What is a****a? And what do its supporters want?
Oct 17, 2020 14:01:55 #
Leslie Gornstein
Fri, October 16, 2020, 11:59 AM MDT
A****a has seen a steady increase in media attention ever since President Donald Trump was first inaugurated in January 2017. Republicans often portray a****a as a highly organized group of "terrorists" worthy of national watch lists.
Right-wing media blames a****a members for r**ting and l**ting. Democrats have also condemned such violence, but many on the left say the rhetoric about a****a is greatly exaggerated, and that it's less of an organized movement than just something of "an idea."
But much of what politicians say about a****a isn't quite true. Here's what a****a is, what it isn't, and what you need to know.
Anti, anti, anti...
A****a is not a highly organized movement, nor is it merely an idea. A****a is a loose affiliation of local activists scattered across the United States and a few other countries.
The term "a****a" is short for a****ascist; it's used both by its adherents and its foes.
In general, people who identify as a****a are known not for what they support, but what they oppose: F*****m, nationalism, far-right ideologies, w***e s*******y, authoritarianism, r****m, homophobia and xenophobia. Some a****a activists also denounce capitalism and the government overall.
Mostly, people aligned with a****a are on the left of the political spectrum. A****a is not, however, affiliated with Joe Biden, the Democratic Party or its leaders. Biden has condemned a****a and called violence "unacceptable."
A****a actions have included everything from tracking and publicly identifying members of alt-right groups to physically attacking adversaries.
In "A****a: The Anti-F*****t Handbook," author Mark Bray, an organizer for the Occupy Wall Street movement, lays out a****a's methods this way:
"Despite the media portrayal of a deranged, bloodthirsty a****a… the vast majority of anti-f*****t tactics involve no physical violence whatsoever. Anti-f*****ts conduct research on the far right online, in person, and sometimes through infiltrations; they dox them, push central milieux to disown them, pressure bosses to fire them…
"But it's also true that some of them punch N**is in the face and don't apologize for it."
During public demonstrations, a****a activists often wear top-to-toe black; even before the c****av***s p******c, they were also known for wearing face coverings at public gatherings.
A****a has no official national leadership, though followers have organized themselves into small, local cells that sometimes coordinate with other movements, such as Black L***s M****r. Some self-described a****a adherents have organized to confront Patriot Prayer, the P***d B**s, and other far-right groups during public demonstrations. Some of those rallies have devolved into violence.
Some a****a adherents keep a very low profile, while other local groups venture to give themselves a more public profile with a name and a website. One of the oldest such groups appears to be Rose City A****a, which says it was founded in Portland, Oregon, in 2007. According to its website, its main focus is "any work that prevents f*****t organizing, and when that is not possible, provides consequences to f*****t organizers. This is supported by researching and tracking f*****t organizations."
A****a in prime time
Over President Trump's years in office, coverage of "a****a" has skyrocketed in the mainstream press. That coverage started on the day of his inauguration, when dozens of people took to the streets of the nation's capital in a protest that would soon grow violent. Authorities would later arrest several dozen of them, many of whom later identified themselves as a****a, and accuse them of starting fires and r**ts. Charges were eventually dropped for the bulk of the defendants, while others were acquitted by juries.
President Trump pointed a finger at what he called the "alt-left" following the infamous "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017. After a w***e s*********t deliberately plowed his car into a crowd of counter-protesters, k*****g a woman named Heather Heyer, Mr. Trump sparked more outrage when he suggested an equivalency between the w***e s*********ts and the protesters on the other side, who despite his claims were mostly peaceful.
"What about the alt-left that came charging at, what you say, the alt-right?" Mr. T***p w*ndered aloud. "Do they have any semblance of guilt? What about the fact they're charging with clubs in their hands, swinging clubs, do they have any problem? I think they do."
In the years since then, media coverage has identified a****a as participants, and sometimes agitators, in clashes at numerous rallies and protests around the country. That includes a 2017 anti-h**e rally in Berkeley, California, and a Patriot Prayer "freedom rally" in Portland, Oregon, in 2018.
In at least one instance, a person self-identifying as an a****a supporter has been linked to a deadly attack at a protest. Michael Forest Reinoehl, 48, was considered a prime suspect in the August 2020 k*****g of 39-year-old Aaron "Jay" Danielson, a right-wing activist who was shot during heated demonstrations in Portland. Reinoehl was later shot to death by federal authorities as they moved to arrest him.
Reinoehl had described himself in a social media post as "100% A****A."
The "T" word
In the summer of 2019, Republican Senators Ted Cruz and Bill Cassidy introduced a resolution calling for a****a to be labeled as a domestic terror organization. President Trump voiced his support on Twitter.
Major consideration is being given to naming A****A an “ORGANIZATION OF TERROR.” Portland is being watched very closely. Hopefully the Mayor will be able to properly do his job!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 17, 2019
But the Trump administration's own Department of Homeland Security and FBI don't appear to view a****a as a leading threat. A DHS draft document from September 2020 reportedly named w***e s*********t groups as the biggest terror threat to America. That same document doesn't mention a****a at all.
The FBI also considers far-right groups the "top of the priority list." FBI director Christopher Wray said in February 2020 that the FBI places the risk of violence from racially-motivated extremist groups "on the same footing" as the threat posed by foreign terrorist organizations such as ISIS and its sympathizers.
That's not to say the FBI hasn't also taken aim at a****a. After arson and l**ting broke out amid the protests in Minneapolis following the death of G****e F***d, Wray said: "We're seeing people who are exploiting this situation to pursue violent, extremist agendas — anarchists like A****A, and other agitators. These individuals have set out to sow discord and upheaval, rather than join in the righteous pursuit of e******y and justice."
But the idea of designating a****a a terror group worries some civil rights advocates.
"The designation would grant federal law enforcement broad powers, under the federal terrorism code, to surveil and investigate anyone labeled as a****a," the Southern Poverty Law Center said in a statement. "It could also allow federal law enforcement to broadly target anyone involved in protests viewed unfavorably by the Trump administration, even retroactively."
The center added, "President Trump's announcement is rooted in politics, not the present realities of the terror threat in the U.S."
False f**gs
A****a has earned its reputation for sporadic violence. But many other rumors about a****a have been spun from whole cloth, sometimes by people later identified as right-wing extremists. In June 2020, Twitter shut down multiple f**e a****a accounts that were inciting violence against white suburbs; subsequent investigations tracked the accounts to Identity Evropa, a w***e s*********t organization.
Leslie Gornstein
Fri, October 16, 2020, 11:59 AM MDT
A****a has seen a steady increase in media attention ever since President Donald Trump was first inaugurated in January 2017. Republicans often portray a****a as a highly organized group of "terrorists" worthy of national watch lists.
Right-wing media blames a****a members for r**ting and l**ting. Democrats have also condemned such violence, but many on the left say the rhetoric about a****a is greatly exaggerated, and that it's less of an organized movement than just something of "an idea."
But much of what politicians say about a****a isn't quite true. Here's what a****a is, what it isn't, and what you need to know.
Anti, anti, anti...
A****a is not a highly organized movement, nor is it merely an idea. A****a is a loose affiliation of local activists scattered across the United States and a few other countries.
The term "a****a" is short for a****ascist; it's used both by its adherents and its foes.
In general, people who identify as a****a are known not for what they support, but what they oppose: F*****m, nationalism, far-right ideologies, w***e s*******y, authoritarianism, r****m, homophobia and xenophobia. Some a****a activists also denounce capitalism and the government overall.
Mostly, people aligned with a****a are on the left of the political spectrum. A****a is not, however, affiliated with Joe Biden, the Democratic Party or its leaders. Biden has condemned a****a and called violence "unacceptable."
A****a actions have included everything from tracking and publicly identifying members of alt-right groups to physically attacking adversaries.
A****a members and counter protesters gather during a right-wing No-To-Marxism rally on August 27, 2017 in Berkeley, California.  / Credit: Amy Osborne / AFP/Getty Images
A****a members and counter protesters gather during a right-wing No-To-Marxism rally on August 27, 2017 in Berkeley, California. / Credit: Amy Osborne / AFP/Getty Images
In "A****a: The Anti-F*****t Handbook," author Mark Bray, an organizer for the Occupy Wall Street movement, lays out a****a's methods this way:
"Despite the media portrayal of a deranged, bloodthirsty a****a… the vast majority of anti-f*****t tactics involve no physical violence whatsoever. Anti-f*****ts conduct research on the far right online, in person, and sometimes through infiltrations; they dox them, push central milieux to disown them, pressure bosses to fire them…
"But it's also true that some of them punch N**is in the face and don't apologize for it."
During public demonstrations, a****a activists often wear top-to-toe black; even before the c****av***s p******c, they were also known for wearing face coverings at public gatherings.
A****a has no official national leadership, though followers have organized themselves into small, local cells that sometimes coordinate with other movements, such as Black L***s M****r. Some self-described a****a adherents have organized to confront Patriot Prayer, the P***d B**s, and other far-right groups during public demonstrations. Some of those rallies have devolved into violence.
Some a****a adherents keep a very low profile, while other local groups venture to give themselves a more public profile with a name and a website. One of the oldest such groups appears to be Rose City A****a, which says it was founded in Portland, Oregon, in 2007. According to its website, its main focus is "any work that prevents f*****t organizing, and when that is not possible, provides consequences to f*****t organizers. This is supported by researching and tracking f*****t organizations."
A****a in prime time
Over President Trump's years in office, coverage of "a****a" has skyrocketed in the mainstream press. That coverage started on the day of his inauguration, when dozens of people took to the streets of the nation's capital in a protest that would soon grow violent. Authorities would later arrest several dozen of them, many of whom later identified themselves as a****a, and accuse them of starting fires and r**ts. Charges were eventually dropped for the bulk of the defendants, while others were acquitted by juries.
President Trump pointed a finger at what he called the "alt-left" following the infamous "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017. After a w***e s*********t deliberately plowed his car into a crowd of counter-protesters, k*****g a woman named Heather Heyer, Mr. Trump sparked more outrage when he suggested an equivalency between the w***e s*********ts and the protesters on the other side, who despite his claims were mostly peaceful.
Right-wing figures and other commentators on social media also have falsely accused unspecified a****a members of starting wildfires on the West Coast, prompting police and fire officials to appeal to the public to stop spreading what one agency called "an UNTRUE rumor."
Another common conspiracy theory has alleged, without evidence, that billionaire philanthropist George Soros is funding a****a.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/a****a-supporters-want-175921899.html
Fri, October 16, 2020, 11:59 AM MDT
A****a has seen a steady increase in media attention ever since President Donald Trump was first inaugurated in January 2017. Republicans often portray a****a as a highly organized group of "terrorists" worthy of national watch lists.
Right-wing media blames a****a members for r**ting and l**ting. Democrats have also condemned such violence, but many on the left say the rhetoric about a****a is greatly exaggerated, and that it's less of an organized movement than just something of "an idea."
But much of what politicians say about a****a isn't quite true. Here's what a****a is, what it isn't, and what you need to know.
Anti, anti, anti...
A****a is not a highly organized movement, nor is it merely an idea. A****a is a loose affiliation of local activists scattered across the United States and a few other countries.
The term "a****a" is short for a****ascist; it's used both by its adherents and its foes.
In general, people who identify as a****a are known not for what they support, but what they oppose: F*****m, nationalism, far-right ideologies, w***e s*******y, authoritarianism, r****m, homophobia and xenophobia. Some a****a activists also denounce capitalism and the government overall.
Mostly, people aligned with a****a are on the left of the political spectrum. A****a is not, however, affiliated with Joe Biden, the Democratic Party or its leaders. Biden has condemned a****a and called violence "unacceptable."
A****a actions have included everything from tracking and publicly identifying members of alt-right groups to physically attacking adversaries.
In "A****a: The Anti-F*****t Handbook," author Mark Bray, an organizer for the Occupy Wall Street movement, lays out a****a's methods this way:
"Despite the media portrayal of a deranged, bloodthirsty a****a… the vast majority of anti-f*****t tactics involve no physical violence whatsoever. Anti-f*****ts conduct research on the far right online, in person, and sometimes through infiltrations; they dox them, push central milieux to disown them, pressure bosses to fire them…
"But it's also true that some of them punch N**is in the face and don't apologize for it."
During public demonstrations, a****a activists often wear top-to-toe black; even before the c****av***s p******c, they were also known for wearing face coverings at public gatherings.
A****a has no official national leadership, though followers have organized themselves into small, local cells that sometimes coordinate with other movements, such as Black L***s M****r. Some self-described a****a adherents have organized to confront Patriot Prayer, the P***d B**s, and other far-right groups during public demonstrations. Some of those rallies have devolved into violence.
Some a****a adherents keep a very low profile, while other local groups venture to give themselves a more public profile with a name and a website. One of the oldest such groups appears to be Rose City A****a, which says it was founded in Portland, Oregon, in 2007. According to its website, its main focus is "any work that prevents f*****t organizing, and when that is not possible, provides consequences to f*****t organizers. This is supported by researching and tracking f*****t organizations."
A****a in prime time
Over President Trump's years in office, coverage of "a****a" has skyrocketed in the mainstream press. That coverage started on the day of his inauguration, when dozens of people took to the streets of the nation's capital in a protest that would soon grow violent. Authorities would later arrest several dozen of them, many of whom later identified themselves as a****a, and accuse them of starting fires and r**ts. Charges were eventually dropped for the bulk of the defendants, while others were acquitted by juries.
President Trump pointed a finger at what he called the "alt-left" following the infamous "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017. After a w***e s*********t deliberately plowed his car into a crowd of counter-protesters, k*****g a woman named Heather Heyer, Mr. Trump sparked more outrage when he suggested an equivalency between the w***e s*********ts and the protesters on the other side, who despite his claims were mostly peaceful.
"What about the alt-left that came charging at, what you say, the alt-right?" Mr. T***p w*ndered aloud. "Do they have any semblance of guilt? What about the fact they're charging with clubs in their hands, swinging clubs, do they have any problem? I think they do."
In the years since then, media coverage has identified a****a as participants, and sometimes agitators, in clashes at numerous rallies and protests around the country. That includes a 2017 anti-h**e rally in Berkeley, California, and a Patriot Prayer "freedom rally" in Portland, Oregon, in 2018.
In at least one instance, a person self-identifying as an a****a supporter has been linked to a deadly attack at a protest. Michael Forest Reinoehl, 48, was considered a prime suspect in the August 2020 k*****g of 39-year-old Aaron "Jay" Danielson, a right-wing activist who was shot during heated demonstrations in Portland. Reinoehl was later shot to death by federal authorities as they moved to arrest him.
Reinoehl had described himself in a social media post as "100% A****A."
The "T" word
In the summer of 2019, Republican Senators Ted Cruz and Bill Cassidy introduced a resolution calling for a****a to be labeled as a domestic terror organization. President Trump voiced his support on Twitter.
Major consideration is being given to naming A****A an “ORGANIZATION OF TERROR.” Portland is being watched very closely. Hopefully the Mayor will be able to properly do his job!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 17, 2019
But the Trump administration's own Department of Homeland Security and FBI don't appear to view a****a as a leading threat. A DHS draft document from September 2020 reportedly named w***e s*********t groups as the biggest terror threat to America. That same document doesn't mention a****a at all.
The FBI also considers far-right groups the "top of the priority list." FBI director Christopher Wray said in February 2020 that the FBI places the risk of violence from racially-motivated extremist groups "on the same footing" as the threat posed by foreign terrorist organizations such as ISIS and its sympathizers.
That's not to say the FBI hasn't also taken aim at a****a. After arson and l**ting broke out amid the protests in Minneapolis following the death of G****e F***d, Wray said: "We're seeing people who are exploiting this situation to pursue violent, extremist agendas — anarchists like A****A, and other agitators. These individuals have set out to sow discord and upheaval, rather than join in the righteous pursuit of e******y and justice."
But the idea of designating a****a a terror group worries some civil rights advocates.
"The designation would grant federal law enforcement broad powers, under the federal terrorism code, to surveil and investigate anyone labeled as a****a," the Southern Poverty Law Center said in a statement. "It could also allow federal law enforcement to broadly target anyone involved in protests viewed unfavorably by the Trump administration, even retroactively."
The center added, "President Trump's announcement is rooted in politics, not the present realities of the terror threat in the U.S."
False f**gs
A****a has earned its reputation for sporadic violence. But many other rumors about a****a have been spun from whole cloth, sometimes by people later identified as right-wing extremists. In June 2020, Twitter shut down multiple f**e a****a accounts that were inciting violence against white suburbs; subsequent investigations tracked the accounts to Identity Evropa, a w***e s*********t organization.
Leslie Gornstein
Fri, October 16, 2020, 11:59 AM MDT
A****a has seen a steady increase in media attention ever since President Donald Trump was first inaugurated in January 2017. Republicans often portray a****a as a highly organized group of "terrorists" worthy of national watch lists.
Right-wing media blames a****a members for r**ting and l**ting. Democrats have also condemned such violence, but many on the left say the rhetoric about a****a is greatly exaggerated, and that it's less of an organized movement than just something of "an idea."
But much of what politicians say about a****a isn't quite true. Here's what a****a is, what it isn't, and what you need to know.
Anti, anti, anti...
A****a is not a highly organized movement, nor is it merely an idea. A****a is a loose affiliation of local activists scattered across the United States and a few other countries.
The term "a****a" is short for a****ascist; it's used both by its adherents and its foes.
In general, people who identify as a****a are known not for what they support, but what they oppose: F*****m, nationalism, far-right ideologies, w***e s*******y, authoritarianism, r****m, homophobia and xenophobia. Some a****a activists also denounce capitalism and the government overall.
Mostly, people aligned with a****a are on the left of the political spectrum. A****a is not, however, affiliated with Joe Biden, the Democratic Party or its leaders. Biden has condemned a****a and called violence "unacceptable."
A****a actions have included everything from tracking and publicly identifying members of alt-right groups to physically attacking adversaries.
A****a members and counter protesters gather during a right-wing No-To-Marxism rally on August 27, 2017 in Berkeley, California.  / Credit: Amy Osborne / AFP/Getty Images
A****a members and counter protesters gather during a right-wing No-To-Marxism rally on August 27, 2017 in Berkeley, California. / Credit: Amy Osborne / AFP/Getty Images
In "A****a: The Anti-F*****t Handbook," author Mark Bray, an organizer for the Occupy Wall Street movement, lays out a****a's methods this way:
"Despite the media portrayal of a deranged, bloodthirsty a****a… the vast majority of anti-f*****t tactics involve no physical violence whatsoever. Anti-f*****ts conduct research on the far right online, in person, and sometimes through infiltrations; they dox them, push central milieux to disown them, pressure bosses to fire them…
"But it's also true that some of them punch N**is in the face and don't apologize for it."
During public demonstrations, a****a activists often wear top-to-toe black; even before the c****av***s p******c, they were also known for wearing face coverings at public gatherings.
A****a has no official national leadership, though followers have organized themselves into small, local cells that sometimes coordinate with other movements, such as Black L***s M****r. Some self-described a****a adherents have organized to confront Patriot Prayer, the P***d B**s, and other far-right groups during public demonstrations. Some of those rallies have devolved into violence.
Some a****a adherents keep a very low profile, while other local groups venture to give themselves a more public profile with a name and a website. One of the oldest such groups appears to be Rose City A****a, which says it was founded in Portland, Oregon, in 2007. According to its website, its main focus is "any work that prevents f*****t organizing, and when that is not possible, provides consequences to f*****t organizers. This is supported by researching and tracking f*****t organizations."
A****a in prime time
Over President Trump's years in office, coverage of "a****a" has skyrocketed in the mainstream press. That coverage started on the day of his inauguration, when dozens of people took to the streets of the nation's capital in a protest that would soon grow violent. Authorities would later arrest several dozen of them, many of whom later identified themselves as a****a, and accuse them of starting fires and r**ts. Charges were eventually dropped for the bulk of the defendants, while others were acquitted by juries.
President Trump pointed a finger at what he called the "alt-left" following the infamous "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017. After a w***e s*********t deliberately plowed his car into a crowd of counter-protesters, k*****g a woman named Heather Heyer, Mr. Trump sparked more outrage when he suggested an equivalency between the w***e s*********ts and the protesters on the other side, who despite his claims were mostly peaceful.
Right-wing figures and other commentators on social media also have falsely accused unspecified a****a members of starting wildfires on the West Coast, prompting police and fire officials to appeal to the public to stop spreading what one agency called "an UNTRUE rumor."
Another common conspiracy theory has alleged, without evidence, that billionaire philanthropist George Soros is funding a****a.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/a****a-supporters-want-175921899.html
Oct 17, 2020 14:23:49 #
rumitoid wrote:
Leslie Gornstein br Fri, October 16, 2020, 11:59 A... (show quote)
Could save a lot of blather......A****a is violent, r**ting, murdering, Biden v**ers!
Oct 17, 2020 14:27:28 #
rumitoid wrote:
A****a has seen a steady increase in media attenti... (show quote)
And, A****a is a bunch of cop k**lers!
Oct 17, 2020 14:29:39 #
steve66613 wrote:
Could save a lot of blather......A****a is violent, r**ting, murdering, Biden v**ers!
Oct 17, 2020 14:36:12 #
steve66613 wrote:
And, A****a is a bunch of cop k**lers!
And l**ters, and destroyers of economy.
Oct 17, 2020 14:39:44 #
Oct 17, 2020 14:53:03 #
Liberty Tree wrote:
And Biden v**ers
Biden is selling lip service, he has no plans to improve lives or curtail the spread of C***D. R****rs will be given a pass and you an I will pay to restore towns they burned and l**ted, plus the law suits won by their victims.
Oct 17, 2020 14:57:50 #
Simple Sam wrote:
Biden is selling lip service, he has no plans to improve lives or curtail the spread of C***D. R****rs will be given a pass and you an I will pay to restore towns they burned and l**ted, plus the law suits won by their victims.
If he wins Biden will not last long. Harris will be President.
Oct 17, 2020 15:17:36 #
jim_oldman
Loc: Lexington, SC
rumitoid wrote:
A****a has seen a steady increase in media attenti... (show quote)
If it walks like a duck & it squalks like a duck then you can bet your dumb ass it's a l**ting, shooting, r**ting duck. That "A****a" means Anti-F*****t is bulls**t pure & simple.
Oct 17, 2020 15:29:47 #
Liberty Tree wrote:
If he wins Biden will not last long. Harris will be President.
The media feed by Pelosi has already laid out this plan by questioning the 25th amendment. By electing Biden it is a v**e for Harris, who through Freudian slips has made her agenda clear.
Oct 17, 2020 15:36:25 #
rumitoid wrote:
A****a has seen a steady increase in media attenti... (show quote)
Wow, Yahoo outdid themselves with this one, they got it all covered didn’t they LOL LOL LOL...
Oct 17, 2020 15:53:33 #
Michael Rich
Loc: Lapine Oregon
rumitoid wrote:
A****a has seen a steady increase in media attenti... (show quote)
Save the A****a apologist tour.
A****a/B*M are d******c t*******ts.
Oct 17, 2020 16:10:43 #
TommyRadd
Loc: Midwest USA
rumitoid wrote:
A****a has seen a steady increase in media attenti... (show quote)
Yahoo news is as biased as you are! Who’d of thunk it?
https://www.sitejabber.com/reviews/news.yahoo.com
Oct 17, 2020 16:10:50 #
rumitoid wrote:
A****a has seen a steady increase in media attenti... (show quote)
So you are a P.R. Rep. for those terrorist bastards, I'm not a bit surprised.
Oct 17, 2020 16:27:32 #
Simple Sam wrote:
The media feed by Pelosi has already laid out this plan by questioning the 25th amendment. By electing Biden it is a v**e for Harris, who through Freudian slips has made her agenda clear.
You have it!
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