Opinions on "Antifa"?

[beachjustice]

189. you might be right, but I still think whether to be aggressive with violence is a complex matter

Last edited Fri Aug 18, 2017, 03:00 AM - Edit history (4)

Alt-right groups want to claim a false equivalence that counter-protesters are no better than neo-nazis, and that they are being attacked for exercising their right to free speech. They want to present themselves as more sensible and as defenders of white interests, while claiming we don't want to engage on an ideological level and don't represent the interests of whites.
If we initiate violence against them, my concern is we enable them to propagate that narrative and take attention away from their thuggish actions. For example, many right wing pundits are breathing a sigh of relief right now because of the islamic terror attack in Spain that they can use to divert attention from the horrific neo-nazi rally and Trump's support for it. And some morons might be inclined to buy that the alt-right is really standing up for free speech and that our platform does not represent the interests of white people. Unfortunately, morons also get the vote.

Alt-right groups also want more attention so they can recruit. While self-defense is always acceptable, if we initiate violence, we would have to make certain that it actually deters them. It might simply give them fodder with which to encourage their members to retaliate. The resulting cycle of violence just enables them more attention beyond what rallies buy them.

There is a time and place to be aggressive with violence (in contrast to self-defense, which is always acceptable). But at this stage in the evolution of the alt-right, I'm just not sure that aggression helps us more than it does them. On the other hand, if the nazis were going to commit violence anyway after their rally, then I guess it's good that antifa at least shut it down before they had any speakers.

In any case, rather than simply attacking them IRL, why don't we counter them online? That's where their efforts to sell their platform and to recruit begin. They organize to use message boards, social media, and comments sections everywhere to propagandize. Why don't we make ourselves a significant presence on 4chan and wherever else we can effectively present an attractive counter-narrative?