AFA and Antifa?

[Red October]

I'm not from the UK or Europe, so I'm not involved in either of these groups. What is the difference between AFA and Antifa, and what's the history behind it?

[aty]

I'm not from the UK or Europe, so I'm not involved in either of these groups. What is the difference between AFA and Antifa, and what's the history behind it?
Just different "shortenings"...

AntiFascistAction, ANTIFAscistAction....

[redSHARP]

in the USA we have ARA or Anti-Racist Action. they were started by a group called the baldies in chicago (i think).

[ahab]

there is an antifa cell in a few cities here in the states too

[Forward Union]

Just different "shortenings"...

AntiFascistAction, ANTIFAscistAction....

Wrong.

AFA (anti fascist action) was a n organisation that existed in the UK until it split into Red Action UAF and Antifa.

[jaffe]

Wrong.

AFA (anti fascist action) was a n organisation that existed in the UK until it split into Red Action UAF and Antifa.

wrong

AFA(UK) was an organisation with various partys in it. Through the times partys came and partys went. Direct action Movement, Red Action and workers power were the head groups. Red Action changed their antifascist politics into ellections and got involved in IWCA. the first militant antifascist group after AFA was no platform but they were gone very quik(correct me if I'm wrong).

UAF = SWP front and was never involved in AFA, however red action was a split from SWP.

[aty]

Wrong.

AFA (anti fascist action) was a n organisation that existed in the UK until it split into Red Action UAF and Antifa.In Sweden AntiFascist Action call themselves both AFA and Antifa.

[Djehuti]

They are just different shortenings, but I belive that the AFA-shortening is more british while the Antifa-shortening is more german.

The british AFA-groups and the german antifa-groups (both Antifascist Action) are also typically organized in somewhat different fashions. I believe that the the british network and it's groups are more formal while the german counterpart are more informal.

Upon reading "No retreat" I also get the notion that the british AFA-groups concisted of various other groups, the AFA group were in it self a network.

Correct me if I am wrong.

[Fawkes]

in the USA we have ARA or Anti-Racist Action. they were started by a group called the baldies in chicago (i think).

The Twin Cities: Minneapolis and St. Paul, but you're right about the Baldies.

[Pirate turtle the 11th]

They are just different shortenings, but I belive that the AFA-shortening is more british while the Antifa-shortening is more german.

The british AFA-groups and the german antifa-groups (both Antifascist Action) are also typically organized in somewhat different fashions. I believe that the the british network and it's groups are more formal while the german counterpart are more informal.

Upon reading "No retreat" I also get the notion that the british AFA-groups concisted of various other groups, the AFA group were in it self a network.

Correct me if I am wrong.

Britain now has antifa not afa.

Antifa is a decrentalized and is made up mostly of anarchists. (It has no leaders but marshalls are often elected for an action).

[K.Bullstreet]

Anti-Fascist Action was a group started in 1985 and existed untill the early/mid 90s. It was started by Red Action (anti-fascists kicked out of the SWP for their militant approach with fascists), Direct Action Movement (anarcho syndicalists, now the Solidarity Federation), Workers Power (I think?) and numerous other 'independent' anti-fascists.

Antifa started in 2004, founded by previous members of AFA and members of the Anarchist Federation and Class War. Similar in the way they operate to AFA.

[RaiseYourVoice]

In Germany as stated its just various terms. There is not federal and I don't even know of any over-regional antifa network. Thus every antifa group in every town makes up their own name. Antifa is the most common though. Also the Antifa groups are not related to any party or organisation but started mostly in the autonomous movement and the squatting scene. You find a few friends who hate Nazis, invent a group name, make a website and as soon as you write a flyer with your group name you are officially an Antifa group.

[Omi]

In Holland we have AFA: Anti Fascist actions, with various subgroups depending on towns. (Afa Amsterdam, Den Haag, Nijmegen, etc.).

Antifa is just short for antifascist. But it seems this is diffrent per country. But as always: various names, same common goal.:thumbup1: