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| | It was at the Fourth World Congress of the Comintern in 1922 that the plan took shape. Moscow formed the slogan “To the Masses” for its united front strategy and sought to join together the various communist and workers’ parties of Germany under a single ideological banner that it controlled. | | It was at the Fourth World Congress of the Comintern in 1922 that the plan took shape. Moscow formed the slogan “To the Masses” for its united front strategy and sought to join together the various communist and workers’ parties of Germany under a single ideological banner that it controlled. |
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| − | Both the communist and fascist systems were based in [[collectivism]] and [[economic planning|state-planned economies]]. Both also proposed systems wherein the individual was heavily controlled by a powerful state, and both were responsible for large-scale atrocities and [[genocide]]. | + | Both the communist and fascist systems were based on [[collectivism]] and [[economic planning|state-planned economies]]. Both also proposed systems wherein the individual was heavily controlled by a powerful state, and both were responsible for large-scale atrocities and [[genocide]]. |
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| | The 2016 annual report by Germany’s domestic intelligence service, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), notes the same point: From the viewpoint of the “left-wing extremist,” the label of “fascism” as pushed by Antifa often does not refer to actual fascism, but is merely a label assigned to “[[capitalism]].” | | The 2016 annual report by Germany’s domestic intelligence service, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), notes the same point: From the viewpoint of the “left-wing extremist,” the label of “fascism” as pushed by Antifa often does not refer to actual fascism, but is merely a label assigned to “[[capitalism]].” |
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| | While leftist extremists claim to be fighting “fascism” while launching their attacks on other groups, the report states the term “fascism” has a double meaning under the extreme-left ideology, indicating the “fight against the capitalist system.” Antifascism is a strategy, not an ideology. | | While leftist extremists claim to be fighting “fascism” while launching their attacks on other groups, the report states the term “fascism” has a double meaning under the extreme-left ideology, indicating the “fight against the capitalist system.” Antifascism is a strategy, not an ideology. |
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| − | They argue that the capitalist state produces fascism, or at least tolerates it. Therefore, anti-fascism is directed not only against actual or supposed right-wing extremists, but also always against the state and its representatives, in particular members of the security authorities.<ref>https://www.verfassungsschutz.de/de/service/glossar/_lA#antifaschismus </ref> | + | They argue that the capitalist state produces fascism, or at least tolerates it. Therefore, anti-fascism is directed not only against actual or supposed right-wing extremists but also always against the state and its representatives, in particular members of the security authorities.<ref>https://www.verfassungsschutz.de/de/service/glossar/_lA#antifaschismus </ref> |
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| | + | An Antifa group, "Refuse Fascism," organized what it announced would be a series of major rallies in U.S. cities that would last until President Trump and Vice President Pence stepped down.<ref>Parke, Caleb (November 3, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/11/03/antifa-apocalypse-anarchist-groups-plan-to-overthrow-trump-regime-starts-saturday.html Antifa apocalypse? Anarchist group's plan to overthrow Trump 'regime' starts Saturday]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved November 4, 2017.</ref> Rather than millions of people, as it intended, the protests saw very low turnout.<ref>Bokhari, Allum (November 4, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/11/04/antifail-low-turnouts-at-multi-city-antifa-apocalypse/ ANTIFAIL: Low Turnouts At Nationwide ‘Refuse Fascism’ Protests]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved November 4, 2017.</ref> |
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| | ==See also== | | ==See also== |