Inquisitr, “Donald Trump And Republicans Might Inadvertently Legitimize Political Violence”
The tools of the black flag anarchist to counter provocation by police is invaluable, but no, it is not alright to just punch a Nazi — yet. Unfortunately, these tactics also add to the legitimization of political violence, particularly by the state against protesters. Unlike the paradigm of police violence against people of color, anti-fascist […]
BuzzFeed Reader, “Love Lives in Whitefish but so do Neo-Nazis”
Two protesters, their faces obscured by black scarves, described themselves as “anarcho-communists,” committed to direct action. “Anglin and his trolls are such flakes,” one of them said. “We’re here because we stick to our word.” Continue Reading
Los Angeles Review of Books, “Punching Nazis: A Great American Tradition?”
A few days after the video went viral, the incident was revived on Twitter when it was revealed that Spencer had actually been punched twice that day by anonymous anarchists, both of whom managed to make their escape before being apprehended. And as anyone who spends any time on social media knows, the attacks on […]
Slate, “Why are there so many Words of the Year?”
Started in 1990 by a small group of linguists, Word of the Year has spread like a video of an anarchist punching a Nazi that’s been set to music. Continue Reading
Paste, “The Violence in Berkeley is a Very, Very Bad Idea For the Left”
I have to admit: When I heard that a group of anarchists called the Black Bloc had sent “150 masked agitators” to an otherwise peaceful protest in order to disrupt a planned speech at UC-Berkeley by alt-right shithead Milo Yiannopoulos, and that they’d succeeded in scaring the hell out of everyone and shutting the whole […]
Complex, “Everything You Need to Know About the Anarchist Tactics Behind That Viral Nazi-Punch”
A recent example of a black bloc putting other people at risk was Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014, when local citizens and people from around the country took to the streets for weeks of protests after the police killing of Michael Brown. Anarchists arrived to Ferguson and destroyed property and became aggressive with the police, effectively putting […]
Thump (Vice), “Trumpwave and Fashwave Are Just the Latest Disturbing Examples of the Far-Right Appropriating Electronic Music”
Spencer recently became a national meme when he was punched in the face by an anarchist while giving an interview to ABC News, footage of which has been set to different popular songs, including “Sandstorm,” and which gave rise to the hashtag #punchanazi. Continue Reading
The Washington Post, “Republicans who once mocked ‘safe spaces’ are feeling sensitive over protests”
Meanwhile, the Nation’s Natasha Lennard published a popular guide to the “black bloc” anarchist tactics that had led to the punch. “This is only a problem if you think there are no righteous mobs, or that windows feel pain, or that counter-violence (like punching Richard Spencer) is never valid,” Lennard wrote. Continue Reading
Mother Jones, “The Long History of ‘Nazi Punching'”
Anti-fascist groups like Anti-Racist Action, Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice, and the Love and Rage Anarchist Federation fought back. Their members advocated “direct action” against white supremacists, eschewing legislative efforts in favor of physically preventing Nazis from organizing, distributing literature, and speaking in public. To their supporters, these groups merged the moralism of America’s abolitionist tradition […]
Russia Today, “Twitter suspends ‘alt-right’ WeSearchr on back of dubious bounty offer”
Speaking to RT, Dickinson alleged the Twitter ban happened after “left-wing anarchists” complained to the social network. Continue Reading