An outreach project of Three Stone Farm

    • Antifa

    "Antifa Fascists"

    The Facts

    Antifa literally means “anti-fascist,” and their actions consistently oppose fascist movements—yet we’re told they ARE fascists. The evidence contradicts the comparison. Understanding what fascism actually means shows why this accusation misses the mark entirely. See definition of fascist.

    The Details

    We’re Misunderstanding Fascism

    Politicians throw around “fascist” as a blanket insult. Cable news pundits use it to describe anyone they dislike. Social media turns complex political movements into memes.

    But fascism has a specific meaning, and it’s not “people I disagree with who sometimes break windows.”

    Real fascism involves the merger of corporate power with state authority, creating a system where business interests and government become indistinguishable. It demands absolute loyalty to a supreme leader while promoting myths of national superiority. It systematically destroys democratic institutions, independent media, and political opposition.

    Antifa operates as loose networks of activists who show up to counter white supremacist demonstrations. They have no leader, no corporate backing, no political party, and no method of seizing state power. Calling them fascist is like calling firefighters arsonists because they both involve fire.

    The Historical Context Matters

    In 1930s Germany, actual fascists spent considerable energy attacking anti-fascist organizers, calling them the real threats to order and stability. They portrayed their opponents as violent extremists while systematically dismantling democratic norms in the name of public peace.

    Anti-fascist movements emerged because democratic political institutions failed to stop authoritarian takeovers. When governments didn’t contain movements that explicitly rejected democracy, ordinary people organized community defense networks.

    Modern American anti-fascist organizing follows this same pattern—responding to the rise of white nationalist movements that explicitly embrace fascist symbolism and ideology. The presence of anti-fascist counter-protesters at neo-Nazi rallies isn’t new; it’s a Western democratic tradition.

    Why We’re Really Arguing

    The “Antifa fascists” narrative serves a purpose: it muddles the distinction between defending democratic values and destroying them. When anti-fascist becomes synonymous with fascist, we lose the words needed to identify actual authoritarian threats.

    This confusion benefits those who profit from chaos. Corporate interests that have captured government agencies don’t want us focusing on how business and government have merged in ways that would make Mussolini proud. Political movements that embrace strongman tactics want us divided, and not remembering what fascism actually looks like in practice.

    Meanwhile, legitimate concerns about property damage or confrontational tactics get weaponized to discredit any opposition to far-right organizing. These are separate conversations—we can debate tactics while still recognizing the difference between opposing fascism and embodying it.

    The real question isn’t whether anti-fascist activists use perfect tactics. It’s whether we can still distinguish between movements that want to improve democratic institutions and those that want to destroy them.

    Mussolini to Antifa: The History of Anti-Fascism

    Fascism originated in the early 20th century and spread across Europe. How similar are modern day Antifa groups to anti-fascists of the past?

    Don't Be a Sucker - Fascism How it Works

    Film by the Department of Defense, 1947. Dramatizes the destructive effects of racial and religious prejudice. How fascism divides a nation with hate for anything other than the nation.

    5 Ways to Stop Fascism

    Journalist and author Paul Mason breaks down 5 ways we can stop fascism and resist the rise of the far right.

    Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook by Mark Bray

    Brief excerpt by historian and former Occupy Wall St. organizer Mark Bray. discusses the history of the anti-fascist movement, as detailed in his new book ANTIFA.