Antifascism Archives

March 30, 2024

The November Elections and a United Front for Revolution

This is Part Three in a series on anti-fascism and revolution. Part One focused on the failures of the Social Democratic Party of Germany’s (SPD) lesser-evilism against the Nazis and looked to one of its leading members, Franz Neumann. Part Two looked at what he ended up calling for, which was a “united front for revolution,” and considers this in terms of Lenin’s approach to revolution, the role of a revolutionary party, and “soviets.” Part Three looks more in depth at a united front for revolution through the writings of Clara Zetkin, one of the co-founders of the German Communist Party (KPD).
Typically, when someone uses the phrase “united front” today, like to “save multiracial democracy,” they’re talking about a coalition of progressive non-profit organizations engaged in what’s ultimately some sort of “get out the vote” effort. At their core, these approaches seek to reform the institutions of settler colonial and capitalist oppression, attempting to place a diverse, equitable

December 27, 2023

by Atlee McFellin

Revolución Contra el Fascismo

El artículo anterior comenzaba con el difunto Franz Neumann sobre el fracaso de votar por el menos malo contra Hitler. Este fue el camino que eligieron los socialdemócratas alemanes como él, aquellos que priorizaron salvar sus propios privilegios de clase media antes que
detener el fascismo. El presente artículo explora el camino que los socialdemócratas no eligieron, el camino de lo que él llamó “revolución política”. Esto no es lo que los socialistas democráticos de hoy como Bernie Sanders, AOC, y el
“Escuadrón” quieren decir con la frase. Lo que quieren decir es una versión más conservadora
de lo que Neumann argumentaba en contra. Defienden una versión más conservadora de la
socialdemocracia que fracasó contra los nazis.

December 21, 2023

by Atlee McFellin

Revolution Against Fascism

The previous article began with the late Franz Neumann on the failure of voting for the lesser evil against Hitler. This was the path chosen by social democrats in Germany like him, those who prioritized saving their own middle-class privilege over stopping fascism. The present article explores the path that the social democrats didn’t choose, the path of what he called “political revolution.”

This isn’t what today’s democratic socialists like Bernie Sanders, AOC, and the “Squad” mean by the phrase. What they mean is a more conservative version of what Neumann was arguing against. They’re advocating a more conservative version of the social democracy that failed against the Nazis

August 29, 2023

by Atlee McFellin

Class Struggle Drag Defense

It’s been clear for a while now that whatever we want to call the “far right,” i.e., fascists, neo-fascists, neo-confederates, or just plain ole’ American conservatism in the 21st century, they’re targeting trans communities across the country. This means that anyone who is trans; anyone who is simply considered by fascists to be gender non-conforming and otherwise anyone who they might view as an “other,” faces a very real and constant threat of violence. The threat exists everywhere and against numerous communities. Fascists nationwide have made it their mission to particularly target what are known as “Drag Story Hours.” In an inspiring display of solidarity, communities have come together to defend these events from the fascists. Unfortunately, defense campaigns have not always been successful.

March 22, 2022

by Atlee McFellin

Left Conformity to the Settler Cult

In his book, Fascism: Theory and History, lawyer and historian David Renton outlined what he called “the anti-fascist wager.” It was a gamble the German left made against Hitler, the extent to which the social democratic (SPD) and communist (KPD) parties accurately perceived the uniquely dangerous threat the Nazi’s posed. This is like the gamble we make within settler Amerikkka against resurgent fascism today. Lives hang in the balance, which is why we start with the above quote from an April 2020 interview Noam Chomsky did with Medhi Hasan, who was then still at The Intercept.

January 12, 2022

by Dusty Ray

Mass shooting in Denver: understanding fascism in order to stop it

On Monday December 27, 2021 at around 5:00 pm, a lone gunman initiated a targeted shooting spree which left five people dead and one in critical condition. Lyndon McLeod, also known by his pseudonym Roman McClay, was a believer in far-right ideology, anti-covid conspiracies, masculine supremacy, apocalyptic prepping, crypto-Nazi aesthetics, and race science.