Inland Empire: Antifa Shuts Down Neo-Nazis With Community Mobilization

Submitted to It’s Going Down

On November 19, 2016, various community members, pro-immigrant, anti-racists, and ANTIFA groups gathered in front of the San Bernardino Courthouse to counter an action called by Nazis from Stormfront under the guise of White Lives Matter. Around 40 community members, pro-immigrant, anti-racists, and ANTIFA individuals showed up to demonstrate to these Nazis that the community will fight back against any forms of fascism.

The Nazis, racists, and fascists have become embolden by the election of Mr. Trump; however, they have failed to realize that our communities are planning, preparing, and organizing to resist and counter any attacks. Our communities have been struggling for many years – we did not start organizing after the election of Mr. Trump. The election only has served to accelerate our efforts and to build more robust support networks – as shown by the quick response of these groups to the Nazi threat.

The community members, pro-immigrant, anti-racist, and ANTIFA members claimed the space where the Nazis wanted to hold their rally. They waited. And waited. The Nazis never showed up. A few white supremacists and Nazi sympathizers drove by the gathering and did the heil Hitler salute. Other suspect cars and individuals drove by. It was thought that perhaps white supremacists were scouting the area, saw that other Nazis were not around, and decided to leave. The Nazi organizer of the facebook event updated other members that he was running late and encouraged them to change their minds and come support their rally. However, an hour later the event page created to promote this event was deleted. The community members, pro-immigrant, anti-racists, and ANTIFA members declared victory and had a debriefing meeting.

The Nazi threat has not been defeated. This was a small victory, but a victory nonetheless. As Mr. Trump assumes power and white supremacists begin to take government posts the need to further organize will become even more necessary. The Inland Empire has seen the ugly face of fascism before, but the community and groups have confronted and defeated the fascist before. The Inland Empire has a history of radicalism and a history to responding to threats to the community – from Minutemen harassing day labors to Nazis establishing their headquarters in Riverside. This time around the response will be stronger and more organized.

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