About

Antifa is the modern name for Anti-fascism, the more militant movement of the left that stands in opposition to fascist ideologies, often with violent methods.

History

Anti-fascism started in Italy with the creation of organizations such as Arditi del Popolo and the Italian Anarchist Union following World War I in order to combat the nationalist and fascist surge in the country. In the years leading up to World War II, the Italian movement began to spread into the Balkans and Albania, while anti-fascist groups started in Germany, Spain, France, and the United Kingdom. In the United States, anti-fascist groups began in opposition to organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan and the Friends of New Germany. During the Red Scare, a post-WWII witch hunt for communist sympathizers, being anti-fascist "prematurely" (before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor) was cause for suspicion.

Antifa in the United States

Following the presidential election of Donald Trump, anti-fascist groups, commonly known as Antifa, began garnering mainstream attention for their response to certain events, particularly the Punch of Richard Spencer. The event started a national dialogue on what was acceptable resistance in the face of white nationalism. Antifa groups made waves again when they protested alt-right provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos speaking at UC Berkeley. That led to a profile of the Antifa movement on Wired, who investigated the online war between Antifa groups and Neo-Nazis.

Related Memes

Bash the Fash

Bash the Fash is a phrase used by antifascists advocating violence as an acceptable form of resistance against fascism. Although the phrase had been a slogan for antifascist groups since at least the 1980's it saw a resurgence after Richard Spencer was punched in the face.

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External References