what is antifa

Antifa is a contraction of the phrase “anti-fascist” and refers to a decentralized network of far-left militants that oppose what they believe are fascist, racist, or otherwise right-wing extremists. Antifa is a left-wing anti-fascist and anti-racist political movement in the United States, consisting of a highly decentralized array of autonomous groups). Antifa groups frequently conduct counter-protests to disrupt far-right gatherings and rallies. They often organize in black blocs, use improvised explosive devices and other homemade weapons, and resort to vandalism. Antifa members campaign against actions they view as authoritarian, homophobic, racist, or xenophobic. Although antifa is not affiliated with other movements on the left, its members sometimes work with other local activist networks that are rallying around the same issues, such as the Occupy movement or Black Lives Matter. Antifa is not a highly organized movement, nor is it merely an idea. Antifa is a loose affiliation of local activists scattered across the United States and a few other countries. The term "antifa" is short for anti-fascist; its used both by its adherents and its foes. In general, people who identify as antifa are known not for what they support, but what they oppose: Fascism, nationalism, far-right ideologies, white supremacy, authoritarianism, racism, homophobia, and xenophobia. Some antifa activists also denounce capitalism and the government overall.