JanuaryAugust, 20092019 http://www.poclad.org

America 2019: A Pocket Guide To Life & Resistance in Times of Fascist Terror by Mel Figueroa

I met Mel Figueroa in 2016, and was immediately impressed by her encyclopedic knowledge of movement history. Rarely have I meet someone with such a deep grounding in history and theory who was also such a skilled and practical organizer. In a nutshell, when Mel Figueroa speaks, I listen.

Mel began to warn about emerging in 2016 (well before the horror of the Unite the RIght tragedy of Charlottesville, VA in August of 2017). Her warning were not vague-- she showed me how hate groups were using 4-chan and 8-chan bulletin boards to recruit and educate a new generation. She explained how they were using memes to "weaponize irony" and proved how successful they were. It was chilling.

So she and I spend most of 2017 conducting a series of "Movement Schools for Revolutionaries" which were workshops designed for people who recognized the critical need to restructure society. One of the core lessons was to understand the rise of neofascism and the universe of far-right extremist groups operating in the US today.

This month Mel wrote an essay that lays out concrete and practical steps for what we can do--what we MUST do-- to defeat the emerging fascist threat in modern times. As a member of the POCLAD collective, I ask you to read, reflect and act on the information and analysis contained in this important piece.

David Cobb Member of the POCLAD Collective

experience to the cultures of generally comfortable layers of No, Werner Hertzog didn’t say racism, hate, and brutality that American society — especially this. But whoever they are, this until recently lurked in the if you are a person of Fake Werner Hertzog has a shadows beneath the seedy conscience who hasn’t had point. underbelly of our nation, it is all much experience with racism too familiar to many of us but are horrified, shocked and As I write this, the nation is whose roots come from various want to help end it. It is very, reeling yet again from the 250th peoples whose subjugation, VERY important, right now, to mass shooting to take place in enslavement, colonization, and just take a moment, close your the United States in 2019 — that genocide at the hands of an lips and open your ears: listen to is, 250 mass murders in the last array of colonial settlers, armies, people of color and think about 215 days. Sadly, what was plantation owners, and all kinds the ways our American remarkable about this shooting of folks identifying as “White,” experience is different from your at an El Paso Walmart, leaving are foundational chapters in the own. 20 dead and 26 wounded at last American story: Black folks count, was that it did elicit so whose ancestors were enslaved, You are the wild card, the X- much shock and outrage in the lynched and subject to police factor that can help make or general public, who had murders all the way up to today; break the reign of terror that is previously responded with Native peoples who suffered a trumpeting its battle cries as it varying degrees of sadness, hundred million losses from thunders into the mainstream. outrage, prayers and thoughts, disease, starvation and As we go down the nightmare but also creeping fatigue and systematic, state-sanctioned rabbit hole of an increasingly indifference over the last 249. genocide; Chinese forced labor violent, fascistic societal ‘coolies’ who built the railroads; trajectory, it is you who have the What is of note now is that we Latinx/indigenous workers and option of being in that middle have passed the more-than-daily farmers (many of whom, even third of society, caught in the mark for mass shootings; and now in the camps, are NOT midst of the conflict, who might one distinct pattern that appears immigrants to this continent); stand back and watch as the Japanese immigrants who still slaughter continues — you may remember their own not be happy about it, you wring to be emerging is a common concentration camp experience your hands, send your thoughts thread of white nationalist on American soil; LGBT and prayers — but at best, sentiment that motivates the communities; and my own sitting on the fence and playing shooters — most explicitly in people, from the Philippines, the part of a neutral spectator the most recent wave of colonized by the USA in 1899, renders you immobile and of no shootings, but a line that can be subjected to genocide in 1901, use to anyone; and at worst, a traced back to 2015, when and paraded in human zoos at bumbling hindrance whose Dylann Roof opened fire in a the 1904 World’s Fair. equivocations will endanger us Black church in Charleston, and strengthen the position of killing nine. So if you’re devastated by those who are killing us. There what’s happening in this will undoubtedly be more Welcome to the new dystopian country, feeling like a stranger random violence, more reality of the United States in in a strange land that is not terrorism, more state 2019: where you can’t go to recognizable as the America you collaboration and repression — school, enjoy a movie, have a grew up in and love, and are and you should at least day out with the family at a feeling rather lost as to how to be aware of where you stand, garlic festival, or just navigate this new reality — as a what you could choose to do, fucking be in nearly any public person of color, I’d like to say and how your choices affect the space without the constant, on behalf of my melanated overall trajectory of how all of looming threat of random mass brethren: this goes down. murder. While this may be disorienting to many Americans who have grown up in a Welcome to our world. The minimum fascists require relatively benign and civil to take over society and fulfill version of “America,” and have This guide is for you, our its murderous goals is your not had much exposure or erstwhile and aspiring “allies” inaction. among the White, White- passing, middle-class and So please, I invite you to sit down, grab a cup of tea, vodka, or whatever’s your jam, and men to fascist ideologies and critical thing to do, since he read on — here are a few truths, encourage acts of terror; gives all of this an air of state tips and tricks to navigate this sanction and legitimacy, this is new reality that you should - Efforts to demonize organized not the type of situation where know: anti-fascists (“Antifa”) as a we can wait for some Democrat terrorist group — although, or progressive savior to beat since Antifa is not actually a Trump at the Boss Stage and group but rather a moral and make everything right again. ideological conviction to stop 1. KNOW YOUR ENEMY: fascists from committing acts of The monster we are dealing THE SHOCK TROOPS OF terror, leaves any number of with, in these seemingly random AMERICAN FASCISM social justice minded groups and bursts of violence, is more like a Fascist elements are individuals vulnerable to Hydra: a loosely networked but converging in frightening and criminalization and repression; mutually reinforcing white violent ways, but this is NOT supremacist/proto-fascist milieu fascism (yet), and Trump is - Generalized public awareness that spontaneously breeds NOT the Generalissimo. that the U.S. Government is terrorists and acts of stochastic While emboldened by literally operating concentration terrorism. Driven particularly Trump’s rhetoric, these acts camps on our borders, as ICE by the online culture of 4chan, of violence are bred from a raids to kidnap and imprison , sites like and loosely networked ecosystem immigrants and separate other platforms, they actively of extremist elements families intensify. inspire and anticipate violent determined to uphold White acts, but do not know where supremacy as a core American Indeed, El Paso showed a they will happen or coordinate value. frightening convergence of this them in advance: they stoke the last point with the shooting fires, celebrate the eruptions, When we map these white itself: as CNN reported shortly and egg on others to follow suit. nationalist-inspired mass after the incident, several Street-level groups such as the shooting incidents onto the potential victims and their and larger context of national families avoided treatment and engage in recruitment and real- , the core features of a emergency servicesbecause of life intimidation of right-wing larger ecosystem centered the fear that ICE agents would targets (as they have done on around racism, White be patrolling hospitals and college campuses for the last 2 supremacy, violence, and reunification points looking for years). Official state actors, such exclusion are readily apparent: undocumented immigrants as ICE, are formally at a among the victims. distance, though many members - Trump’s increasingly overt of these agencies are known to racial attacks against people of To be clear: I do NOT believe share these views and color, including members of participate in racist discourse these groups are coordinating online; and, like in El Paso, act Congress; and plotting together according to some Grand Plan for Fascism opportunistically in ways that - The provocative actions of — quite the opposite actually, cause further terror and hardship organized white nationalist which makes it even more for target groups. As George groups (or “identitarian” as they dangerous. Trump, while being Ciciarello-Maher, an early target like to call themselves) such as the most public individual and a of alt-right harassment, said in the Proud Boys and Identity person of great influence within his comment on El Paso, anyone Evropa, who engage in doxxing, this milieu, is not functionally who becomes deeply involved confrontational demonstrations, its leader. While his actions are in these forums and organized stalking, and intimidation; obviously provocative, dog- alt-right groups “is a mass whistling to a racist supporter shooting waiting to happen.” - The behind-the-curtain base, it’s not like he is a influence of extreme-right Godfather or puppet master It is critical to look at these online groups, such as 4chan orchestrating it all; if that were multiple, mutually reinforcing and 8chan, creating a culture of the case, it would be way layers not like units in an army media disinformation and simpler to just cut the head off or parts of an engine; they Internet havoc even as they the monster and win the day. are emergent conditions whose expose disaffected young white While resisting Trump is a very convergence reflects some very old and enduring structural features of American culture 2. THE POLICE ARE NOT An effective alternative — that who are now simply throwing ON OUR SIDE. proved its worth in Berkeley off their hoods to bask in the Instead, organize your during the alt-right’s Free open air. communities to help protect Speech Week in August 2018 and defend targets of — is to raise awareness in your Online, these elements often harassment and violence, and community of this insidious hide in plain sight, hoping to to send a message to problem, and mobilize as many “redpill” or recruit new extremists that they are not as you can to make the whole members into the group. They welcome in your community. town a safe space for people of infiltrate all kinds of networks color and other targets of right- — including social media, Wondering where the old wing violence. In Berkeley, Reddit, and even online groups traditional White supremacist businesses and neighborhoods and organizations in the and neo-Nazi groups are were mobilized to recognize the growing progressive nowadays? According to the signs of Proud Boys and other movement. This Contrapoints FBI, they have spent the last groups and refused service or video is a great primer on decade or two infiltrating police otherwise discouraged their spotting the signs and departments all over the presence. Others organized to dogwhistles of these groups. country. What we have seen at support people who had been countless demonstrations, targeted, making sure they had DO NOT ENGAGE THEM ON including Charlottesville, is the an escort home or other ways to SOCIAL MEDIA. The less passive, and sometimes active, defend themselves. And on the reacts they get, the less likely behavior of police: either day the racists were to rally, we the algorithms will promote protecting the racists, or outnumbered then 1000 to 1 in a them. Do not share their memes. standing by and not interfering strong and peaceful show of Block them from your groups as racist groups act aggressively solidarity. At the end of the day, where they cause trouble. and violently against people of punching Nazis will become Discourage your friends, family, color and antifascist protestors. unnecessary if your community and online acquaintances from stands united against hate. engaging with them; and Obviously, in a mass shooter educate others to spot the situation, the police will be signals where they occur and obligated to intervene — but discourage engagement and what about the countless circulation of their messages. everyday interactions and 3. DO NOT ENCOURAGE confrontations with racist THE CRIMINALIZATION It’s tough, and terrifying, to aggressors and provocateurs that OF ANTIFASCISTS. realize that this growing happen around the country? Every single decent human movement is spawning tentacles Where are the people who being who resists fascist everywhere — and while many “protect and serve” when violence and stands up for the politicians who could help us community members are vulnerable is Antifa. are focusing on Russians, or attacked by racists? If you’ve anyone else who is an easily been paying any amount of The recent calls from Trump, identifiable ‘enemy,’ White attention to the Black Lives Ted Cruz and other Republican supremacy is so baked into our Matter movement over the past leaders to criminalize “Antifa” system that, barring those several years, you know about as a terrorist group should sound proudly sporting MAGA hats, the attitudes, actions and alarm bells for anyone who our homegrown terrorists blend implicit biases of police towards thinks a fascist America is a bad in perfectly with the generic Black and Brown people that, idea. Antifa — short for anti- male white American more often than not, end up fascist — is NOT an organized mainstream. Focusing getting horrific numbers of group; there are no membership specifically on these groups, Black and Brown youth killed. lists, no leaders. Anyone who their movements and If people of color are being resists fascists — not just communications, and thwarting confronted, harassed, or masked Nazi-punchers but the spread and influence of their attacked by racists, calling the anyone affiliated with a messaging wherever you can is police will likely bring progressive, social justice, or key. potentially deadly force down racial justice movement who on them instead of the racist stands up to the thuggish and aggressors. violent behavior of right-wing extremist hate groups — could potentially be charged with Anyone who thinks fascism is Then comes the really hard part: terrorism under the proposed bad and takes a stand against it engaging in honest, painful, and legislation; and under current — demonstrating at ICE humbling struggle to recognize counterterrorism laws, could be facilities, helping people who and overcome the internalized held indefinitely without trial. are targeted, people who educate assumptions and implicit biases each other about fascism, and that American White ZERO deaths have been speak out against racism — are supremacist culture has instilled attributed to Antifa — by all Antifa. Any decent human within yourselves, and within all terrorist standards, a rather being in these times who stands of us. And none of us can do it shitty body count — up against White supremacist alone — the tough but liberating whereas every single extremist and racist hate speech and work of rebuilding relationships murder in the United States violence is Antifa. When we are and discovering new kinds of since the end of 2017 has been all Antifa, we win. sociality rooted in true equality at the hands of White — work that should be done supremacists or White collectively, with others in your nationalists. community, taking guidance and leadership from communities of Anti-fascism is as old as fascism 4. END RACISM AND color. SURJ (Showing Up for itself. Since 1932 in Germany, IN Racial Justice) is one anti-fascists have appeared AMERICA FOR GOOD. organization with chapters wherever fascists appear — for We must work hard, in our around the country that provides reasons that should be totally communities and within a space for White allies to obvious. When fascist violence ourselves, to excise the cancer educate themselves, examine the is directed at vulnerable people, of White Supremacy from our latent biases that permeate there have always been those culture once and for all. everyday life, and organize who defended themselves or against racism and in support of defended those who were being Ultimately, to get to the root of communities of color and their attacked. Technically, the US this problem, what we will need struggles. Or it could take a military as well as Allied forces to do — fundamentally and number of small, deep from 1941 to 1945 were Antifa; decisively, if we are to stop this conversations, one on one or in see where we’re going with monster once and for all — is groups, to find clarity and this? confront the deep history of understanding about what it will White supremacy whose take to achieve real justice, and There is literally only ONE cancerous influence plays a what it means to be, and live, in group that benefits from central role in American history, solidarity with all people as criminalizing anti- going all the way back to the equals. fascists: Fascists. And origins of this country. perpetuating calls for “civility” It is also incumbent upon our in dealing with people who It is our sacred duty — as White allies and people of literally want to commit people who are born and bred in conscience to talk to, educate genocide, or parroting the moral this nation, especially for White and check other White people equivalency argument — Americans but also all humans for racist behavior. Tell Becky equating anti-fascist defense of conscience — to learn this to put down her phone if she with fascist offense — only history: not just that slavery and tries to call the cops on Black encourages the fascists while genocide existed, but the forms people for living their life. leaving their targets isolated and that it took and the systematic Dismantle your local vulnerable. dismantling of culture, identity Confederate monument. Throw and agency, particularly of someone out of your place of So what can we do? Just like Black and Indigenous people. business if they are harassing communities all over the Learn about Indian residential minorities and causing trouble. country have resisted ICE by schools, the California Learn the codes and signs of jamming hotlines and genocides, the Middle Passage, White nationalist and overwhelming their systems, we Nat Turner and the Tulsa identitarian groups and let them can do the same thing — by Massacre; about Red Summer know they are not welcome in and Black August, the Ghost spaces where they may be able standing up proudly for anti- to target people for violence and fascism. You don’t have to Dance and Wounded Knee. punch a Nazi to be Antifa. harassment. If we do not want this Hydra to rear its head again, we must A Publication of the PROGRAM ON excise the cancer of White CORPORATIONS, LAW & DEMOCRACY Supremacy from our culture By What Authority (ISSN: 524-1106) once and for all — and create a is published by the Program on society that truly is of, by, and Corporations, Law & Democracy. The title is English for quo warranto, a legal for all people. phrase that questions illegitimate exercise of privilege and power. We the people and our federal and state officials have long been giving giant business corporations illegitimate authority. Today, a minority directing giant corporations and backed by police, courts, and the military, define our culture, govern our nation and If we get through this dark plunder the earth. By What Authority reflects an unabashed assertion of the period in history, how will you right of the sovereign people to govern want to be remembered? As the themselves. third who ignored the problem, POCLAD is a group of 7 people instigating democratic conversations lived their lives watching and actions that contest the authority helplessly at the carnage — or of corporations to govern. Our analysis evolves through historical and will you rise to the challenge of legal research, writing, public speaking and working with organizations to our time, and stand for justice develop new strategies that assert people’s rights over property interests. on the right side of history? BWA is a tool for democracy proponents to rethink and reframe Whatever you do, please — for their work. To that end we encourage readers to engage us with comments, all of us who may find ourselves questions and suggestions. in the crosshairs of extremism POCLAD and racial violence if this P.O. Box 18465 Cleveland Heights, OH 44118 continues — do not numb 216-255-2184 [email protected]; www.poclad.org yourself to these atrocities and allow them to be normalized. POCLAD is a project of the Jane Addams Peace Association Daily mass shootings, David Cobb, CA Karen Coulter, OR Greg Coleridge, OH Mike Ferner, OH concentration camps, public Jim Price, AL Virginia Rasmussen, NY racism and state repression — Distribution policy: POCLAD welcomes this nightmarish world cannot all interested people to join our mailing list. Please consider an annual become our “new normal.” minimum contribution of $25 to support POCLAD’s ongoing work (or whatever you can afford). Copyright 2019 by the Programs on Rage against it. Talk about Corporations, Law and Democracy. it. Organize your The content of BWA has been copyrighted only to ensure that it is not communities. You can be a real appropriated by others. POCLAD encourages the noncommercial “good American” by speaking reproduction and widespread distribution of material in BWA without out and standing up, using your prior approval, provided the material is democratic rights (what we have unchanged and attribution is given to both BWA and the author(s). Please left) to push past the darkness send us two copies of any material. and finally fulfill the ideal of Thank you “justice for all.”