Last Updated on February 4, 2026 by Serena Zehlius, Editor
I got tired of hearing people use phrases like: “members of antifa” and “antifa destroyed property during the protest.” I need to alleviate my frustration and explain—antifa is an anti-fascist, anti-racist stance, not an organized group.
The strategic focus of antifa groups is to shut down far right attempts to destroy progressive social movements and promote authoritarianism.
Professor Mark Bray, author of The Anti-Fascist Handbook
Ready to be confused?
There are people on the far left who dress in all black, wear masks, and destroy property, who aren’t anti-fascist.
And just as not every person who dresses in all black and carries out acts of violence is anti-fascist, not everyone who is anti-fascist wears all black and commits acts of violence.
Fun fact: Congress attempted to pass legislation designating antifa a terrorist group during Trump’s first term.
Bottom line: It’s not a group and it’s certainly not a “terrorist organization” as President Trump suggests.
Each time you hear someone attacking people and labeling them as antifa, respond by replacing any mention of “antifa” with “against fascism.”
MAGA: “People on the Left are all antifa terrorists.”
YOU: You’re right. Almost everyone on the Left is against fascism, but they aren’t terrorists. Vietnam War soldiers considered themselves antifa because they fought to protect our democracy and freedom. Are you saying you’re PRO fascism?”
Professor Mark Bray from Rutgers University, author of The Anti-Fascist Handbook describes antifa this way:
”As I explain in my article “Five Myths about Antifa” for The Washington Post, although there are antifa groups, like Rose City Antifa in Portland, Oregon, antifa is not itself a group. Most of what antifa groups do revolves around monitoring far right groups […] Anti-fascists have also been part of Black Lives Matter, Occupy Wall Street and other social movements and have been active in different unions, community organizations and other forms of struggle.”
From CBS:
“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”.
Doesn’t that tell you everything you need to know about why Republicans are against Antifa?
If you know someone who misuses the acronym pass this on this explainer.
More fascist-related content:
Fascism: Could it happen here?
