The five second video shot to the top of the rec list here, devoid of context and presented as damning proof of how antifa is just as bad as the right, or at least too horrible to be associated with. The reality is that the organizers of the protest have defended antifa and it’s black bloc tactics.
We have no regrets for how they left our city,” said Michael McBride, pastor of the Way Christian Center in Berkeley. “We do not want white supremacists in our city. We do not want neo Nazis in our city. We do not want the alt right in our city.”
More than that, it has now come to light that the man who was saved made numerous threats of violence leading up to the rally, and in no way was a “bystander” as he claim.
One individual stands out in the handful of physical fights however, Keith Campbell, who was surrounded by antifascists and kicked and punched, leading Reveal journalist Al Letson to intervene on his behalf, allowing him to exit the area. Media pundits on the Right and on social media have attempted to paint Campbell as innocently someone out to pick up groceries and who was in turn randomly attacked by a mob. In reality however, Campbell for weeks leading up to the event encouraged confrontation and violence with counter-protesters and claimed that like on April 15th, antifascists were going to be attacked by members of the Alt-Right and far-Right individuals.
If one wants to make a principled stand for nonviolence, or even just a practical stand for nonviolence, then that’s great, but we need to stop carry water for the right and accepting media accounts of how the eeeeeeevil antifa is just attacking people willy-nilly