Counter and combat fascism

[Morag]

So, I took a look around this sub-forum on anti-fascism, searched, and found nothing really relevant on how to counter fascists, except lay the boots. Which is a tried and tested tactic when it comes to combating them one-on-one, but what does everyone think are the best ways to counter fascists within the community?

Beating people up for being fascists might make us feel accomplished, but at some point we have to accept that these are violent people who crave violence. Fighting them isn't going to deter them; however, passive resistence or not resisting at all is going to make fun little victims out of us. So, what politically and social means are the most effective ways of combatting facscism within our communities before they get the numbers to do some damage? What's the best way to combat them once they have numbers and some legitimacy through political organisations, like the BNP?

[Free Left]

but what does everyone think are the best ways to counter fascists within the community?

Something involving a big stick.... :ph34r:

No seriously, I dont know because I don't have any fascist activitiy near me....

[Comrade Marcel]

Community work and organizing, coupled with educational and cultural events.

[Comrade Kurtz]

You all sound like morons when you call neo-Nazi's and other half-assed gangs "fascists". Call them racists. Call them thugs. Call them whatever you want as long as it's accurate but I guarentee most of the skinhead punks you all call "fascists" hardly know anything about real fascist theory and instead bear the swastika and iron cross as symbols for hatred.

Don't dignify them with a name that connotates political organization.

[Soupspoon]

Community work and organizing, coupled with educational and cultural events.

That's a sensible answer and while I can see a good argument for the big stick, community-based work is likely to be the only thing that has any long-term benefit. Of course, it would be helpful if the UK government wasn't as right-wing as it is but I don't see that changing in a hurry.

[An archist]

Originally posted by Comrade [email protected] 2 2006, 04:54 PM
You all sound like morons when you call neo-Nazi's and other half-assed gangs "fascists". Call them racists. Call them thugs. Call them whatever you want as long as it's accurate but I guarentee most of the skinhead punks you all call "fascists" hardly know anything about real fascist theory and instead bear the swastika and iron cross as symbols for hatred.

Don't dignify them with a name that connotates political organization.
You might actueally be quite wrong about that, I once encountered two big boneheads who obviously were looking for trouble (Probably due to my antifa patches) and since they were bigger then me and with 2, I started talking my way out of it by saying how fascism sucked.
one of the guys (the smaller, more rat-like one) actually seemed to know a hell lot about fascism, off course, he stressed the Strong and Honour side and bullcrap like that, but he definitely knew what he stood for.

[Forward Union]

Originally posted by Comrade [email protected] 2 2006, 04:54 PM
"fascists" hardly know anything about real fascist theory
Me think's you have never really been in contact with m/any fascists? All the fascists I've met have a pretty in depth understanding of fascist theory.


Don't dignify them with a name that connotates political organization.

Why not? they mostly are in political organisations.


Which is a tried and tested tactic when it comes to combating them one-on-one, but what does everyone think are the best ways to counter fascists within the community? ]

Tried, tested, and approved. see, cable street (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/Battle-of-Cable-Street-red-plaque.png) The best way to counter fascists in your community. Is to flood the community with anti-racist posters, graff, stickers. Really alienate the bastards. Organise talks at schools, the town hall, do a video showing, leafleting. But don't forget of course, that you need to stop them growing. If they get too organised, they will make it near impossible for you to operate publicly - Fascist groups have actually sent nail bombs and letter bombs to anti fascists, they've stabbed and beaten people. - Trash their meetings, get them banned from everywhere, don't let them hold demos, and make sure if they go after you, you can "defend yourself"

One tactic that isn't explored as much as it could be is infiltration. It's been done before, extremely successfully. Absolutely essential to getting the upper hand on the boneheads, it's also an idea to keep your group closed. To avoid being infiltrated yourselves.

Of course, react appropriately to the threat. If it's just some teenager writing "Hitler!" on a nearby fence, don't go all out. There are other people we can put our effort into stoping.

im not sure how useful this has been. I reccomend checking Antifa UK's forum (http://libcom.org/forums/anti-fascism) for ideas.

[bcbm]

Organize those they target with their racist message against hatred.

[Morag]

Originally posted by Comrade [email protected] 2 2006, 04:54 PM
You all sound like morons when you call neo-Nazi's and other half-assed gangs "fascists". Call them racists. Call them thugs. Call them whatever you want as long as it's accurate but I guarentee most of the skinhead punks you all call "fascists" hardly know anything about real fascist theory and instead bear the swastika and iron cross as symbols for hatred.

Don't dignify them with a name that connotates political organization.
Kurtz, my question is about countering them before they get organised politically. That doesn't mean they aren't fascists.

[Prowler]

My advise is to use posters and stickers to really get people to know what fascism is and what they stand for. When that is done many antifa groups in sweden started a campain called "lär känna din lokala nazist" which means "get to know youre local nazi" where you use stickers and leaflet with info and pictures on the fascists. This really deincrease the people in the organization and complicated their political work.
Got you a link on the stickers, the info is in swedish but though you would like to se the stickers :P
http://www.antifasthlm.org/Nyheter/offensiv1.htm

[socialistpunk]

I would say a good right hook is the best way to fight facists. There is always the way of outwitting them in arguments.

[pelemans]

i think it is a combination to 2 thins. Fist kill/smash/recognize the rats. But second and maybe far more important. Close down the sewers where those rats multiply. I mean with this, fascist racist etc grow when ever people are getting afraid for the further, losing jobs, losing social security etc. So the best weapon against fascist is a left fight (I personally believe that reforms chances can help to take some wind out of the sales of the fascist). So building a revolutionary of just a leftist movement is good against fascist.

This is my biggest complain against ARA/AFA groups, they are only running after fascist instead of building a alternative.

[Ander]

Originally posted by [email protected] 6 2006, 10:52 AM
There is always the way of outwitting them in arguments.
Which is certainly not a difficult task.

[Sorrel]

The best way to counter fascism is to mobilise the largest number of people to oppose them. The best way to do that is to build a genuine united front such as Unite Against Fascism. The nazis need to be confronted everytime they try to organise and be outnumbered. Also a no platform position is needed, denying nazis the right to spread there message of hate at all oppertunites.
Also a credible left alternative that appeals to people is needed such as Respect (I'm no reformist but I'm also under no delusion that we can break peoples trust in reformism just yet).

I do a lot of UAF work in my home town of Barrow (and I got on Redwatch not long ago elsewhere) and we've kept the fascists down and beaten them back time and time again. Check out our local site:

http://82.69.12.18/lancasteruafblog/