Italian writer Ennio Flaiano once said that “Fascists divide themselves into two categories, fascists and anti-fascists.” Judging by the actions of the so-called anti-fascists of today, Flaiano’s words reign true in modern America.
The relevant group of today fighting against supposed fascism is called Antifa. Antifa has been around for a long time, and has been especially active in Europe, but ever since the election of President Donald Trump, Antifa has been increasingly active in the United States, and unfortunately, also increasingly militant.
In addition to violence on President Trump’s inauguration day in Washington DC and all over the U.S., Antifa has also made their presence felt issuing threats and planning violent protests, especially for Milo Yiannopoulos’s speaking events in Davis, Seattle, Boulder and most recently, Berkeley, where protesters hit the speaking venue with fireworks and set fires to stop his event.
The Berkeley College Republicans, who planned to host Breitbart tech editor Milo Yiannopoulos, had to jump through several hurdles to host the event, especially in regards to providing security for the event. The school required a $10,000 security fee from the Berkeley College Republicans, which was contested, lowered to $6,000, and then paid by an anonymous donor.
However, despite the security fee that was paid, protesters and off-campus agitators were still able to infiltrate the perimeter by the hundreds and used fireworks to set fire to the venue where the Milo speaking event was set to take place.
Eyewitness accounts and videos from the scene reported fires, violence and reports of tear gas and rubber bullets used to pacify protesters who wore ski masks to cover their faces, a common trait of members of Antifa.
The College Republicans chapter at UC Berkeley released a statement in response denouncing the attack and intolerance in a school once heralded for being the birthplace of the free speech movement. The following is an excerpt from their statement:
There were two Facebook events that were hosted by protesters of the event. One of them was hosted by an organization called Socialist Alternative Bay Area, who responded to the violent protest and the cancellation by asking if it “would have been simpler to [cancel the event] a little earlier huh?” in their No Milo Yiannopoulos at UC Berkeley event page.
Another organizer, Berkeley Antifa, made an event page as well, which they promptly deleted after Milo’s speaking event was shut down. They made no statement after the events of last night.
Milo Yiannopoulos spoke about the riots on Tucker Carlson, and decried the violence as a disgrace to higher education in America.
UC Berkeley’s official statement on the cancellation describes an organized effort of agitators that interrupted a peaceful protest, and thoroughly described the use of fireworks and even molotov cocktails to set fire to the event venue and surrounding area.
This attack is undoubtedly a new low for campus political discourse, and it represents a new danger for free speech on college campuses. Student protesters who demand political correctness have made way for off campus “anti-fascist” agitators who start riots and commit violence against groups or speakers they disagree with. It is now up to our universities to make it clear that such actions are unacceptable, and affirm the rights of students to express themselves freely and safely.
