A-Infos (en) Statement from Antifa England*: Fighting fascism is a task for us all

In the past in Britain (and still today in most other European countries) opposing fascism 
was considered a duty by almost all anarchists and socialists. Today, many (particularly 
within the British anarchist movement) have abdicated responsibility for taking on the 
fascists, and either ignore the issue completely, or at best seed responsibility to 
specialist antifascist groups such as Antifa. Opposing fascism is something ALL of us have 
to play a part in, particularly with the growing influence of fascist groups like the 
British National Party (BNP).

Organizations like ‘Unite Against Fascism’ (UAF) and ‘Hope Not Hate’ would probably agree 
with the above premise. However, while many of their rank and file supporters may be 
genuine in their intent, the organizations themselves have no real interest in defeating 
organized fascism.

The UAF is a front-group dominated and controlled by the Trotskyite ‘Socialist Workers 
Party’ (SWP) who are far more interested in selling papers and recruiting members than in 
effectively confronting the BNP. ‘Hope Not Hate’ were set up by the State-affiliated 
entity ‘Searchlight’, who tell us we can stop the BNP by voting Labour and helping to 
strengthen the tools of the State itself (i.e. new laws.)

Both groups merely seek to manipulate and exploit antifascists, and arguably their stupid 
politics must take some of the share of responsibility for the rise of the BNP in the 
first place. At best they are a waste of time.

Antifa is a network of ordinary men and women opposed to the rise of the Far-Right. We 
work autonomously, but are united by a shared set of principles enshrined in our Founding 
Statement. If you support our position, you can get involved with one of our groups, or 
you could even set up your own. Ultimately however, we are not asking for people to join 
us; we are not asking for your contact details or for your money; we are simply asking for 
you to ACT.

While their true aims have not changed in the slightest, the BNP are trying to make the 
move from the shadows of neo-Nazism to mainstream politics. They are hiding their old 
swastika armbands under suit jackets and going out leafleting instead of petrol-bombing 
the homes of Asian families (leaving that kind of terror to their fascist allies and their 
‘off-duty’ members.) They stand candidates in elections and regularly hold stalls in town 
centres around the country. Going public in this way however, makes them vulnerable.

Besides the BNP, there are other fascist groups who must also be opposed when they come 
out onto the streets. They are in many ways even easier to combat. In fighting organized 
fascism the only limits are our imagination and courage, even small numbers of people can 
make a difference.

Antifa however, also believe in organizing within our own communities against the spread 
of racism stirred up by everyone from the mainstream media to New Labour, and against the 
fascism of the BNP. Only by organizing in our own communities and workplaces can we hope 
to defeat fascism once and for all.

In the white working-class areas where the BNP have already gained a toe-hold (primarily 
former Labour strongholds where people rightly feel betrayed by the mainstream parties and 
have been conned into seeing the BNP as some form of ‘radical’ alternative), as well as 
confronting the BNP physically, we should aim to challenge the BNP’s fascist politics and 
replace them with our own anti-racist, anti-state, and pro working-class politics.

These are desperate times for antifascists and all of us must play our part in taking on 
organized fascism. Antifa believe we have already shown on numerous occasions that a 
relatively small number of dedicated antifascists can score decisive victories. Most of 
our actions and activities go unreported, but the fascists know and fear us. Imagine what 
a difference it would make if there were thousands of us.

Antifa England
- http://www.antifa.org.uk

WHO WE ARE

The Antifa England Network is comprised of autonomous local groups and individual 
antifascists, and part of the international Antifa movement. We exist to confront fascist 
ideas, activities and organisations wherever and however they occur. We utilise a wide 
range of tactics and believe it is important to confront fascism physically as well as 
ideologically. We do not advocate the electoral process as the means of defeating fascism 
nor will we work with groups that do. Our structure is anti-authoritarian and non 
hierarchical. We oppose discrimination based on race, gender, sexuality, disability or 
age. We will not work with, accept information from, nor pass information to the magazine 
Searchlight.

WHAT IS FASCISM?

It is a mistake to see fascism solely in terms of extreme far-right nationalist political 
parties such as the BNP, NF etc. While these are the most obvious target for an 
anti-fascist campaign, many policies promoted by other parties are equally fascist in 
nature, and demand an appropriate reaction. The media is also guilty of pushing far-right 
ideology (the tabloid treatment of the issues surrounding refugees for example) and their 
actions often fall within the remit of an anti-fascist group. We should oppose fascist 
ideology whatever its source. Equally, fascism is often used as a synonym for racism. 
Racism is a tool frequently employed by fascist movements, but it is important to be aware 
that fascists can be non-racist and indeed most racists are not fascists. While our major 
target is fascism, we must be aware that bigotry in all forms (racism, sexism, homophobia, 
etc) needs to be fought, whether it comes from the mouths of fascists or from elsewhere.

THE ENEMY

There are many fascist groups operating in Britain, but the biggest threat comes from the 
British National Party who in recent years have done their utmost to hide their fascist 
politics beneath a thin veneer of respectability. Antifa opposes all fascist activity, but 
destroying the BNP is our current priority. Their presence on the political landscape 
pushes the wider political agenda to the right at the cost of working class people.

PHYSICAL CONFRONTATION

Fascism is a violent ideology. Throughout history, fascists have used violence against 
those who oppose them. Antifa is a continuation of the antifascist tradition of 
confronting fascism physically when it is necessary. Physical confrontation is only one of 
our tactics though, we do not aim to fetishise it as one tactic above all others, nor will 
we allow a hierarchy to develop based on the kudos of street-fighting. If an individual 
member feels unable to engage on this level they are no less worthy as an anti-fascist 
than any other member of the group, however those with a moral problem regarding this 
issue should be advised that this is not the group for them.

HIERARCHY AND GROUP STRUCTURE

In keeping with our anti-authoritarian ideas, we seek to challenge hierarchy within our 
own movement and elsewhere. We do not believe in fixed leadership or power structures. 
Within Antifa we make decisions on a consensus basis to ensure that the opinions of all 
within the group are represented as far as possible. Where an organising role needs to be 
taken on by one or more people (for example, acting as chief steward during an action), we 
accept that this is immediately revocable should the members of the group be dissatisfied, 
and that the appointment of any role that could be seen as leadership is temporary and 
based on group consensus. There are situations in militant anti-fascism where decisions 
have to be made quickly and it is vital that those involved trust the person who is making 
those decisions. It is also vital that appointing those decision-makers does not create 
any unspoken hierarchy, so we encourage the rotation of roles as far as possible. The 
structure of our own movement needs to reflect our political goals.

INCLUSIVITY

The success of fascist politics depends on a divided and unorganised working class. Antifa 
believes that the means to effect social change must mirror the ends we wish to achieve, 
and therefore, reflecting our wider beliefs, we will never exclude any individual on the 
basis of their sex, race, age, (dis)ability, sexuality or any similar grounds.

SEARCHLIGHT

We will not work with, accept information from, nor pass information to the so-called 
anti-fascist magazine/organisation Searchlight, and we will not work with individuals who 
have any connection to them. As an organisation that works hand-in-glove with State 
agencies, we cannot trust them or the agenda they pursue. Their influence within, and 
manipulation of, militant anti-fascism has been deeply divisive over the years, their 
methods and involvement with State security services are well documented and entirely 
incompatible with our own position.

THE AUTHORITARIAN LEFT

For decades revolutionary left groups such as the Trotskyite Socialist Workers Party, have 
opportunistically used the mobilisation against fascism as a way of trying to swell their 
membership numbers and the coffers of their party. We are not interested in working with 
these groups, nor with their front groups, such as the Anti-Nazi League™ or Unite Against 
Fascism™. Our experience is that these front groups exist merely to try and recruit 
members on behalf of the controlling party, to peddle their papers, and to manipulate and 
marginalize genuine anti-fascists. In the past we have seen the leadership of such fronts 
collaborate not only with the State, but also with the fascists themselves. We will not be 
fooled again, and advise genuine anti-fascists within these organisations to leave, after 
which we may be able to work with them.

VOTING

Voting is something that allows the State to pretend we live in a democracy, and it is a 
tactic used by fascist parties such as the British National Party to promote themselves 
and their policies. While the BNP may be in a position to throw bricks through the windows 
of a few Asian households, it is New Labour that is locking up refugees and bombing Iraqi 
civilians. It is ridiculous to suggest that voting helps to stop fascism. This is the sort 
of insult to working class communities that has allowed the BNP to grow. This is the case 
whether we are being told to vote for the old Statist parties or opportunist fronts, such 
as Respect™, which has helped to promote bigotry (sexism and homophobia) in order to 
further the agenda of its leadership. The problems that allow racism and fascism to 
flourish will not be solved simply by voting for parties which mask their fascism slightly 
more cleverly than the BNP, nor for some middle-class tourist standing on a Left-Wing ticket.

THE WIDER STRUGGLE

Eliminating the threat of fascism will not magically correct all the wrongs of the world. 
The first stage of real lasting social improvement begins with the downfall of global 
capitalism and its replacement with an alternative that puts working class people in 
control of their own lives. Members of Antifa are involved in a wide variety of other 
anti-capitalist struggles, but Antifa itself remains focussed on the fight against 
fascism, which we believe is linked to the wider struggle. The State will employ fascist 
tactics if necessary in the cause of suppressing dissent, and the fight against openly 
fascist ideology, wherever it comes from, is a critical part of the fight against the 
ultimate enemy of capitalism itself.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Fascism can be suppressed by the use of street-level tactics against their attempts to 
publicly organise. The fascists electoral ambitions can be defeated by the use of 
counter-propaganda. But a meaningful impact on fascism requires far more than this. We 
believe that involvement in local communities is critical (and this does not mean 
parachuting in as outsiders, but people taking action in their own communities.) Education 
and presenting workable solutions to the problems faced by communities are absolutely 
vital to the struggle. These may be outside the current remit of Antifa, but we will 
wholeheartedly support these tactics, and while we may not be able to initiate such 
activities, we strongly encourage our members to involve themselves in this sort of 
grass-roots work.

SECURITY AND RECRUITMENT

For tactical and security reasons, Antifa is not an open group. Some of our work may put 
us in conflict with the authorities, and of course with fascists themselves. We do not 
seek mass-recruitment and we do not hold regular open meetings. That said, we are always 
on the lookout for potential new members, who are committed and security-conscious. If you 
are interested in getting involved with Antifa, or if you would like to assist us in our 
work, please get in touch.
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* An antiauthoritarian anticapitalist initiative
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