Antifa is a contraction of the phrase anti-fascist and refers to a loosely organized movement that utilizes violence and direct action against far-right and white supremacist groups. While they are associated with and mainly comprised of far-left wing activists, like communists and anarchists, they place more of an emphasis on fighting fascism and far-right extremism than advancing left-wing ideologies, according to BBC News and the New York Times. Many Antifa activists wear black hoods (hence the name black bloc) to conceal their identity and oftentimes carry weapons like clubs and chemical mace to fight those they deem as fascist threats to America. They are most notable for their willingness to use violent means against far-right extremists
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Their decentralized, anonymous nature makes it difficult to both determine their numbers and combat their violent methods. Most of their actions are organized through social media or another form of electronic communication, as has become the norm in the digital age. While Antifa has roots in radical-left wing activism and Weimar German paramilitary groups, it only recently came to national attention. Some may remember them from the rioting and violent actions they used to prevent conservative firebrand Milo Yiannopoulos from speaking at UC Berkeley in February of this year. During the riots that followed, groups of people in black smashed windows and hurled Molotov cocktails which caused an estimated $100,000 in property damage. Others, still, may remember them for actively fighting Neo-nazi and white nationalist protesters at Charlottesville, VA on August 12. Antifa has been denounced by leading figures on both the left and right. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) issued a statement denouncing Antifa and declaring, “Our democracy has no room for inciting violence, or endangering the public, no matter the ideology of those who commit such acts.” Former Democratic Presidential Candidate and Senator Bernie Sanders (VT-I) echoed the Minority Leader’s statement saying, “people have a right to give their two cents’ worth, give a speech, without fear of violence or
Their decentralized, anonymous nature makes it difficult to both determine their numbers and combat their violent methods. Most of their actions are organized through social media or another form of electronic communication, as has become the norm in the digital age. While Antifa has roots in radical-left wing activism and Weimar German paramilitary groups, it only recently came to national attention. Some may remember them from the rioting and violent actions they used to prevent conservative firebrand Milo Yiannopoulos from speaking at UC Berkeley in February of this year. During the riots that followed, groups of people in black smashed windows and hurled Molotov cocktails which caused an estimated $100,000 in property damage. Others, still, may remember them for actively fighting Neo-nazi and white nationalist protesters at Charlottesville, VA on August 12. Antifa has been denounced by leading figures on both the left and right. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) issued a statement denouncing Antifa and declaring, “Our democracy has no room for inciting violence, or endangering the public, no matter the ideology of those who commit such acts.” Former Democratic Presidential Candidate and Senator Bernie Sanders (VT-I) echoed the Minority Leader’s statement saying, “people have a right to give their two cents’ worth, give a speech, without fear of violence or