# Antifa **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 24, 2017, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antifa/785145 "2017-04-24T14:57:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antifa/785145/101 "2017-04-25T09:37:21Z")
[quote=“HurricaneDitka, post:14, topic:785145”] The “Battle of Berkely” clash on April 15, 2017 (note: there’s tons of video of this, I just grabbed a few random ones): [- YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFCrP85Qqxk) [/QUOTE] I should have read your disclaimer. Did you Google “Battle of Berkely random stupid videos”? Or are these just what turn up in the search when you misspell “Berkely”? The only one that seemed to have a point was the 2nd one, though I only watched one minute of it. It’s subtitled “Why the Right Won” and judging from the minute I watched, the “Right” won because they were thugs willing to use severe force against innocent demonstrators. Was [Yvette Felarca](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=818498) involved in the Battle of Berkeley? Anti-antifa folk may want to click and join in the Pit thread I started where the anti-antifa were eager to express delight when the Fa stabbed the Antifa with knives and sent several to hospitals with serious wounds. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antifa/785145/102 "2017-04-25T11:32:11Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > The thing about freedom of speech is that it’s completely irrelevant what BigT demands. Oddly enough, if I substitute ‘octopus’ for ‘BigT’, it still holds true. Huh. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antifa/785145/103 "2017-04-25T15:15:44Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Was [Yvette Felarca](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=818498) involved in the Battle of Berkeley? She was present. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antifa/785145/104 "2017-04-25T15:40:14Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > I’m not on the ‘‘real problem is our fascist PC culture’’ side because students have a right to feel safe Where does this “right to feel safe” come from? ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antifa/785145/105 "2017-04-25T16:10:14Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > Oddly enough, if I substitute ‘octopus’ for ‘BigT’, it still holds true. Huh. it holds true for practically any one person’s point of view. The good thing is my point of view actually coincides with law and logic. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antifa/785145/106 "2017-04-25T16:12:20Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > I should have read your disclaimer. Did you Google “Battle of Berkely random stupid videos”? Or are these just what turn up in the search when you misspell “Berkely”? The only one that seemed to have a point was the 2nd one, though I only watched one minute of it. It’s subtitled “Why the Right Won” and judging from the minute I watched, the “Right” won because they were thugs willing to use severe force against innocent demonstrators. > > Was [Yvette Felarca](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=818498) involved in the Battle of Berkeley? Anti-antifa folk may want to click and join in the Pit thread I started where the anti-antifa were eager to express delight when the Fa stabbed the Antifa with knives and sent several to hospitals with serious wounds. Oh please. That’s a creative way of watching those videos. Especially with the knowledge that those same types of antifa mobs have assaulted people and destroyed property in past protests/riots. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antifa/785145/107 "2017-04-25T16:14:40Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > it holds true for practically any one person’s point of view. The good thing is my point of view actually coincides with law and logic. According to your point of view, of course. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antifa/785145/108 "2017-04-25T16:22:29Z")
> [@Kyomara](#): > > :dubious: > > I have begun to see the word “antifa” bandied about in conservative circles of late, and it’s pretty clear to me that it’s the latest in a line of extremists chosen to be held up as false leaders of “the left,” much in the way that the protests at Berkley are discussed on conservative blogs as though similar things are happening all over the country. I don’t know who you think is “holding them up as false leaders of ‘the left’”, but (at least somewhat) similar things ARE happening around the country (although California seems to be the most violent). Here is the [Utah Antifa](https://www.facebook.com/utahantifa) (their word choice) Facebook page. They’ve got an event planned for Monday night: > [@](#): > > Our presence has been requested for this, we’re gonna need as many people as possible. Bring your Black Bloc gear. Our job is to stop any oppositional force at this protest. See you guys there > > **May Day - No to Trump’s Agenda!** > > Mon 7:00 PM MDT · Wallace Bennett Federal Building · Salt L… > [@Kyomara](#): > > I would ask that you not fall for the usual tactic of attaching negative meaning to a word that hadn’t much meaning to begin with, for the purpose of silencing your political opponents. I don’t want to “silence” them, and certainly don’t see how labelling them Antifa (a label they’ve chosen themselves) would accomplish that anyways. I just want them to eschew violence. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antifa/785145/109 "2017-04-25T17:00:06Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I don’t want to “silence” them, and certainly don’t see how labelling them Antifa (a label they’ve chosen themselves) would accomplish that anyways. I just want them to eschew violence. Do you think that groups like this have a valuable role to play in opposing pro-fascist groups? Pro-fascist groups that have a tendency to be violent, or at minimum promote an anti-social agenda that advocates for discrimination and intimidation of targeted minorities. I know that the better angels in us demand that violence be a last resort, but I just can’t help feeling like pro-fascist groups don’t deserve the same level of deference to our better angels. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antifa/785145/110 "2017-04-25T17:20:44Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Exactly. > > In my previous post to **Snowboarder Bo** I mentioned that the guy who punched her had shoved her to the ground first in an effort to stop her from throwing a wine bottle into the crowd. [Here’s an excellent pic](http://imgur.com/gallery/3HE8F) of that very moment. Note she’s holding the wine bottle by the neck as if to hit someone with it or throw it. He only punched her when she jumped back up and came at him. > > That lying little airhead, wearing illegal weighted gloves and throwing wine bottles and bragging about getting 100 scalps, was out for blood and deserves to be facing charges. In the video, her gloved hand is clearly visible as she gets punched, yet there is no bottle in her hand. I was also unable to find that picture on the Reuters website. [Pictures at this website](https://fabiusmaximus.com/2017/04/17/insights-from-the-berkeley-riot-sucker-punch/), and there are quite a few on that page, show no bottle in her gloved hand. I note that in your picture with the bottle, the bottle is not beneath any of the “watermarks”. I remain unconvinced by your evidence. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antifa/785145/111 "2017-04-25T17:26:55Z")
Missed the edit window: Your description of events does not at all match what is shown in the video. Mr. Dominga is visible at :28 at the far right of the image. At :29 Miss Rosealma is visible on the far left. There is no bottle in her gloved hand. At :32 seconds, Mr. Dominga punches her, and that is clearly the first contact the two had. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antifa/785145/112 "2017-04-25T17:38:31Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Where does this “right to feel safe” come from? It’s generally conducive to learning _not_ to fear for your life or safety. Of course, I’m talking about the presence of a credible threat. Does Anne Coulter have a right to feel safe? Or should she have just STFU and spoken at the event? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antifa/785145/113 "2017-04-25T18:32:53Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Do you think that groups like this have a valuable role to play in opposing pro-fascist groups? Pro-fascist groups that have a tendency to be violent, or at minimum promote an anti-social agenda that advocates for discrimination and intimidation of targeted minorities. > > I know that the better angels in us demand that violence be a last resort, but I just can’t help feeling like pro-fascist groups don’t deserve the same level of deference to our better angels. Currently they’re not opposing pro-fascist groups. They’re opposing Ann Coulter, and while I’m sure you two are on different sides of the political spectrum, I believe she deserves the same level of deference to “better angels” as Eric Holder or Tom Perez or any other run-of-the-mill political figure. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antifa/785145/114 "2017-04-25T18:36:03Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Do you think that groups like this have a valuable role to play in opposing pro-fascist groups? I am not **HurricaneDitka** , but no, I don’t. By threatening violence, they make those they threaten look better by comparison. Ann Coulter looks like a martyr, and Antifa looks like a gang of brownshirts. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antifa/785145/115 "2017-04-25T19:11:57Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Currently they’re not opposing pro-fascist groups. They’re opposing Ann Coulter, and while I’m sure you two are on different sides of the political spectrum, I believe she deserves the same level of deference to “better angels” as Eric Holder or Tom Perez or any other run-of-the-mill political figure. > [@Shodan](#): > > I am not **HurricaneDitka** , but no, I don’t. > > By threatening violence, they make those they threaten look better by comparison. Ann Coulter looks like a martyr, and Antifa looks like a gang of brownshirts. > > Regards, > Shodan Oh, I’m with Bill Maher on this one. Liberals need to stop being a bunch of whining babies and allow people to speak without violent protests directed at the speaker. What I’m saying is that anti-fascist groups that are not afraid to throw a punch are a good bulwark against pro-facsist groups. I don’t want fascists getting comfortable with thinking their right to free speech is the same as “right speech”. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antifa/785145/116 "2017-04-25T19:14:39Z")
BTW, somewhat tangentially related to the Antifa discussion: UC Berkeley is facing a lawsuit over their banning of Ann Coulter. [This is the press conference by the plaintiff’s lawyer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJJZrx1OmyU). It’s got lots of good commentary on First Amendment law and how it applies to Antifa / BAMN and UC Berkeley. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antifa/785145/117 "2017-04-25T19:30:44Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > What I’m saying is that anti-fascist groups that are not afraid to throw a punch are a good bulwark against pro-facsist groups. I don’t want fascists getting comfortable with thinking their right to free speech is the same as “right speech”. Could you elaborate on what you mean by “right speech”? And what are the “pro-fascist groups” you refer to? The last rally they caused trouble at wasn’t anything overtly pro-fascist AFAIK. [Here is an online poster advertising the event](http://cdn.funcheap.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/17880627_732880670215232_8834394948193206831_o.jpg). “A free speech rally”. Am I missing something here? What’s fascist about that? ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antifa/785145/118 "2017-04-25T19:34:57Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > BTW, somewhat tangentially related to the Antifa discussion: UC Berkeley is facing a lawsuit over their banning of Ann Coulter. [This is the press conference by the plaintiff’s lawyer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJJZrx1OmyU). It’s got lots of good commentary on First Amendment law and how it applies to Antifa / BAMN and UC Berkeley. I’m so confused. I thought Ann Coulter was canceled because of a credible threat to her safety? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antifa/785145/119 "2017-04-25T19:45:15Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > I’m so confused. I thought Ann Coulter was canceled because of a credible threat to her safety? [UC Chancellor Nicholas Dirks gave a statement on April 20th](http://news.berkeley.edu/2017/04/20/chancellor-dirks-statement-on-ann-coulter-visit/) that said in part: > [@](#): > > Our police department has made it clear that they have very specific intelligence regarding threats that could pose a grave danger to the speaker, attendees and those who may wish to lawfully protest the event. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2017, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antifa/785145/120 "2017-04-25T19:59:10Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > [UC Chancellor Nicholas Dirks gave a statement on April 20th](http://news.berkeley.edu/2017/04/20/chancellor-dirks-statement-on-ann-coulter-visit/) that said in part: Do you understand why I’m confused? UC Chancellor Nicholas Dirks cancels the appearance of Ann Coulter because of a credible threat to her safety. Now the university is being sued for infringing on freedom of speech? Which thing is true? Did they not let her speak because there was a credible threat to her safety, or did they not let her speak because they were buckling under student pressure, thus violating the right to freedom of speech? IANAL, but it seems to me that both things cannot be true at the same time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antifa/785145.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antifa/785145.md?page=7)