this post was submitted on 19 Sep 2025
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No, because it is prolife that's the polemic misnomer used disingenously for political gain, exactly for the reason you describe, because it creates a false dichotomy.
Antifaschistische Aktion was founded in direct response to the Weimar republic's appeasement of Nazi Germany.
Then, as now, there are actual fascists, there aren't any serious major anti-life movements.
Pro-life people would certainly call their opponents anti-life. Is this different than people on the left calling their opponents fascist? Almost nobody being called fascist today actually supports authoritarianism, at least not in the mainstream.
And as far as Antifa is concerned, it clearly means more than anti-fascism. A big clue: their logo has the flags for anarchism and communism.
So, are people who oppose anarcho-communism all fascists? If not, then opposing Antifa does not make one a fascism supporter.
They may call them that. it doesn't make it true.
It is different because intent matters. Accusation vs false accusation are different things.
I sincerely disagree that nobody supports authoritarianism. Many many people unironically cheer the armed forces, domestic military action, imprisonment of political opponents. Trump, Putin, Bibi... Hitler himself have many vocal proponents and supporters.
Also, ontologically speaking, if every group inherits as a property every element via synecdoche of its symbols you're saying there is no difference between a GOP senator and a literal elephant the animal.
Antifa are clearly antifascist while clearly not all Stalinists, while clearly leaving room for discussion of edge cases of what may or may not be fascism.
Similar, many "prolife" people support capital punishment and eat meat without being call hypocrites because words clearly, evidently and sensibly have context.
That's my point. Most people called a fascist and Nazi today are not actually either of those.
I'm not implying that antifa symbolism alone makes them anarcho-communistic. It's their actual actions, messaging, and organizing. They do black bloc and they promote a "classless society" on their websites along with anti-capitalist messaging.
My only point on antifa here is that it clearly is not merely "anti-fascist."
As someone from England, a class-free society is a good thing. People should not have special privileges (with heavy emphasis on the etymology: "private law") due to their birth.
Anti-capitalist messaging is also a good thing. And in a society built on free speech absolutely necessary. If you can't criticise how people generate money if they do it in an evil way, you don't live in a free society.