I’m worried that with the rise of the use of the word “antifa” in popular media, the public perception of “antifa” will go from one of “grassroots belief that fascism is bad” to “active militant group”, which optically alienates the public. In my opinion, what makes antifa successful is the fact that it has stayed both local and welcoming. How can we stop this developing optics and ensure that the public aren’t alienated?

antifainternational:

By defending our communities against fascists.

You’re more than welcome, Dr. Cornel West!

Read some more first-hand accounts about how Charlottesville antifa didn’t alienate the public here.

THIS. A lot of movements focussed on respectability are obsessed with what ‘the media’ writes about them and how that will effect ‘the public’. 

The truth is antifa doesn’t exist to be liked, it exists to stop fascists from organizing. That is and always should be goal number 1. 

The truth is also that a thousand newspaper articles do not leave the same impression as the practical real experience of “Nazis threatened my community and antifascists made them go away” or “Nazis tried to intimidate my anti-racist rotest and antifacists protected us.”

Antifa makes a difference through actions and it is through those actions that communities experience their importance. 

(And don’t try to make this look like a ‘white savior’ thing. Antifa is not white. Don’t go there erasing antifascists of color.)