Be alert. report. think about what you saw.

Antifa. Anti-Fascist. AFA…What is it? Throughout history, there has been a true constant struggle. The reconciling of two contradictions: the existence of the people and our allowances to be governed.

Fascism has many masks but one face. With its many masks it can at times be difficult to pinpoint an exact definition. Therefore, we must refer to history. History can show us first hand the whisper, the rise, and ultimately, the fall of imperialism and fascist regimes throughout the world. And the brave ones who stood in its way and their actions needed to dismantle that system. Indeed arguably the most prominent instance, and probably most widely known instance of fascism, is the rise of the Nazi Party from 1920-1945. Hitler used fear to pin the socio economic struggles of Germany at the time on members of society he viewed as incongruent with his belief in racial superiority and ultra-nationalism. Giving speeches and holding rallies with supporters to stoke that fear in their hearts. Speeches that if teleported through time to the present, would not sound much different than the ones heard now.

Time and time again, unfettered power, and ultra-nationalism, has convinced alarming numbers of people to turn against their neighbor out of fear. A constant amongst all fascism is fear. Leaders will rally a group of “oppressed” and speak passionately to their listeners. They will find a group, an idea, a people, or a belief and pin the cause of their perceived oppression upon them. Often replacing their humanity with labels, names, and ideas, erasing their humanity and assigning them an image. Its much easier to rally against a “monster” than it is another human.