riot in the District of Columbia shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than 180 days or a fine of not more than the amount set forth in § 22-3571.01, or both.

(c) Whoever willfully incites or urges other persons to engage in a riot shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than 180 days or a fine of not more than the amount set forth in § 22-3571.01, or both.

(d) If in the course and as a result of a riot a person suffers serious bodily harm or there is property damage in excess of $5,000, every person who willfully incited or urged others to engage in the riot shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than 10 years or a fine of not more than the amount set forth in § 22-3571.01, or both.

Emphasis mine.

[SoCalDavidS]

2. I'm Guessing A Large % Of repubs Still Believe Antifa Was Behind The Riot/Sedition nt

[OMGWTF]

8. Despite that many of their fathers and grandfathers were Antifa 1945

[SilasSouleII]

17. Yes... +1

N/T

[SergeStorms]

25. They seem unable to understand....

that Antifa is an idea, not an organization.

Anti - to be against

Fa - Fascists

Antifa.

These are people who are against fascists, which is just about everyone who isn't a republican (and even some of them hate fascists). It's not a card carrying, dues paying organization. This is what reich-wing fascists don't understand.

I hope any loitering, lurking fascists have read this and "get it" now. 🙂

[rubbersole]

28. They'll never get it.

You can't fix stooopid. All decent Americans are antifa.

[not fooled]

40. You're right

too bad much of the news media and pundits regurgitate the "Antifa is a group which = the leftist equivalent of red don's brownshirts" fallacy.

[reACTIONary]

64. Antifa is not just an idea or a conception....

... and it IS composed of organizations of a specific sort... "affinity goroups".

https://crimethinc.com/2017/02/06/how-to-form-an-affinity-group-the-essential-building-block-of-anarchist-organization

[yardwork]

39. Fox "News" continues to read that script, but it's hard when there's nothing to show.

I'm sure that plenty of Republicans think the whole thing is the fault of BLM and antifa, though. Our country is full of misinformed people, their misinformed because they want to be.

[InstantGratification]

54. Had this discussion with some MAGAs a couple of days after J6

Last edited Mon Jun 20, 2022, 10:44 AM - Edit history (1)

"Let's all rub a couple of brain cells together and do a little logical thought test".

1. How many of you think ANTIFA loves Trump or hates Trump? >>>> Unanimous hate Trump answers.

2. How many of you think BLM loves Trump or hates Trump? >>>> Unanimous hates Trump

3. How many of you think Democrats love Trump or hate Trump? >>>> Unanimous hates Trump

4. How many of you think Never Trump Republicans love or hate Trump? >>>> Unanimous hates Trump

What makes you think a single one of those people would lift a finger to do the ONE thing that had a chance to keep Trump in office when they had spent the last 4 years working to kick his ass to the curb?

If any of those groups had stormed the Capitol, it would have been to fill the gallery overlooking the chamber and cheer for every vote counted for Biden!

The only people on earth who wanted to disrupt that count were Trump supporters, NO ONE ELSE wanted that vote stopped, no way, no how, for any reason!!!

I got crickets on the BLM/ANTIFA BS after that. Probably the most satisfying argument I've ever had with Trumpers because they knew they had absolutely nothing to counter that with. ***insert peaceful, satisfied grin here***

[getagrip_already]

57. but antifa did conspire.......

They conspired to not show up.

The bastards.

[localroger]

67. Inconceivable! /nt

[EndlessWire]

4. And I recall

that here on DU we said to all that they should not go to Washington. That was a very reasonable call that worked out for us.

[peggysue2]

16. I recall the same thing

There were a variety of blog OPs calling for the same thing: Don't Take the Bait.

Thank the gods, people listened. The presumed ANTIFA ogre never materialized much to the right-wing's shock and dismay. Didn't keep them from stupidly blaming Antifa and the Left in general but the FBI came out and said there was no evidence that the coup had anything to do with Antifa participants.

The right-wingers wanted a battle in the streets so the Orange Slug would have the authority to demand Martial Law.

On this particular occasion, the end of the world was averted by refusing to participate. LOL

[wnylib]

37. I remember having a disagreement on J5

with a DU poster who insisted that he/she was going to DC for the J6 rally. I said that there would be violence (little did I know what kind of violence or how bad it would get), and that opposing protesters would be greatly outnumbered. Better to ignore it than to feed into the Trumpists' desire for head bashing.

The poster was so adamant that I left the discussion with a call to agree to disagree and drop it. I do not remember the poster's name.

Now in retrospect, I wonder if it was a troll trying to stir up counter protesters to show up.

[peggysue2]

58. Your instincts may be right

We now know the militant insurrectionists--Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, etc.--fully anticipated the opposition to show up thereby justifying their actions and bolstering the Former Guy's takeover scheme. There were multiple moments when the coup attempt could have fallen into place and the winger's would have had an even larger blood fest, an election ultimately decided in the streets.

The insurrectionists yearned for a Civil War. They nearly got it on J6 but for the restraint of those on the other side.

We dodged a bullet. At least on that one day bc the battle continues.

Do I think trolls were out in cyberspace attempting to stir things up?

Yes, I do.

[2Gingersnaps]

22. I don't tend to be much of a conspiracy minded person BUT

I will always be convinced that these right wing extremist groups were going around the country attacking BLM and what appeared to me to be extensions of the Occupy Wall Street movement that the wingers just referred to as "antifa."

Attacking peaceful protesters to discredit any type of "leftist" movement. And sure, I do remember those posts, might even have posted a few myself saying "don't give them an excuse." BLM marched past my house here in Columbus, OH. They were on the sidewalk, they were polite and orderly, no problems. Some protests were met with tear gas and rubber bullets and the city is just now facing the charges of "over reacting."

From Charlottesville on this looked like a Brownshirt movement, and it just happened to culminate when he tried to use it in a larger plan to overthrow an election he lost. But this coup is not over, the "false flag" operation (every accusation a confession) at the Pride event in Idaho turned out to be a farce of epic proportions. Their fifteen minutes are up.

[yardwork]

41. I agree with you and I also saw how Fox "News" was pushing the script.

Last summer we were visiting family the week of July 4, and they had Fox News on some. (ghaaaaaa!) Fox was playing an old clip over and over of somebody burning a flag, and Sean Hannity had a guest (a black ex-military guy) who went on and on about how the "Democrat-led" cities were on fire. My relatives weee convinced and angry. It was clear what Fox was doing and had been doing for a long time - spreading fear, dividing people, blaming Black people.

[KPN]

66. There's no question that right wing hate groups

intentionally instigated violence and vandalism during the Portland Oregon BLM protests that resulted in accusations against BLM protestors as well as blame aimed at antifa. There’s a reason the right screams about false flag operations so abundantly — because they orchestrate them all the time and like the GOP and right generally use projection as standard operating procedure. Hilariously really, they think they are covert.

[Scrivener7]

34. I guess that makes us Antifa.

Because no one else fits the bill.

Honestly, it is frightening the way complete fabrications get into the mainstream media and mindsets as if they are real things these days.

[pandr32]

5. Interesting

If true, a major fail--thankfully, none of us took the bait.

[Hekate]

6. We should feel vindicated

[alphafemale]

7. Except for those posers dressed like they imagined Antifa looked like

Who were dressed all in black and scaling walls...

There's stairs and doors right there dudes.

[AntiFascist]

29. Some of the Proud Boys even admitted on video...

that they were planning to dress in order to "blend in" and even pose as Antifa, BLM, or carrying LGBTQ pride flags, etc. Now that many of them have been identified I don't think it worked out so well.

[Mr. Ected]

9. But wait. I remember prior to all this, the discussion was that there WAS no Antifa

That it was the figment of the right wing's imagination. This article (and discussion) seems to indicate otherwise.

If, by Antifa, you mean liberal or progressive protestors, okay. But Antifa?

Not sure I'm understanding the context here.

[Midnight Writer]

12. We too often fall into their language game.

We did it with CRT in public schools, we did it with "energy independence", we did it with "government gun grabbers".

None of these things have a basis in fact, yet we end up debating them over these empty labels.

[Novara]

26. This has been a gripe of mine for YEARS.

I think I really noticed it with anti-abortion bullshit. They are no more "pro-life" than an executioner.

Our side allows them to set the narrative and terminology, and we're left flat-footed, arguing in their terms on their turf and on the defensive.




"Yes, I DO want to take your guns away because you can't be responsible with them. Ban assault weapons."

Why can't a Democrat ever say this? Instead, it's mealy-mouthed pablum like "common sense measures." What is common sense about an 18 year old getting his hands on an assault weapon as soon as he turns 18 and slaughtering 19 children? How do you frame THAT in "common sense measures"?

Yes, BANS. Certain weapons should absolutely be banned. There is absolutely no legitimate use in civilian society for a fucking AR15.

Whoo. Got me started there...

[wnylib]

38. Didn't Beto say it outright in the

2020 Dem primary debates?

"Yes, I will come after your guns."

And again just weeks ago after Uvalde he said it.

[BadgerMom]

14. Patriot Front, Oath Keepers, Proud Boys...

The DOJ and SPLC have lists of white nationalist/right wing organizations. I emphasize “organizations.” They have leaders and different geographic locations. Some of the leaders—Enrique Tarrio, for example—are named regularly in the media. But, antifa has no face, no name, no organization because it is a creation of the right. I wish we and, particularly media voices, would point this out ad nauseum.

[ancianita]

51. Excuse me? You cannot lump antifa with RW militia 'organizations.'

But, antifa ... because it is a creation of the right. I wish we and, particularly media voices, would point this out ad nauseum.

If you say this ad nauseum, you will be mistaken ad nauseum, and confounding other Americans' understanding of an important part of European and U.S. history.

This isn't a matter for debate. Antifa have nearly a hundred year-old history and legacy.
So please. Read and revise your understanding. Thanks.

[BadgerMom]

59. I think we are in total agreement.

I guess I didn’t communicate my thoughts very clearly. I did write “it is a creation of the right.” It was that fact that I wish would be on repeat ad nauseum.

Thanks for the reading recommendation.

[ancianita]

61. Then you still don't understand.

What you said -- "it is a creation of the right" -- is exactly what you should NOT repeat ad nauseum. It is NOT a fact that it was a creation of the right.

Anti-fascist existed in opposition to the right. Antifa is what the U.S. antifascists called themselves in shortened version.

If you had read anything I linked you'd understand that. So until you do, we are not in agreement. And I'd strongly advise you to not spread such disinformation.

[AntiFascist]

68. Antifa began as an abbreviation for the German Antifaschistische Aktion of the 1930s...

a militant organization started by members of the Communist Party of Germany.

At the risk of starting a debate about communism, I prefer to think that one can still be "antifascist" while also supporting well-regulated capitalism.

[ancianita]

69. Agree. But that's not what BadgerMom is saying.

We need no debate about either. We're Democrats. We know what we generally know about today's communism and not grampa's communism.

The history of Anti-fascism, known as antifa, is clear.

[AntiFascist]

70. I would just also point out...

the extreme Right would like nothing more than to portray Antifa as being militant and communist.

Patriot Front even wants Mussolini's Fascism to be the accepted ideology associated with everything American! Of course, they also seem desperate to increase their membership.

[ancianita]

71. Antifa don't care. It knows what it is. This is just division talk from corporate owned partisans.

We shouldn't take the bait. Antifa needs no defending.

Thanks for your post.

[IronLionZion]

24. There's no organization with any leader or official member list

so anyone GOP doesn't like can be declared Antifa without proof.

[leftyladyfrommo]

10. I don't think Trump was the fool people thought he was. nt

[uponit7771]

11. There was no official"antifa" movement as described by MAGA!!! WTF DOJ?!?!?!

[plimsoll]

13. The projection aspect has fascinated me for a long time.

Pretty much the first and most enduring deflection has been the "false flag" aspect. I wonder if they had planned on having umbrella men there to punch up the violence if "Antifa" had arrived.

When you start trying to understand the behavior of conspiracy theorists you start pulling yourself in.

[SunSeeker]

15. I remember "umbrella man" from the BLM protest! Was he ever charged?

https://abcnews.go.com/US/man-helped-ignite-george-floyd-riots-identified-white/story?id=72051536

All I could find indicates he was never charged or even arrested, despite warrants being issued. https://southsidepride.com/2022/02/21/what-about-umbrella-man/

[IronLionZion]

23. They accused Mitchell Carlson, a white supremacist biker gang member

but didn't have enough evidence to prosecute. https://heavy.com/news/2020/07/mitchell-carlson-umbrella-man/

[SunSeeker]

30. That's a 2020 article. Do you have anything more current?

This 2021 article says the investigation is still open, but no arrests.

https://minnesotareformer.com/2021/06/02/whats-up-with-umbrella-man/

[IronLionZion]

32. No, a search shows plenty of people disappointed with the lack of arrests or charges

2 years is plenty of time to destroy any evidence so he may have gotten away with it.

[Butterflylady]

18. That alone proves we are smarter then the maggots.

[bluecollar2]

19. A lot of us were busy that day

We kicked the idea of showing up but then decided we'd work on the plan to confiscate everybody's guns instead...

[IronLionZion]

21. That's planned for election day

MAGA patriots should stay home on election day to protect their guns

[bluecollar2]

27. Hush....

It's all about OPSEC.

New decoder rings are being distributed this week.

Agent Mike is our guy on the inside...

[Laura PourMeADrink]

42. That is the best line I've heard this year!!!!!

[IronLionZion]

20. Antifa dressed up as Trump supporters as a false flag operation

the arrests of hundreds of MAGA patriots proves that deep state let Antifa get away with it. The Trump supporters were just tourists taking selfies.

[Grins]

31. An actual participant in the attempted Coup d'Etat said...

"We were all there. It was not Antifa, and it was not BLM. It was Trump supporters that did that yesterday. I'm the first to admit it, being one myself. I walked amongst all those people." - Anthony Aguero, in a video he posted on January 7th, basically calling Hannity, Ingraham, and Carlson, liars.

Aguero is, of course, close to Marjorie "Three Toes" Taylor Greene.

[Wednesdays]

33. I remember many warnings on DU prior to Jan. 6

to stay the hell away from D.C. that week. We had premonition.

[NCLefty]

35. It seems like common sense to avoid a location where an authoritarian's fans are gathering.

It's an interesting thread, nonetheless.

[denbot]

36. Utter bullshit, how do you expect anyone on this board to not know what ANTIFA's about?

Their entire reason to be is to show up where facists are expected to harm PEACEFUL protesters. That is why the right demonizes, discredits, and minimalize ANTIFA in every instance possible.

Just like your post.

[Hortensis]

60. There Is no organized "ANTIFA" for it to be about. That's a RW fiction.

People do turn out to protest at fascistic events, almost all standing peacefully on the sidewalks to do so, but tRump isn't calling them ANTIFA. "ANTIFA" means a vast, dangerous LW terrorist organization that is itself fascist.

[denbot]

63. Did I imply otherwise?

[Hortensis]

65. Lol, I no longer imagine I know. Peace.

[3Hotdogs]

43. My cousin.... started off, soon after Jan.6. "The riots in D.C. were Antifa."

"O.K. Now tell me. Why would Antifa go do D.C. to try to stop the affirmation of an election that their side won?"


Crickets.

[Novara]

46. kill 'em with logic

Their brains explode.

I also say, "If the Democrats stole the election, why didn't we steal enough Senate seats to overcome the filibuster?"

Crickets.

[3Hotdogs]

50. The crickets sure get one hell of a work-out

[LittleGirl]

49. I was just going to type that! Nt

[Emile]

44. My father was antifa during WW2.

[Takket]

45. Why did he think Antifa would show up at the capital?

Because he’s an idiot that believes his own bullshit lol

Biden was being certified that day. What would Antifa be protesting? Lol

[Hekate]

48. Not "idiotic." TFG and others wanted their opposition in DC as a pretext to declare martial law...

That (creating the pretext) was an evil plot — and I do mean it was a plot — but as much as I hate the conspirators, their leaders were not exactly low-IQ. They created an amazingly wide and deep conspiracy to overthrow the US government.

All of us who told leftward hotheads to stay the hell away from DC should feel vindicated. I didn’t know actual hashtags had been created with that message, but I am glad the message went further than our discussion board.

[bucolic_frolic]

47. We had nothing to protest. Joe Biden had won and was taking office.

The traitors failed to read the tea leaves in a rational manner. No surprise.

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

53. Every reasonable, mature adult is anti-fascist.

What's to like about fascism and fascists?

Is anyone here, (except for trolls, of course), neutral about, or in support, of fascism?

Rhetorical question.

[Tommy Carcetti]

55. Helped in great part by the fact that "Antifa" barely exists as an actual organization...

...spare a few anarchists out in the Pacific Northwest.

[Walleye]

56. Mayor Bowser deserves a lot of credit. She gave the left wing a good talking to and they stayed home

Also she laid down the law about guns in DC and no one certain terms. They stashed the weapons in Virginia

[TeamProg]

62. "I was invited to an Insurection and all I got were these ankle bracelets and Federal record" n/t