Does this scene epitomize the values we want to embody?:
The Antifa/Anarchist/Black Bloc a-holes in Berkeley beating the crap out of an overweight man lying prone on the ground with their sticks, stomping on the man with their Doc Martens, don’t epitomize my values.
The only hero in that scene is the courageous black man who stepped between the group of (white) Antifa/Anarchist/Black Bloc beaters and their victim, shielding him with his body.
The actions of that lone black man epitomize the fundamental tenets of Dr. King’s philosophy of nonviolence as described in his first book, Stride Toward Freedom.
In contrast, the actions of the Berkeley Antifa/Anarchist/Black Bloc epitomize the fundamental tenets to which the Antifa/Anarchist/Black Bloc subscribe: Beat the crap out of people they disagree with. They hold MLK’s tactics in contempt.
The Berkeley Antifa do not trace their lineage to 1930s Germany. Their lineage is traced to 1990s Eugene, Oregon. Their philosophy and tactics were largely popularized in the U.S. by individuals inspired by anarchist philosopher John Zerzan. Zerzan view of life was in part shaped by his own early failure as a non-violent protestor. In 1966, he was arrested while performing civil disobedience at a Berkeley anti-Vietnam War march and spent over a week in jail. He vowed after his release never again to be willingly arrested again. Eventually, he ended up in Eugene, Oregon, hanging out in cafes and hosting anarchist radio propounding a bitter and negative view of the world that rejects technology and advocates that true freedom can only be obtained by living a hunter-gatherer life style.
His musing inspired some losers in Eugene, especially after Zerzan gained some notoriety as a confidant to the Unabomber, who adopted Black Bloc tactics at the WTO. These individuals decided to target the 1999 WTO meeting in Seattle with the Black Bloc tactic of destroying the property of corporations that they felt represented the evils of globalized capitalism (e.g. smashing Starbucks windows). One of those Black Bloc anarchists, Randy Shadowalker, filmed the scenes with a small handheld camera gave tapes to his partner, Kari Johnson, and she ferried them over to other Eugene activists who produced a video overnight which eventually got distributed to news organizations around the world. Inspiring many others to dream of perpetrating Black Bloc anarchy. The Eugene anarchists dominated the headlines in 1999-2000 time period.
But, after a few years, and some major police busts in Eugene of eco-terrorists, some of the anarchists moved away to continue activism elsewhere. It should not be a surprise that the first “Antifa” group in the U.S. was borne 90 miles down the road from Eugene in Portland, Oregon. The “Rose City Antifa” were founded in 2007. They arise out of the Eugene anarchist movement, link to anarchist publications on their website, and are surprising frank in their view that it is a legitimate use of violence to keep a fascist from speaking. The Rose City Antifa have, in turn, inspired other Antifa groups.
In short, the video above captures exactly who Antifa are. The values they hold are largely antithetical to the values of most liberals and leftists on this site. They reject non-violence, free speech, and even the basic notion that government should help people. They like to kick ass, often for no good reason. That’s who they are.
We should not view them as heroic because once in a while they actually appear to be acting in self-defense. That’s an accident.
They are not, and should not be, us.
MLK’s six principles of non-violence that all peaceful protestors should know:
- PRINCIPLE ONE: Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people.
It is active nonviolent resistance to evil. It is aggressive spiritually, mentally and emotionally.
- PRINCIPLE TWO: Nonviolence seeks to win friendship and understanding.
The end result of nonviolence is redemption and reconciliation. The purpose of nonviolence is the creation of the Beloved Community.
- PRINCIPLE THREE: Nonviolence seeks to defeat injustice not people.
Nonviolence recognizes that evildoers are also victims and are not evil people. The nonviolent resister seeks to defeat evil not people.
- PRINCIPLE FOUR: Nonviolence holds that suffering can educate and transform.
Nonviolence accepts suffering without retaliation. Unearned suffering is redemptive and has tremendous educational and transforming possibilities.
- PRINCIPLE FIVE: Nonviolence chooses love instead of hate.
Nonviolence resists violence of the spirit as well as the body. Nonviolent love is spontaneous, unmotivated, unselfish and creative.
- PRINCIPLE SIX: Nonviolence believes that the universe is on the side of justice.
The nonviolent resister has deep faith that justice will eventually win. Nonviolence believes that God is a God of justice.