Opinion/Trump's Attacks on Antifa Are Attacks on Jews

American Jews cannot support Trump's 'war' on anti-fascism and his camp's conspiracy theories about the 'hidden hand' behind legitimate protest and dissent

Ari Paul

When Joel Feingold, a housing-rights organizer and editor, was arrested for breaking curfew June 3 outside his Brooklyn home, he expected to be interviewed by cops, as he had been a part of the anti-police racism and brutality protests for most of that day. What he didn’t expect at the 78th Precinct was to be interviewed by a federal agent about his political beliefs.

The questions about the politics of the protest movement were chilling. Eventually, they told Feingold they just wanted him to help them find out who was "hijacking" the movement. Feingold said nothing. "It had a serious authoritarian feel," he told me in a phone interview. "Having a federal agent asking about the politics of the situation felt authoritarian. This is further evidence of the deepening authoritarianism and flirtation with fascism of this government."

Feingold isn’t alone. As activist attorneys have reported, local and federation agents have interrogated several arrested protesters about their political inclinations, including what their stance is towards anti-fascism.

The police interest in anti-fascism isn’t academic. It’s in lockstep with the narrative being pushed by the White House. As the protests triggered by the killing of George Floyd have raged, with as many as 11 protesters dead by police hands nationwide, President Donald Trump announced he would designate Antifa – short for anti-fascist – as a "domestic terrorist organization."

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