The Alt-Observer Weekly Summary highlights activities from revolutionary communist, radical anarchist, fascist and other ‘alternative’ political groups that fulfill our intelligence requirements for both the Alt-Left and Alt-Right groups. This report is available for Alt-Observer subscribers.
Priority Intelligence Requirements
- PIR1: What indicators describe the Alt-Left movement’s strength, capabilities, sentiment, and capabilities?
- PIR2: What indicators describe the Alt-Right movement’s strength, capabilities, sentiment, and capabilities?
- PIR3: What are the new indicators of future politically-related violence?
- PIR4: What is the current threat index score for the Alt-Left movement?
- Culture War Roll-Up
PIR1: What indicators describe the Alt-Left movement’s strength, capabilities, sentiment, initiatives, and infighting?
National
Redneck Revolt: The anti-racist, anti-capitalist group Redneck Revolt recently published an article on their website that calls for the replacement of police with an armed Civil Rights movement akin to the Black Panther Party (BPP). In the article, the author claims that the importance of police is understood, but a more just and respectful system can be created. He also says that American society can do without the “omnipresent surveillance, racial profiling, and institutionalized violence.” The author goes on to give examples of how the BPP functioned as a police for the Civil Rights movement and the black community, such as how members of the BPP would eavesdrop on police radio calls and respond to “scenes of arrests to discourage the cops from overstepping their bounds.” Another example of the BPP serving as a police force for the black community is their defense against the KKK. These instances, along with other examples are reasons why the author believes that an armed resistance movement like Redneck Revolt can replace the police in minority and lower-class communities. (Source: https://www.redneckrevolt.org/single-post/Civil-Rights-with-Guns)
NAAGA: Since the election of Donald Trump, the National African American Gun Association (NAAGA) has increased its number of chapters nationally from 14 to 42. Members of the organization say that they have became members to defend themselves against racism, while others claim that is it their way of supporting a call to arms in the midst of their recent struggle for civil rights. [Source: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/in-response-to-racist-violence-more-african-americans-look-to-bear-arms]
BLM: Newly released documents from the FBI show that the FBI tracked Black Lives Matter activists in 2014. According to the Intercept, “Intelligence-gathering by the federal government had employed open-source information, such as social media, to profile and keep track of activists. The newly released documents suggest the FBI put resources toward running informants, as well as physical surveillance of antiracist activists. The documents were released through a lawsuit by two civil rights groups called Color of Change and the Center for Constitutional Rights. The FBI provided a statement on the released documents saying that “The FBI does not engage in surveillance of individuals exercising their First Amendment rights. However, the FBI is responsible for reviewing intelligence that indicates an individual may be involved in criminal activity or is a threat to national security.” (Source: https://theintercept.com/2018/03/19/black-lives-matter-fbi-surveillance/)
Twitter: An antifascist activist published a pamphlet that prepares people for dialogue with Nazis. In the pamphlet, the author claims that some people believe that the only way to deal with Nazis is through violence, however, there are some people who believe that they can reason with Nazis through open dialogue. The 30+ page Google Drive document teaches antifascists how this can be done. The chapters of the document are as follows, “You Can’t Punch Every Nazi,” “How Did This Happen,” “14 Ways Nazi’s Look at You,” “Symbols and Signs,” “Preparing to Engage,” and “Some Handy Tools.” (Source: https://twitter.com/VulgarEconomics/status/899304913263570944) (Analyst Comment: We reported on this last year, however, this manual looks to be getting some more attention recently.)
East Coast
Canada: An anti-racist blog post stopped a patriot rally that was to be held in Hamilton, Ontario. The rally was to be kept under wraps, however, the blog site Anti-Racist Canada found out about the rally and alerted anti-fascists and police. Due to the pushback from antifascists, the right wing group attempted to reschedule the event, however, some of the attendees were not informed of the change and were met by over 150 protestors and police. The creator of the blog post said in a statement to Vice that “It was obviously an effort to try and cleanse their image, to make themselves like the good guys. So I wanted to minimize that and I wanted to make sure the people were well aware of who these people really were and what they do and what they believe.” So far, the blog post has been seen over 93,000 times and has become the third most popular article on the website. (Source: https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/vbxvxd/how-a-single-blog-post-derailed-a-nationalist-march)
New York: At least 11 people were arrested during a Black Lives Matter protest in New York on Wednesday. The protests were in response to the death of a black man named Stephon Clark, who was killed by police on Sunday. Hundreds of protestors gathered and marched from Columbus Circle to Times Square. (Analyst Comment: At this point, it is guaranteed that anytime an unarmed black man is shot and killed by police – in any part of the country – spontaneous protests will erupt across the nation for at least a week or two.)(Source: http://abcnews.go.com/US/11-arrested-black-lives-matter-protest-york/story?id=54087227)
Midwest
Illinois: Chicago-based Haymaker Collective gym organizers appeared on a Unicorn Riot video posted over the weekend. We reported on Haymaker Gym last year after they announced they’d be providing self-defense training for antifascist activists. In the video, one organizer says, “We’re invested in building material force of resistance against the rising nature of fascism in this country… And so we’re really invested in cultivating the capacities for our bodies to just be stronger because at the end of the day, stronger people are harder to kill.” The organizers go on to say that they want to start Haymaker Collective gyms all over the nation. [source video] (Analyst Comment: This is probably an old video, perhaps from last year, but it does give the viewer some insight into the Alt-Left self-defense niche.)
Tennessee: Last week, the Knoxville Radical Alliance encouraged a community boycott against Tomato Head restaurants for allowing a white supremacist to dine there and also for allegedly punishing a server who refused service. [source] (Analyst Comment: Organizing boycotts and “de-platforming” are common forms of non-violent resistance. Antifascist activists routinely flood business and restaurants with phone calls, emails, and social media posts encouraging the businesses and restaurants to kick out, refuse to serve, or stop doing business with known and suspected white supremacists, and others who may not even be white supremacists.)
Tennessee: Antifascist groups are gearing up for the American Renaissance Conference, now one month away. From 27-29 April, white nationalists will be attending the annual conference, and area antifascists are planning to “block the suite and tie [fascists]”. [source]
Southeast
Virginia: Republican U.S. Senate candidate Corey Stewart and his campaign team were harassed at a restaurant in Charlottesville, Virginia by Antifa. A short video shared by Stewart on his official Twitter account shows the hecklers telling the staff that Stewart and his campaign team are Nazi’s and yelling things like “fuck white supremacy” and “there are Nazi’s here” in the middle of the restaurant. (Source: https://twitter.com/CoreyStewartVA/status/978819976810332160)
Charlottesville: Community members of Charlottesville, Virginia gathered for a protest asking for Commonwealth Attorney Joe Platania to drop charges against Donald Blakney and Corey Long, who are among the Unite the Right rally protestors who are still facing charges. During the demonstration, protestors chanted “Black Lives Matter, Drop the Charges” and held banners and signs that said things like “Fighting white supremacy is not a crime” and “community defense against all racism.” (Source: https://twitter.com/SolidCville/status/974706394418081792)
West Coast
Seattle: Protestors recently blocked the entrances to the construction site of a new youth jail in Seattle in order to prevent the constriction of the jail from taking place. Protestors carried signs and banners that said “No new youth jail,” “We don’t need kids in jail, we need affordable housing,” “Stop caging kids,” and “School –> Prison.” (Source: https://twitter.com/BlocktheBunker/status/978310228016902146)
Oregon: An antifascist concert called “Rock Against Fascism II: The Punks and the Skins Strike Back!” was held Portland, Oregon on Thursday to raise money for antifascist charities. The Clark County Antifascism Twitter account tweeted a picture from the concert saying, “If you ain’t here, you ain’t shit! We’re 3 and 0 for destroying Nazi groups, we’re stopping these alt-right fucks in their tracks! Believe it! Organize, aim, and destroy! Nobody can hide from the long arm of the Antifascists! Death to Atomwaffen!” Featured artists for the concert include The Brass, Petite, Empire Justice, and Violent Tradition. [Source: http://idavox.com/index.php/event/rock-against-fascism-ii-the-punks-and-skins-strike-back/] (Source: https://twitter.com/ClarkCounty161/status/979583497395355648/photo/1)
Southwest
Texas: The Texas Antifa Facebook page made a post discussing an upcoming right-wing, pro-gun rally that will be taking place in Olmos, Texas on April 7th. In the post, the Alt-Left group openly calls the slaughter of the rally goers saying that, “So evidently some retarded gun group is going to take on police in Olmos Tx on the April 7th. We hope all the gun wielding right wingers are slaughtered. Time for your guns to go away! America voted, you are on your way out the door. America doesnt need you.” (Source: https://www.facebook.com/texasantifa/posts/358451131334681) (Source: https://www.facebook.com/NTPQRF/posts/1824579627606693)
PIR2: What indicators describe the Alt-Right movement’s strength, capabilities, sentiment, initiatives, and infighting?
Virginia/West Virginia: Over the weekend, Leftist accounts on Twitter began circulating a picture of a “Patriots of Appalachia” poster put up Charlottesville, Virginia. Patriots of Appalachia was initially accused of being a “regrouping and rebranding” of the Traditionalist Workers Party, a neo-Nazi group from Greater Appalachia that disbanded last month. (See the 16 March Weekly Summary for additional information on TWP.) In follow up tweets, several Alt-Left outlets clarified the issue that Nationalist Front is the public rebranding of TWP, and that Patriots of America is separate group. Alt-Left media outlet It’s Going Down says, “Both need to be confronted.” [source]
Additionally, Solidarity Cville, from Charlottesville, warned that “there’s reason to believe they’re targeting [West Virginia University].” [source] (Analyst Comment: These posters are immediately torn down, and it’s become a game of cat and mouse with Alt-Right and Alt-Left groups putting up and tearing down posters. In the following tweet, Solidarity C’ville warned their followers to use a key to remove these posters as “Neo-Nazis tend to boobytrap their posters… Getting reports of some flyers having razors behind them.” It’s not impossible, but it’s doubtful that these groups are going to take the time to equip these posters with razors. Instead of tearing them down, the Alt-Left groups removing these posters would do much better to harvest latest fingerprints from them. I’d be willing to bet that there are forensic lab technicians who would be willing to volunteer their time.)
Identity Evropa: Identity Evropa announced on Twitter that they are no longer able to receive funds and donations from their supporters via the crowdfunding site Maker Support, and that they will now be using the crowdfunding site FreeStartr, which advocates for free speech. (Source: https://twitter.com/IdentityEvropa/status/974410346084687872)
Richard Spencer: In response to Jordan Peterson’s recent article in which he criticizes the “Jewish Question” or “JQ,” alt-right leader Richard Spencer has publicly attacked and criticized Peterson on Twitter, made an hour long podcast where he analyzes and critique’s Peterson’s article, and has challenged Peterson to a live debate on YouTube. Peterson has not yet responded to Spencer’s attacks, criticisms, or challenge. (Analyst Comment: Due to the recent halting of his college tour and announcing that he would be changing tactics, Spencer could be using Peterson’s recent popularity to stay relevant while he works on his new campaign strategy. It is also possible that this is not temporary and that Spencer’s new strategy is to attack and attempt to debate popular right and left wing figures.) (Source: https://twitter.com/RichardBSpencer/status/978117041835081729)
Charlottesville: An Alt-Right protestor named Christopher Cantwell, who is facing charges for tear-gassing counter-protestors at the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia last August, announced that he is a federal informant and has been feeding information about the Alt-Right to the police. However, Cantwell claims that he hasn’t been able to snitch on the Alt-Right because they have not committed any crimes, saying: “We are not criminals. If the FBI searched every electronic device I have ever owned and pumped me full of top secret truth drugs and extracted every letter of knowledge I had about the Alt Right, I literally couldn’t give them a single fucking criminal…. We’re not working with foreign governments. We didn’t come to our permitted demonstration intent on violence. All of the information and evidence that I have favors us, and condemns our enemies, and there is a significant amount of it.” (Source: https://thinkprogress.org/crying-nazi-says-hes-an-fbi-informant-540c438c31f0/)
PIR3: What are the new indicators of future politically-related violence?
07 APR: Black Women’s March, New York
14-15 APR: TPUSA Midwest Regional Conference, Chicago, Illinois
14 APR: Stand for the Second Amendment, National
15 APR: Free Speech Conference at Siena College
20 APR: National High School Walk-Out For Anti-Gun Violence
21 APR: March For Our Rights Pro Gun Rally, Olympia, Washington
28 APR: Anti-Racism Action Initiation Protest/American Renaissance Conference 2018, Burns, Tennessee
01 MAY: MayDay Seattle: Stand Against Rioters
PIR4: What is the current threat index score for the Alt-Left movement?
Indicators of Revolutionary Activity
Strong Indications: 7
Weak Indications: 5
No/Negligible Indications: 8
We remain at 12/20 total indicators, and there’s been no change in the last week.
Culture War Roll-Up
Washington DC: Students at Howard University in Washington D.C. took over the campus’ administration building on Thursday and have vowed to remain in the building until university President Wayne A.I. Frederick resigns. The students of the historically black university are demanding answers after an embezzlement scandal was uncovered involving the Frederick. According to a whistleblower, some of the embezzled funds were suppose to cover the costs of low-income students’ financial aid. A student-run organization called HU Resist was already planning a protest against the negligence of the administrative staff before the embezzlement scandal was announced. Since the announcement of the scandal, the students have doubled-down on their sit-in protest. The students are demanding an end to “unsubstantiated tuition hikes,” “complete access to administrative salaries,” and for President Frederick to resign. (Source: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/howard-university-protest-financial-aid-scandal_us_5abd8bcbe4b0a47437a9c2f7)
March For Our Lives DC: Numerous celebrities attended the March For Our Lives gun control rally in Washington DC on Saturday. The event was hosted by the DC chapter of Black Lives Matter, who posted pictures from the rally via their Facebook page. Celebrities including Wilmer Valderrama, Jimmy Fallon, Kim Kardashian, and Kanye West took pictures with attendees of the rally to show support for the cause. (Source: https://www.facebook.com/BLMDC/posts/1918024211602454)
During the event, a youth member of Black Lives Matter gave a short speech on gun control. The following is a transcribed part of the speech: “These were people were killed by the same guns used by the law enforcement who target us, rather than protect and serve us. The same law enforcement that criminalizes us in our schools, and it’s important that in this time when the voices of the youth is [sic] being heard across the nation that you hear from the black youth. The black youth has been organizing for gun control and safer education for so long. For years now Students Deserve, the Black Lives Matter Youth Vanguard, and Students Not Suspects have been continuing to challenge institutions and laws that oppress the most targeted peoples, which is black people. So when we say we want control it is important that it is not an excuse to target the black youth. When we say we want control it is not another excuse to call us targets and criminals, and it is not another reason to call us “Black Identity Extremists.” When we say we want control we mean gun control for police officers too.” [Source]
Website: Dame Magazine released an article on their website titled “Who’s to Blame for a Generation of Angry White Men?”. In the article, Stacey Patton explains what she believes is the cause behind the recent mass shootings and other violence that has been committed by white males in recent years. The author claims that the underlying cause of this violence is that white men turn to violence when their white privilege doesn’t reward them with success. The following is a quote from the article where Patton explains this concept, “What the media is overlooking is that white childhood has been conditioned by the narrative that white people are superior, and by effect will enjoy a superior economic and political position to Black and Brown groups in America. For poorer white Americans, their inability to access this racial legacy due to their economic declination and their fear of being overrun by non-white populations makes violence appear to be their only resort.” (Source: https://www.damemagazine.com/2018/03/27/whos-to-blame-for-a-generation-of-angry-white-men/) (Analyst Comment: Regarding violence as a last resort, there’s some truth to this. Politicized social bases, as are being found on both the Left and the Right, are more prone to resorting to violence if other methods don’t achieve their objectives. As witnessed throughout history, this is often how civil wars, insurgencies, and other domestic conflicts start, and what we’re witnessing with regard to changing demographics and polarization is tearing the fabric of American society.)
Louisiana: According to Louisiana Attorney-General Jeff Landry, the officers who shot and killed Alton Sterling with not face charges. Sterling’s death has been one of the many instances where a black man has been killed by a white police officer in the last few years, which has sparked and escalated the Black Lives Matter movement.(Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-28/no-charges-for-louisiana-police-who-shot-alton-sterling/9595404)
Sacramento: The brother of Stephon Clark, who was killed by police earlier this month, interrupted a community forum where a discussion about the shooting was taking place. According to CBS Sacramento, Stevonte Clark entered the Sacramento City Council chambers about 15 minutes into the forum and began chanting the name of his brother. Attendees joined Stevonte in the chant, which eventually led to the forum being cut short due to safety concerns. Sacramento police in riot gear gathered outside of the City Hall to contain the protesting crowd. Video from the protests shows that the protesters eventually left City Hall and marched to the Golden 1 Center where an NBA basketball game between the Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks was taking place. Protesters interfered with metal detectors and prevented fans from entering the game. (Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/stephon-clark-police-shooting-protesters-stevonte-clark-sacramento-city-council-meeting-today-2018-03-27/)
Facebook: An Afro-Cuban American artist named Harmonia Rosales is repainting historical paintings and replacing the white men and women in them with black women so that women of color are better represented. Rosales claims that “Art is my weapon in the ongoing battle against indifference and inaction. It forms the basis of resistance.” One of her most famous paintings has been her reinterpretation of Michelangelo’s “Creation of Adam” where she replaced God, Adam, and the host of angels with black women. When asked about her reasoning for this Rosales stated that, “When you consider that all human life came out of Africa, the Garden of Eden and all, then it only makes sense to paint God as a black women, sparking life in her own image.” (Source: https://www.facebook.com/NowThisHer/videos/1241641579300048/)
