Recently, white supremacy has been making itself more public--and arguably, with the rise of Donald Trump, more socially acceptable. Regardless of how visible they are, this map proves that hate groups have never stopped existing all over the USÂ (yes, near you all this time), and neither has racism. Movies like Shenandoah, which takes place in rural Pennsylvania, shed some light on how not addressing latently white supremacist values (I'm looking at you, Confederate flag) fosters racist attitudes that can escalate into incidents similar to the Charleston Massacre.
However, I think we can all agree that there is a point when there's a public responsibility to physically shut down fascist and racist activity. Ignoring the problem, being a bystander, or expecting someone else to stop it is what has enabled groups like the KKK and Aryan Nationalists to exist as established social organizations to this day. Recently, in Syracuse, New York, residents were shocked and appalled to see this flyer being passed out:
Not long after the flyer went viral online, a neo-Nazi rally with KKK ties was organized in Buffalo, NY. This time, Upstate New Yorkers knew what to do, and showed up.
There is understandable fear and hesitance when faced with the task of standing up to Nazis, Klansmen, and other hate groups. But when people come together to stand against fascism and white supremacy, it is truly beautiful. If you make the choice to participate, it is best to do so prepared, and carefully, because your social media could be helping fascists keep tabs on you and others who are fighting against fascism and white supremacy (security culture is important so you're gonna want to look into that, like, pronto).
In June, a Sacramento counter-protest to a neo-Nazi rally resulted in at least ten people stabbed. When dealing with people who believe that some lives have no value, it is important to remember that violence is a huge possibility. Street medic trainings are offered by groups across the country such as Mutual Aid Street Medics. This article offers some safety tips to avoid getting hurt by knives in case of violent conflict. This post, made in preparation for the Buffalo counter-demo, offers its own set of advice for shutting down fascists. This blog post contains many resources for preparation and safety when protesting or participating in direct action.
Standing up to fascists is not comfortable. It is not fun. It is not necessarily safe. But neither is allowing them to be powerful. Make sure you know where your local fascists and hate groups are, and make sure they do not believe they can get away with acting on their hate.
