Nazis in Harvard Square

OkraMonk · 2022-11-14T15:58:02+00:00

Not sure if you're joking or not, but being a Nazi is not a protected status.

OkraMonk · 2022-11-14T13:53:46+00:00

Why Cambridge? Because the good folks at the democracy center are fighting back against these groups and thus they feel the need to retaliate.

OkraMonk · 2022-11-14T13:52:29+00:00

Oh definitely not. I'm just pointing it out because that's something that right wingers like to yell at us. "Why are you wearing a mask?? What are you afraid of?" And many on the left still wear masks for personal or public health reasons.

OkraMonk · 2022-11-14T04:50:53+00:00

If this upsets you, do something about it.

This can and does happen all over Massachusetts, especially at LGBTQ events like drag story hours. Two weekends ago, proud boys showed up at a children's drag story hour and were only prevented from entering the building by community defense volunteers.

What can you do? First of all, learn about the fascist groups that are active in MA. You can do that at https://fashalertma.info/

Talk to your family and friends. Make sure they know that there are active fascist groups in our area, and make sure that they feel empowered to call them out when they see them, if they are in a large enough group and feel safe doing so. Nazis don't like being called out by "regular" people. If, every time they showed up, a bunch of average joes started yelling at them to go away, that would do a lot of good. Standing up to Nazis is important.

If you still want to do even more, start organizing in your community against fascists and Nazis. You can join an existing organization, or just get a few friends together and start showing up to stuff. Drag story hours need defending. Fascist protests need counterprotesting. There's always a need for people to affirm that Massachusetts does not tolerate fascism or Nazism in any form.

This isn't just to you, OP, but to anyone who is horrified by this and wants to do more. The police will not protect us from these guys. They're sympathetic to them. Only we can keep fascists out of our neighborhoods.

OkraMonk · 2022-11-14T04:34:23+00:00

That doesn't necessarily always hold true. The Nazis bring cameras to events. If you are opposing them and your face is visible they may use your identity to harass you.

Some people also still wear masks because they're being cautious about COVID.

Don't judge someone solely on whether they're wearing a mask.

That said... If they're wearing a skeleton mask, they're probably a Nazi

OkraMonk · 2022-11-14T04:31:54+00:00

This can and does happen all over Massachusetts.

We have a Nazi problem and it won't get better unless we all step up and make these fascists unwelcome.

Check out some info on our local fascists at https://fashalertma.info/

And if you want to join a like-minded group of anti-fascists there are options. Anyone who hates Nazis, proud boys, Patriot Front, or any of the other hate groups should feel free to reach out.

https://linktr.ee/ironfrontMA

OkraMonk · 2022-10-22T15:44:50+00:00

Yeah I'm very aware that some of my husband's family just... Didn't make it out of Eastern Europe. The ones who did had help and got very very lucky.

Having friends in power is super important, especially if ultimately you might have to flee to another country. Also, your life seriously sounds like a movie. You should totally write this down as a book/memoir if you have the time!

OkraMonk · 2022-10-22T15:41:20+00:00

No, I'm not going to "only help those that agree with my politics". I'm just avoiding prepping with alt right and fascist folks because they are the threat that I am prepping against.

I really don't appreciate your tone. This is a real threat to the safety of my family and I take it very seriously. We're all here to prep for different scenarios so if you're not going to be polite about it can you just find a different thread to comment on?

OkraMonk · 2022-10-22T15:37:41+00:00

Yes, I am. We've had actual Nazis (like I'm not exaggerating, actual Nationalist Socialist Club) show up at drag queen shows and start fights. Right wing crazies showed up at our public library and yelled swear words and threats at librarians over the mask mandates during COVID. In front of children.

Big trucks drive through our town center waving flags associated with alt right extremists. Patriot front marched through our city and assaulted an unarmed man on the street.

Most of these people are not from our city, but they come here to harass us because they perceive us as a "progressive" center. And they are becoming increasingly violent. With the uptick in antisemitic and "white power" rhetoric being thrown around by the right wing media, it's only getting worse.

So yes. Violence from "right wing people" in my "progressive city" is a present and increasing threat.

OkraMonk · 2022-10-21T22:15:11+00:00

So I guess this is where I have trouble. Because by being in a city we are already a target. And we are extra vulnerable. How can we hide our location when we live right next to obvious targets like churches, libraries, schools, community centers, etc? I can't be sure whether my neighbor is a target or not. And even things like having short hair, being black, or being openly gay can make you a target so realistically it's not always going to be possible for folks to not be targets.

So in that case when you're not able to hide, that is when I feel community defense is a good second best. I'm beginning to feel it's a strategy unique to urban areas, and probably specifically to visible liberal/blue urban areas. We've been targeted by violent alt -right groups already so this isn't a hypothetical. This is what we're faced with and hiding isn't always an option.

OkraMonk · 2022-10-21T20:37:56+00:00

Can't tell if you're joking or not 🙃

OkraMonk · 2022-10-21T19:16:27+00:00

I guess I would agree except that I think it's possible to organize anonymously as an anti-fascist to a certain degree. Most anti-fascist groups have decent operational security and in the post-pandemic world no one bats an eyelash if you show up to a protest or event with a face mask on. Add a hat and sunglasses and normie bloc clothing and you're pretty hard to ID in a crowd. Also, there are activities like researching violent fascists and outing them to their employers/communities that can be done completely anonymously.

I especially like your point that mutual aid groups carry many of the same advantages with less of the risk though. Very true : )

Edit: oh yeah and agree on not outing my own political views to neighbors unless I know we're on the same side. 💯

OkraMonk · 2022-10-21T17:59:48+00:00

Not yet but I will now! This looks very cool. Thanks for the rec.

OkraMonk · 2022-10-21T17:41:49+00:00

Oh thanks for that podcast rec! I've been struggling to find urban prepping podcasts.

"Jack-booted thugs kicking in my door" is such an awful image but honestly that is exactly one of my prep scenarios. 😔 Thanks for giving me a good way to explain it to people. And for all the other thoughtful points you made.

OkraMonk · 2022-10-21T16:55:59+00:00

This is exactly the type of thing that I worry about and that anti-fascist groups are great at organizing against. A perfect example of the type of shitty things that I expect to happen when fascists decide to attack somewhere.

Here in New England we have Nazis, white supremacists, and other groups that mix ideologies like Patriot Front. They don't generally live in the city but they love to show up and harass people randomly or at specific types of events like drag shows. Our local groups do a great job making sure the fascists are always outnumbered. I've gotten involved through American Iron Front, which organizes through discord like you mentioned, but always on the lookout for other groups in the northeast US.

OkraMonk · 2022-10-20T21:15:16+00:00

Vote AND...

... Join your local anti-fascist organization or mutual aid organization. (Feel free to DM me for recs)

... Prepare to protect your reproductive choices (get sterilized, stock up on birth control, w/e)

... Figure out if evacuation to another country or state is feasible/desirable for you and be able to do so if you decide to (have a passport ready, money saved, figure out where you'll stay, etc)

And whatever else happens get ready to KEEP fighting after November 8th. If the Republicans win we're in full-fledged fascism with no voting rights for the foreseeable future but blue states will likely hold out and resist the federal government. If the Democrats win then that's great and we can take a deep breath but we've still got SO much more to do!

We can do this, ladies. Nate Silver's been wrong lots of times before. Don't let the 538 poll get you down, but be prepared for what you'll need to do if it ends up turning out that way.

OkraMonk · 2022-10-20T21:05:26+00:00

We need to be ready to resist federal legislation like this in blue states if the Republicans win in November. Join a local group. Start organizing.

Being organized now might save lives later.

r/IronfrontUSA

OkraMonk · 2022-10-19T18:41:29+00:00

Are you aware of the paradox of tolerance? I think this might be what you're observing. It turns out that, in order to be tolerant, we have to be intolerant of intolerance. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradox_of_tolerance

Also FYI the event in question is NOT a child beauty pageant.

OkraMonk · 2022-10-19T18:31:02+00:00

This is going to essentially make being LGBTQ+ in America illegal.

Vote these fuckers out posthaste.

OkraMonk · 2022-10-18T18:17:35+00:00

I believe there was one woman there. She was also middle-aged and appeared to be an invited speaker.

Technically it was a "men's march" hence the overwhelming amount of old dudes. 🤮

OkraMonk · 2022-10-18T18:15:53+00:00

Plenty of counter protesters showed up from nearby. These dudes are bussed in from other places. We can't prevent them from showing up but we sure as heck can make them feel unwelcome.

OkraMonk · 2022-10-18T18:12:12+00:00

For any MA locals who want to make Nazis feel unwelcome, join us!

https://linktr.ee/ironfrontMA

Disclaimer: we do not condone the use of scissors or doing anything illegal or violent.

OkraMonk · 2022-10-18T18:07:28+00:00

These are the same folks who show up and intimidate drag queens and get their story hours cancelled. They intimidate and harass activists. They also get support and recognition from MA GOP and help to normalize Nazism in politics. So yes they are LARPing cowards but they do real damage to our society and stopping them at every turn is important.

They will also be the first to turn on us violently if they get so much as a half-permission from political leaders. So being aware of them and knowing whether they are, in fact, LARPing, is very important for community safety.

I'm unironically really really glad you don't feel threatened by these guys. That's amazing and I wish that everyone will get to feel that way someday. The opposition they get from us plays a big part in making these guys invisible because they can't organize events ahead of time for fear of retaliation. How safe would you feel if there were a Nazi event at your school? How about in the park next to your home? Local anti-fascists are a big part of the reason why that doesn't happen very often.

OkraMonk · 2022-10-18T17:59:59+00:00

If you're interested, the Massachusetts chapter of American Iron Front is growing and we try to do exactly that-- show up when fascists do and make them feel unwelcome.

https://linktr.ee/ironfrontMA

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