#56: Charlottesville - Triumph & Tragedy in the Struggle Against Fascism

On August 12th, 2017, a massive alt-right and neo-Nazi rally took place in Charlottesville, Virginia. While a large counter-demonstration successfully confronted the fascists, one drove a car into a crowd of protestors, killing at least one and injuring many more. In this special report from the Ex-Worker, we hear the story of the Charlottesville demonstrations from anarchists who put their bodies on the line to stop fascism. This episode includes context and background to understand how the organizing took place, narratives from the streets, and reflections on lessons learned and the state of our struggles moving forward. We also share essays analyzing what we need to do to fight fascism, how the right wing built their murderous momentum, and what their war on protest tells us about the threat to their agenda posed by our resistance. We dedicate this episode to the memory of Heather Heyer, who died at the hands of a fascist this weekend, and to the commitment we share to fighting by any means necessary to ensure that this never happens again. {August 14, 2017}

-------SHOW NOTES------

• Table of Contents:
  • Introduction {0:01}
  • Background to the Charlottesville Demonstrations {2:02}
  • Interview: An Anonymous Anarchist of Color on the Charlottesville Demonstrations {12:15}
  • Essay: "Charlottesville and the Rise of Fascism in the USA: What We Need to Do" {36:47}
  • Interview: Two Virginia Anarchists on the Charlottesville Demonstrations {47:37}
  • Essay: "One Dead in Charlottesville: Why the Right Can Kill Us Now" {1:21:59}
  • Essay: "From J20 to Charlottesville: Repressing Protest From Above and Below" {1:25:40}
  • Conclusion {1:38:24}

• Check this ongoing list of solidarity actions around the world to find a way to get involved in remembering Charlottesville and resisting fascism.

• Here are links to some of the various solidarity and medical support funds our comrades have vouched for, if you want to make a donation: Dre Harris Medical Fund, Memorial fund by the Democratic Socialists of America, Heather Heyer's Family, #DefendCville Med Fund, VA Youth Rally Victims; Help Queers Defend Cville, SolidarityCville, Natalie Romero Medical Fund, Alexis and Noelle Morris Medical Fund, Black Lives Matter Charlottesville, Black Student Alliance at UVA, Tracye Redd, The Women's Initiative Cville, Allie's Fund

• We shared two essays originally published on the CrimethInc. blog: "Charlottesville and the Rise of Fascism in the USA: What We Need to Do" and "One Dead in Charlottesville: Why the Right Can Kill Us Now."

• We also included a short excerpt from our discussion of resistance to white supremacy in Episode 40; we'd recommend revisiting that episode for background on the anti-police and anti-racist rebellions of 2014–2015.

• Now is an important time to show support for your local antifa group or project, and to show up when they call to confront white supremacists and fascists. The folks at Three Way Fight have assembled this vouched list of trustworthy antifa resources and groups. Beware, however, of signing up for just any antifa feed—many of them are fake accounts used to doxx genuinely antifascist newcomers to the movement.

• For a reportback on the July 8th anti-KKK demo in Charlottesville that preceded the August 12th rally, see this episode of The Final Straw.

• If you'd like to learn more about fascism and the history of anarchist opposition to it, check out the Ex-Worker's Episode 11 and Episode 12.

• Historian James Loewen has explored the true history of Confederate monuments, and the brutal histories they represent, in his books Lies My Teacher Told Me and Lies Across America.

• Here's more info about The Hotwire, our forthcoming weekly anarchist newscast.