Author: Torch Antifa Network

  • Haley Adams and HimToo – A Movement of White Nationalists and Rape Apologists

    Haley Adams

    On November 17, 2018, Patriot Prayer member Haley Adams is holding a misogynist and rape-apologist rally in downtown Portland, co-hosted by Patriot Prayer leader Joey Gibson, and Quincy Anatello, a member of the Christian extremist group the “Hell Shaking Street Preachers”. Uniting the event’s messaging under the hashtag #HimToo, Adams and Patriot Prayer are producing propaganda that pretends there is an epidemic of false rape allegations against men equivalent to or exceeding in volume and severity to the horrifying realities of sexual harassment, rape, domestic violence, and murder of women and non-men in our society. The violence and the reliable presence of neo-Nazis and other fascists at Patriot Prayer events has already been well-established by Rose City Antifa and other media outlets. In this article, Rose City Antifa will document a number of violent men with documented histories of domestic and sexual violence or violence against women, whom Adams specifically invited to her rally. Not only is the premise of a “him too” rally ridiculous on its face, the behavior of Patriot Prayer, Proud Boys, Street Preachers and other associated far-right and white nationalist groups, both on the streets of Portland and in their private lives, shows that they are the exact the sort of threat described by the concept of “rape culture.”

    Men are certainly also victimized by the sexual and domestic violence and rape culture. However, Haley and Patriot Prayer’s usage of the #HimToo hashtag has overwhelmingly ignored the possibility that men might be victims of violence in favor of simply “triggering the libs,” and publicly mocking and discrediting any claims of sexual violence. The event on the November 17 is sure to be one more iteration of right-wing public harassment from Adams, Patriot Prayer, and the Street Preachers, as they threaten, abuse, violate, dehumanize, and incite violence against marginalized people.

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  • Matthew Heimbach Joins the Nat’l Socialist Movement

    via Idavox.com

    The currently incarcerated Bill White is probably killing himself watching all the fash do what he was doing when he was on the street, but now he can see Matthew Heimbach returning, and taking his old job!

    Matthew Heimbach, who’s Traditionalist Workers’ Party (TWP) fell apart after he was arrested for assaulting his wife and father-in-law after the two of them caught him in an affair with his father-in-law’s second wife, has announced he has joined the National Socialist Movement (NSM) invoking memories of another who had taken on a similar role that he currently fills.

    According to a press release, Heimbach is joining the NSM as its Director of Community Outreach, which is supposed to handle public and international relations as well as a number of community outreach programs. This is a continuance of the relationship Heimbach has had with the organization, which has been building ever since the NSM and TWP with other groups, many of them Klan based, formed the Nationalist Front. It was that coalition that observers say sparked the violence during the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, VA on Aug. 12, 2017, that cost the life of counter-protester Heather Heyer.

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  • #AllOutAugust: One Year Later, Far-Right Is Again Attempting to Unite

    from It’s Going Down

    Almost a year has past since the death of Heather Heyer, and once again, a variety of racist and fascist groups are attempting to “Unite the Right” in a series of demonstrations across the US, bringing together the most violent sections of the militia movement, the Alt-Right, neo-Nazis, the “Patriot” movement, and the Alt-Lite.

    Starting in Portland, Oregon on the 4th, Patriot Prayer and the Proud Boys will rally behind Joey Gibson, who will then bus down to Berkeley, California for a rally the very next day on August 5th. Then in Washington DC on the 12th, original Unite the Right organizer Jason Kessler will host a rally featuring neo-Nazis and former KKK speakers like Patrick Little and David Duke. Then, on August 18th, Boston based Alt-Right group ‘Resist Marxism’ is calling for far-Right demonstrations across the US to stand against “Far-Left Violence.”

    In the face of a growing street movement against ICE and prison slavery and stumbles from within the Trump administration, the goal of the current far-Right street movement is to build a large, big-tent street fighting force which can not only act as a violent auxiliary to the State, but also go on the offensive and attack the Left in the broadest sense possible.

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  • #DanAndSpit Action Round Up

    We put out the call, and you responded! Below is a round up of actions that took place across the country and the world in solidarity with Dan and Spit, the two Las Vegas Anti-Racist Action members murdered 20 years ago by neo-Nazis.

    Spit’s headstone, ARA in life and death!

    Charlottesville, Virginia

    Comrades in Charlottesville started things off with a release of contact information exposing organizers of Unite The Right 2.0, scheduled to take place August 12, 2018 in Washington D.C.

    https://twitter.com/stopthenextutr/status/1014358170871959552

    Richmond, Virginia

    Antifa Seven Hills handed out memorial flyers and sparklers to spread the word about Dan and Spit in their local community. Later that night they unveiled a solidarity banner complete with fireworks to celebrate the day of action.

    And of course an obligatory flag burn from some other friends 😉

    https://twitter.com/burningrichmond/status/1014723278550831104

    Portland, Oregon

    Anti-fascists in Portland honored Dan and Spit with an impressive banner drop and messages of solidarity across the city.

    New York City, New York

    Comrades from the Revolutionary Abolitionist Movement in NYC put up graffiti in solidarity with the call to action.

    Sydney, Australia

    Comrades in Sydney brought the day of action down under with a powerful mural commemorating Dan and Spit.

    https://twitter.com/IGD_News/status/1014599561262845952

    Sacramento, California

    Antifa Sacramento put up a banner in honor of Dan and Spit, and anti-racist activists lifted up their names while taking to the streets for an anti-4th of July party that included an action at the local ICE building and a noise demo at the county jail.

    https://twitter.com/berkeleyantifa/status/1014661071955734528

    San Diego, California

    Lexington, Kentucky

    Lexington ARA created a write up for the day of action.

    Seattle, Washington

    Comrades in Seattle showed up with an anti-fascist graffiti mural celebrating Dan and Spit.

    https://twitter.com/NAmirite/status/1014688899170369536

    Bloomington, Indiana

    Friends in Indiana are gearing up for their memorial dance party tonight!

    Remembrance in History

    https://twitter.com/ruadh_x/status/1014515803184615424

     

    A 1998 ARA News article on their killing

    Many thanks to everyone who participated in the day of action in remembrance of Dan and Spit. Our comrades may be gone, but they will never be forgotten. We will keep up the fight against white supremacy and oppression with their memory in our hearts!

  • Remembering Charlottesville: August 11-12, 2018 Call for a Weekend of International Solidarity

    Torch Network Endorses and Promotes the following call for international solidarity By CrimethInc. Ex-Worker’s Collective

    Along with comrades in Charlottesville and around the Southeast, we are calling for a weekend of international solidarity for August 11-12, 2018 to celebrate the courage and sacrifice of those who fought the rise of fascism in Charlottesville last summer. This is an important time to renew the visibility of the struggle for real freedom and equality. The organizers of last summer’s far-right fiasco are attempting to organize “Unite the Right 2” rallies in Charlottesville and/or Washington, DC. While many in the Virginia area prepare to confront them, we invite you to join us in organizing local actions to spread the fight to every corner of the globe.

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  • 2018 Torch Network Conference

    2018 Torch Antifascist Network Conference
    Hosted by Antifa Seven Hills
    September 1st & 2nd
    Richmond, Virginia

    This Labor Day Weekend, the 5th Annual Torch Antifascist Network Conference will bring together antifascists and radicals from across the continent to share experiences, refine strategies, and
    critically analyze ongoing liberation struggles we are engaged with. The conference will be a space of encounter and reflection as we continue to build sites of resistance, structures of counterpower, and networks of solidarity across the United Snakes of Amerikkka and the world.

    See more details on the Conference Page

  • Remember Dan & Spit!

    This year, the TORCH Network is calling on antifascists everywhere to take back July 4th from this legacy of white supremacy and instead fight back against fascism and oppression in celebration and remembrance of Dan and Spit’s life work. We urge you to join us in lifting up their names and making sure that their sacrifice isn’t forgotten. Drop a banner, table at a show, host an anti-fascist reading group, provide outreach and support to oppressed communities, write letters to anti-racist prisoners, burn an American flag, put up anti-fascist posters, organize a solidarity demo, or take action against local fascists in Dan and Spit’s names. The list goes on- get creative, get in the streets, and take action this July 4th! Dan and Spit may be gone, but we will continue to carry on this work without them. They will not be forgotten.
    #DanAndSpit #NeverForget
  • Harris Media Designer Ariel Gherman Tied to Alt-Right White Supremacists

    Via Screwston Antifascist Committee

    Summary: Ariel Michelle Gherman is a 24-year-old white supremacist living in Austin, Texas. In August 2017 she participated in the white supremacist “Unite the Right” demonstrations in Charlottesville, Virginia, where fellow white supremacist James Fields murdered anti-racist protester Heather Heyer. She also helped organize logistics for the group of Texas fascists and white supremacists who traveled to the “Unite the Right” demonstrations, and is connected to numerous Texas neo-Nazis and white supremacist organizations on social media. She works at a mainstream conservative graphic design and media strategy firm in Austin called Harris Media LLC.

    Ariel Michelle Gherman (aka “Ariel Sherman”)

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  • Oppose the Nazi Rally in Newnan, GA, April 21!

    via Atlanta Antifascists

    The National Socialist Movement, a neo-Nazi organization, is having its national meeting in Georgia on April 20-21. While most of the meeting will be in Temple, Georgia (almost certainly at Patrick Lanzo’s Georgia Peach Oyster Bar), the Nazis are also having a public rally in Newnan, Georgia on the afternoon of Saturday, April 21. (Newnan is part of the Metro Atlanta area and is approximately 45 minutes southwest from Atlanta.) The Nazis are expecting 50-100 people to attend their rally at the Greenville Street Park in Newnan.

    no nazis in newnanNeo-Nazis often believe that smaller cities (such as Newnan) will be more receptive to their racist message, and that they can come in and recruit. Let’s show the Nazis that they’re wrong and that they are not welcome!

    Gather in downtown Newnan, 2PM, April 21st. Follow Atlanta Antifascists’ social media and the #nonazinewnan hashtag for updates.

    Please spread the word! Print and distribute posters (download here) and half-sheet flyers (download here)!

    Facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/210807106182953/

    If your organization wishes to endorse this mobilization, get in contact and we will add you to the list of endorsers.

    Protest endorsers:

    • Atlanta Antifascists
    • Atlanta General Defense Committee
    • Atlanta Industrial Workers of the World
    • Northeast Georgia Democratic Socialists of America
    • Workers’ Solidarity Alliance – Atlanta Local