Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Leftist Professors Defend, Celebrate Antifa Violence
LifeZette ^ | 22 Aug 2017 | Edmund Kozak

Posted on 08/22/2017 11:51:21 AM PDT by TBP

As the nation becomes evermore aware of Antifa activists and the violence they bring with them wherever they rear their masked faces, left-wing college professors seem set on helping the militant left-wing group advance its goals.

Many were shocked last week after Mark Bray, a visiting scholar at Dartmouth College, penned a Washington Post opinion piece in defense of Antifa violence. Bray defended Antifa’s violent tactics designed to “preemptively shut down fascist organizing efforts” on the grounds that “physical violence against white supremacists is both ethically justifiable and strategically effective.”

Bray defended his stance on an appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday. Again he argued that Antifa's political violence is somehow "self-defense" against "white supremacy and neo-Nazi violence" and "legitimate response." Bray argued that "what people did in Boston, what people did in Charlottesville." is the only way to stop white supremacy from "becoming established."

It appears other campus professors agree. Indeed some are going beyond Bray, not only defending Antifa tactics but also appearing to organize their own Antifa cells.

Last week, Purdue University Professor Bill Mullen and Stanford University Professor David Palumbo-Liu launched the "Campus Antifascist Network" (CAN) — an apparent Antifa network for college kids.

Mullen, a professor of American studies, on Wednesday described CAN as a "big tent" that "welcomes anyone committed to fighting fascism." Mullen said that the purpose of the group is "to drive racists off campuses."

Speaking with Inside Higher Education Magazine, Palumbo-Liu — who is a professor of comparative literature — effectively said that feelings are more important than facts. Pointing out that many of Antifa's targets aren't actually fascists is "literally an academic argument in the worst sense of the word. We need to pay attention to what is happening, not the labels that we feel are most fitting," he said.

Georgetown professor Mark Lance, a far-left philosophy professor also seemed to support violence against so-called "fascists" on the grounds that their mere existence is somehow an act of physical aggression. According to Lance, anyone who acknowledges the reality that there were two radical, violent sides involved in the Charlottesville violence is just a lazy person who doesn't understand the "fascist" threat.

"If you find yourself thinking that there is something to these comments of Trump's about "both sides," if you want to pick apart what you take to be bad behavior by anti-nazi protestors..., if you want to condemn people putting their lives on the line in the streets because they aren't sufficiently focused on kindness and light, then I think you should seriously consider the possibility that what is actually motivating you is a desire to find an excuse not to do any real work," Lance wrote in a post on Facebook published on April 16.

In an interview with the Washington Examiner the next day, Lance predicted that — far from rejecting Antifa violence — the radical group would become part and parcel of the mainstream progressive left. "I'm seeing more concrete productive discussion between anti-fascists and others on the Left these days than ever before in my life," Lance told the Examiner.

"There is reason to think that it will become integrated into an emerging coalition that includes Sanders supporters, democratic socialists, dreamers, the Movement for Black Lives, environmentalists, [and] Native American organizers," he continued.

Several academics have shown they believe they are engaged in some sort of noble struggle.

The most obvious evidence of this is the case of Eric Clanton, a former professor of philosophy at a number of colleges including Diablo Valley College and East Bay community college, who is facing charges for assaulting someone with a bike lock and chain during in the midst of violence that broke out during a rally at the Berkeley college campus in April. Video footage appears to show Clanton intentionally swinging the lock-and-chain at a pro-Trump activist and smashing him in the head with it.

Last week, however, Clanton launched a defense website, in which he portrays himself as a victim, even appearing to suggest he was framed, and makes no reference whatsoever to why he is facing prison in the first place.

"My name is Eric," he wrote. "I’m currently facing years of prison time as the result of accusations made in the most shockingly hateful parts of the internet. On April 19th I began being targeted by a dedicated swarm of internet trolls known for spewing racism, xenophobia, and misogyny onto the web," he said.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: academicbias; antifa; antifaduh; antifaviolence; antifirstamendment; college; communists; education; insurrection; left; perps; progressives; terrorism; terrorists; thugs; violence
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-29 next last
Hatred is their fuel. Violence is their method.

The bottom up top down strategy, designed to cause an uprising so you can suppress it and gain near total power.

#AlinskyTactics

1 posted on 08/22/2017 11:51:21 AM PDT by TBP
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: TBP

Chaos is a Ladder.


2 posted on 08/22/2017 11:53:06 AM PDT by KC_Lion (If you want on First Lady Melania's, Ivanka Trump's or Sarah Palin's Ping Lists, just let me know.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TBP

Some student needs to sue over a hostile educational environment.

Hit them where it hurts.

L


3 posted on 08/22/2017 11:54:03 AM PDT by Lurker (President Trump isn't our last chance. President Trump is THEIR last chance.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TBP

Well Romney and other so called Rs agree with her so there.


4 posted on 08/22/2017 11:55:03 AM PDT by gibsonguy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TBP

Bunch-O-fake Spanish Anarchist wannabe’s....

Unlike the anarchists of the 1930’s, there is no real leader with a message.

These guys are mere Lemmings....


5 posted on 08/22/2017 11:56:06 AM PDT by Vendome (I've Gotta Be Me - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH-pk2vZG2M)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Vendome

To qutoe my old college roomie, “I believe in strict anarchy — with myself as the anarch.”


6 posted on 08/22/2017 11:57:28 AM PDT by TBP (0bama lies, Granny dies.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: TBP

A black hood on a violent punk looks just like a bullseye.


7 posted on 08/22/2017 11:59:43 AM PDT by dainbramaged (Get out of my country now)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TBP

A caller on The Kuhner Report says Antifa was bringing participants in from Canada. One minute ago.


8 posted on 08/22/2017 12:02:39 PM PDT by Does so (McAuliffe's Charlottesville...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TBP

Tagline. Read.


9 posted on 08/22/2017 12:03:34 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler (Your Free Speech is Violence. My Violence is Free Speech.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TBP
Bray defended Antifa’s violent tactics designed to “preemptively shut down fascist organizing efforts” on the grounds that “physical violence against white supremacists is both ethically justifiable and strategically effective.”

There reports from Eye-witnesses who saw the fascists and anti-fascists exiting the same buses.

How would Bray explain that?

10 posted on 08/22/2017 12:06:08 PM PDT by Slyfox (Are you tired of winning yet?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Does so

These are an offshoot of Black Bloc Anarchists. I talked to one during the Million Mom March countermarch. They are usually paid and housed in order to serve as a rent-a-mob. In DC, there were lots of marches for them to serve.


11 posted on 08/22/2017 12:06:52 PM PDT by AppyPappy (Don't mistake your dorm political discussions with the desires of the nation)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: TBP

They fully support the violent overthrow of the legally elected government of the USA, and therefore need to be fired, stripped of their pension, and thrown in jail. None of that will happen.


12 posted on 08/22/2017 12:07:31 PM PDT by I want the USA back (Consistently acting in a way that is in opposition to our human nature is INSANITY.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TBP

Antifa is about to come under very heavy scrutiny by the American public. The MSM and the college professors should have quite the time pushing back on Rush, Hannity and the slowly rising BODY COUNT.

I look forward to the debate. It should be such fun watching the MSM, of Trump-Russia fame, twist and torture the facts to hid the truth about these murderous Marxist thugs.


13 posted on 08/22/2017 12:11:49 PM PDT by InterceptPoint (Ted, you finally endorsed. About time.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TBP
"My name is Eric," he wrote. "I’m currently facing years of prison time...

I truly hope he enjoys his stay.

14 posted on 08/22/2017 12:15:28 PM PDT by MileHi (Liberalism is an ideology of parasites, hypocrites, grievance mongers, victims, and control freaks.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TBP

All the more reason to declare them a terrorist group asap.


15 posted on 08/22/2017 12:16:20 PM PDT by SpaceBar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Slyfox

Because communists and fascists are evil twin brothers
Maybe technically a small difference in economics and how the spoils get divided but basically both want anarchy, followed by “their” team of brutal mafia thugs to take control of the top. Antifa, BLM, KKK, Bolsheviks, Nazis Goths, Visigoths, what’s the difference? Just names for warring tribes wanting to get control of us all.


16 posted on 08/22/2017 12:18:01 PM PDT by boxlunch (Pray for Donald Trump and his administration! Disband the DMC! (Democrat Media Complex). r)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: TBP
""self-defense" against "white supremacy and neo-Nazi violence".....buzz words meant to keep the anti-American, anti Constitution pot boiling.
Self-defense...the defense of one's person or interests, especially through the use of physical force..."
White supremacy...the belief that white people are superior to those of all other races...
Neo-Nazi....a member of an organization similar to the German Nazi Party.

History repeats itself

"Charlottesville was right out of the Nazi playbook. In the 1920s, the Nazi Party was just one political party among many in (Weimar Germany (1918/19-1933) running for seats in Germany’s Parliament. For most of that time, it was a small, marginal group. In 1933, riding a wave of popular support, it seized power and set up a dictatorship. The rest is well-known.

It was in 1927, while still on the political fringes, that the Nazi Party scheduled a rally in a (decidedly hostile location) – the Berlin district of Wedding. Wedding was so left-of-center that the neighborhood had the nickname “Red Wedding,” red being the color of the Communist Party. The Nazis often held rallies right where their enemies lived, to provoke them.

The people of Wedding were determined to fight back against fascism in their neighborhood. On ( the day of the rally), hundreds of Nazis descended on Wedding. Hundreds of their opponents showed up too, organized by the local Communist Party. The antifascists tried to disrupt the rally, heckling the speakers. Nazi thugs retaliated. There was a massive brawl. Almost 100 people were injured.

I imagine the people of Wedding felt they had won that day. They had courageously sent a message: Fascism was not welcome."

The wedding party could not know what lay ahead for all Germany. Read all the article and see why we must demand congress pass legislation that makes fascism and the wearing of masks or any violence during protests a felony.

17 posted on 08/22/2017 12:22:11 PM PDT by yoe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TBP
Leftist Professors Defend, Celebrate Antifa Violence

So do these Republicans...

Mitt Romney, Sen. John McCain, Sen. Paul Ryan, Sen. Jeff Flake, Sen. Marco Rubio, Sen. Ben Sasse, Ed Gillespie, Sen. Lindsey Graham, Sen. Cory Gardner, Sen. Jerry Moran, John Kasich, Rep. Ed Royce, Rep. Leonard Lance, Yeb Bush, Rep. Will Hurd, Sen. Mitch McConnell, Sen. Dean Heller, Sen. Orrin Hatch, Senator Todd Young, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, ...

18 posted on 08/22/2017 12:26:19 PM PDT by TigersEye (0bama. The Legacy is a lie. The lie is the Legacy.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TBP

I wonder what they think about violence from the other side.

And are they okay when the violence escalates to all out civil war and each group shooting at each other. Apparently that would be okay too.

And what happens when it directly affects him, his family, his friends? He might not be protected in his cushy ivory tower. Lemme guess: he’d be the first to be running to the police.

WHAT AN IDIOT!!!


19 posted on 08/22/2017 12:30:43 PM PDT by dhs12345
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All
Sign it, and pass the news about the Petition to other major news companies (most important)!

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/formally-recognize-antifa-terrorist-organization-0

Currently 250,349 signatures

20 posted on 08/22/2017 12:30:58 PM PDT by TigersEye (0bama. The Legacy is a lie. The lie is the Legacy.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-29 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson