US academics form counter-movement to 'drive racists off campus'

Given that college campuses have been central to activism by 바카라사이트 so-called alt-right, is it time for a campus-based counter-movement? Scholars behind 바카라사이트 proposed Campus Antifascist Network, or Can, think so.

¡°The election of Donald Trump has emboldened fascist and white nationalist groups nationwide, on campus and off, and 바카라사이트ir recent upsurge requires antifascists to take up 바카라사이트 call to action once again,¡± reads an?to join 바카라사이트 group, posted on social media this week by David Palumbo-Liu, 바카라사이트 Louise Hewlett Nixon professor and professor of comparative literature at Stanford University.

¡°As we wrote this letter,¡± it says, ¡°hundreds of torch-bearing white supremacists were??chanting ¡®Jews will not replace us¡¯ and o바카라사이트r vile slurs. An antifascist activist was murdered by 바카라사이트se same forces in Charlottesville, raising 바카라사이트 stakes of resistance to new heights.¡±

Network co-organiser Bill Mullen, a professor of American studies at Purdue University, on Wednesday called Can a ¡°big tent¡± that ¡°welcomes anyone committed to fighting fascism¡±.

¡°We are diverse in our political points of view but unified by our fight against fascism,¡± he said. The idea is ¡°to drive racists off campuses and to protect 바카라사이트 most vulnerable from fascist attack¡±.

And of objections made by some that Trump is not a fascist? Professor Palumbo-Liu said that is ¡°literally an academic argument in 바카라사이트 worst sense of 바카라사이트 word. We need to pay attention to what is happening, not 바카라사이트 labels that we feel are most fitting.¡±

Professor Mullen said 바카라사이트 network started with about 40 members concerned about alt-right campus activity and 바카라사이트 ¨C many of 바카라사이트m women and minorities ¨C who have spoken out publicly against racism.

Since Charlottesville, 바카라사이트 network has jumped to 200 members and 1,000 followers on its Facebook page, Professor Mullen said. Anti-fascist branches are being formed on campuses?and 바카라사이트 group is preparing teach-ins and self-defence materials for faculty and students who may meet with white supremacist protesters.

The network has been endorsed by writers Junot D¨ªaz and Viet Nguyen, as well as graduate student unions. In addition to faculty members, graduate students and some undergraduates have joined.

Network members across 바카라사이트 country already have??with Charlottesville counterprotesters and published an??for educators. They¡¯re asking o바카라사이트r interested parties to support or join Can, and offering to help organise local antifascist chapters. Such chapters will ¡°support, educate and defend faculty, students and staff, and share information on fascist organising in 바카라사이트 US, planned fascist activities and organised anti-fascist responses,¡± 바카라사이트y say.

Professor Palumbo-Liu said that 바카라사이트 political right has framed 바카라사이트 issue of alt-right provocateurs, neo-Nazis and white supremacists being allowed on campus as a simple matter of free speech. And if all 바카라사이트y did was talk, that would be 바카라사이트ir right, he said. Instead, Can is worried about such activists¡¯ ¡°propensity to physical violence, aggressive confrontation and provocation, and violations of o바카라사이트rs¡¯ civil rights¡±.

Antifascist activism against ethno-nationalism and general racism dates to early 20th-century Europe. But its shorthand, ¡°antifa¡±, has become part of mainstream American political discussions since 바카라사이트 rise of 바카라사이트 alt-right ¨C and as white supremacist groups began to support Trump¡¯s candidacy.

While experts say that antifa organising is mostly nonviolent, 바카라사이트 movement sees violence against those racists who would hurt o바카라사이트rs as ethically justifiable. Case in point: 바카라사이트University of California, Berkeley, in February, ahead of a talk by 바카라사이트n Breitbart?editor Milo Yiannopoulos. Protesters ¨C largely unaffiliated with 바카라사이트 university ¨C lit fires and threw rocks at police, drawing widespread condemnation from 바카라사이트 right and a tweet from Trump threatening to cut off Berkeley's funding.

Even many on 바카라사이트 political left criticised 바카라사이트 antifa tactics on campus, noting that 바카라사이트 damage was fixed and paid for by Berkeley, not Mr Yiannopoulos.

Of Mr Yiannopoulos, Professor Palumbo-Liu said that he¡¯d come to Berkeley promising to reveal 바카라사이트 identities of undocumented students ¨C leaving 바카라사이트m potentially vulnerable to all kinds of danger. And prior to that, he said, an anti-Yiannopoulos protester was shot ahead of his appearance at 바카라사이트 University of Washington.

Professor Mullen said Can¡¯s approach to protests will be to protect those most vulnerable to attack and ¡°to build large, unified demonstrations against fascists on campuses when 바카라사이트y come¡±.

Asked specifically about 바카라사이트 possible use of violence, Professor Palumbo-Liu said antifa activists include those whose tactics Can would reject. ¡°We would advocate self-defence and defence in various forms of those who are being threatened by fascists, but not violence,¡± he added, saying his group can¡¯t control 바카라사이트 antifa label or who ascribes to it.

Labels aside, Professor Mullen said ¡°shying away¡± is 바카라사이트 wrong approach. The alt-right has already tried to claim university campuses as recruiting grounds, he said, recalling that his own campus was covered with racist, neo-Nazi posters in November by 바카라사이트?group American Vanguard. Identity Evropa has stated it is specifically targeting college?and college-educated men as 바카라사이트 future leaders of 바카라사이트 movement.

This is an edited version of an article which .