I Don't Speak German, Episode 4: Unite the Right, the Aftermath
Jan 30, 2019
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The podcast delves into the aftermath of the Unite the Right rally, exploring how right-wing groups manipulate media and optics, discussing entitlement and privilege, highlighting the chaos within the alt-right movement post-rally, and analyzing the role of anti-fascist activists in challenging extremist ideologies.
Legal battles and federal charges impact alt-right's finances and operations.
Tech giants crackdown on alt-right leads to platform shifts to GAB.
Fragmentation in far-right due to conflicts over branding and effective tactics like lawfare.
Deep dives
Legal Battle Against Unite the Right Rally Participants
A class action lawsuit, Sci -Alex Castle, argues the Unite the Right Rally was a conspiracy to commit violence, going against the alt-right's free speech facade. This legal action targets key figures like Richard Spencer, Andrew Anglin, and Mike Enoch. The outcome of this case may severely impact the movement, potentially bankrupting those involved.
Tech Companies Crackdown on Alt-Right Figures
Tech giants like Cloudflare and Twitter took actions against alt-right figures post-Unite the Right Rally. The Daily Stormer lost hosting, and Twitter announced a Nazi ban, affecting high-profile alt-right accounts like Jared Taylor and Richard Spencer. This crackdown led to platform shifts towards sites like GAB.
Rise Above Movement's Legal Troubles
The Rise Above Movement, a street fighting gang, faces federal charges for crossing state lines to commit a riot during events like the Unite the Right Rally. These prosecutions can impact the movement's street-fighting capabilities and bring legal consequences to its members.
Impact of Legal Battles on the Alt-Right Movement
Legal battles, like the class action lawsuit and federal charges against the Rise Above Movement, have financial and operational implications for the alt-right movement. Despite potential setbacks, the movement's response to legal actions reveals the complexities and uncertainties surrounding legal consequences for extremist groups.
Fragmentation Over Branding and Optics Debate
After the Unite the Right event, the far-right movement faced internal conflicts over branding and optics. There was a significant debate on how they should present themselves to the public, ranging from arguments over attire at events to rebranding efforts. The Daily Stormer attempted to shift towards a more 'American nationalist' image by replacing explicit symbolism with patriotic icons. This focus on optics and branding led to class divisions, personality conflicts, and the creation of terms like 'WIGNAT', reflecting the movement's struggle to unify under a cohesive image.
Impact of Lawfare and Doxing on Far-right Movements
The fragmentation within far-right movements was influenced by effective strategies like lawfare and doxing. Individuals engaging in lawfare and doxing activities hindered the ability of white supremacists to operate in physical spaces, causing fear of exposure and consequences. While highlighting ethical concerns, these tactics had a significant impact on disrupting the ability of far-right members to organize and maintain anonymity. The active role of committed anti-fascist activists in revealing identities and holding individuals accountable contributed to the disarray within these movements.
In this episode, Daniel tells Jack about the aftermath of the disastrous Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville 2017. They also get a tad more theoretical about some of the reasons for some of the behaviour of the 'alt-right', and chat about some related issues such as the recent controversy concerning the Covington MAGA kids.
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