A recently released Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) document titled “Domestic Terrorism Symbols Guide”* links common protest symbols to “terrorism” — another marker in a common theme of conflating militant protest for social justice with deadly terrorist violence within the United States. Groups like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Brennan Center have raised warnings about such documents, citing inadequate protections for people’s constitutional rights.
The FBI special agent pool ist lousy with white power fascists and Christian nationalists. Since its directorship isn’t willing to clean house this is all a public relations front to suggest the FBI isn’t as captured as it is.
But James Comey did it no favors, and even ushered in the MAGA era during which Trump ousted him.
You can expect abut as much professionalism from the FBI as you can the DEA or ICE. And they all deserve capture and prosecuton by International nazi-hunters once the hounds are released from their slips.
STRIKINGdebate2@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Labelling Antifa as a terrorist group is basically admitting you are a fascist.
bassomitron@lemmy.world 11 months ago
I think there’s more nuance on the topic than you’re implying. While there’s no actual group called antifa, there are plenty of groups who oppose far right ideology (i.e. anti-fascist/antifa). Some of these groups have definitely become heavily armed and radicalized. I don’t support fascists, but I also don’t support radicalized zealots of any creed. Does that make me a fascist?
blackbelt352@lemmy.world 11 months ago
While I’d prefer peaceful resolutions to our problems, I fully understand why left leaning groups are becoming more radicalized. There is little compromise with the theocrats who want to eliminate or subjugate various minority and underrepresented groups within our society, continually hand more and more power to corporations, wholeheartedly believe the end of days is coming once Israel fully takes control of the holy land, and will scream “Second Amendment” and “Crisis Actors” every time kids are killed in school shootings. They violently stormed the US Capitol many of whole had intent to kill Senators and Representatives.
There is no compromise or peaceful resolution with people who want to hurt you or worse because their pastor said you’re a demonic sinner who must be cleansed from the earth.
masquenox@lemmy.world 11 months ago
No, it makes you a person that probably won’t do squat to stop fascists.
It’s no coincidence wthat it’s only radicals that show up to physically confront fascists while the so-called “enlightened centrists” do nothing but heckle from the sidelines.
echutaa@programming.dev 11 months ago
Maybe with another organization you would have a point, but in the case of the FBI which has been known to aid and recruit fascists I don’t see this holding any water.
BarrelAgedBoredom@lemm.ee 11 months ago
Radicals aren’t the same as extremists. And that is an important distinction to understand when dealing with politics. Being armed and willing to defend yourself isn’t an act of extremism. Being violent towards violent fascists isn’t extremism. It’s community defense. When you break down politics into it’s most base element, it’s about the distribution of the legitimate use of violence. Understanding and working within that framework isn’t extremism, it’s politics 101. Philosophy Tube has a good video on this in relation to fascism. Skip to ~20 mins in for the violence bit.
negativeyoda@lemmy.world 11 months ago
The problem is that letting fascist types run rampant and hoping they’ll just go away historically doesn’t tend to work out well.
I live in Portland. Up until 2021 or so fascists, period boys, Patriot prayer, etc. All ran rampant in cahoots with local law enforcement. People were menaced, paintballed, attacked and all that. It sucked. The sniveling mayor begged those groups not to come in (they’re never local) and act like that. Shockingly they did anyway.
Portland fought back
It was unpleasant, but it worked. Those assholes haven’t tried to have their gatherings here in a couple of years. Self described antifa groups are still on edge but have largely diminished in activity. You don’t see antifa rallies designed to menace going out to the surrounding small towns where those assholes largely come from. Unless you’re sporting some obviously fash flair pretty much everyone gets left alone in town.
Both sides are not the same
ArbiterXero@lemmy.world 11 months ago
So would you label “maga” as heavily armed and radicalised?
MonsiuerPatEBrown@reddthat.com 11 months ago
i think you should be quiet.
businessinsider.com/right-wing-extremists-kill-32…
rchive@lemm.ee 11 months ago
For most of Lemmy, yes, that makes you a fascist.
100_kg_90_de_belin@feddit.it 11 months ago
Well, you know *gestures vaguely at all the far-right stuff going on in the United States"
pinkdrunkenelephants@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Yeah, actually, it kinda does.
JohnDClay@sh.itjust.works 11 months ago
A group can be right and also be violent and extremist.
negativeyoda@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Not untrue, but antifa in general would cease to exist if fascists stopped coming to cities to menace people
explodicle@local106.com 11 months ago
In this context they’re using “extremist” to mean “goes too far”.
chicken@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 months ago
Isn’t their whole thing arguing that terrorist tactics are justified, helpful and necessary? Every time I see antifa supporters talking online that’s the thrust of the discussion. What is the case for them not being a terrorist group?
masquenox@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Oooh… fascists are afraid of scawy antifa - that must mean antifa must be terrorists.
Good job demonstrating how much moral weight you ascribe to the feelings of fascists, Clyde.
c0mbatbag3l@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Only if you’re dumb enough to just assume whatever a group titles themselves actually reflects their beliefs.
Do you think the Nazis were socialist? How about the Soviets?
You can call yourself whatever you want, if your group is anti fascist and acts in an authoritarian manner, then you’re the same thing with a different economic outlook.
Mandarbmax@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Yes but antifa is anti fascist.
Calling antifa a terrorist organization because in another universe an organization sharing the name could be bad is like banning ice cream because it could be made out of maggots.
prole@sh.itjust.works 11 months ago
I wonder if my profile pic puts me on that list.
FireTower@lemmy.world 11 months ago
UltraMagnus0001@lemmy.world 11 months ago
But anti fascist are fascist. we must lock them up and …