ITS WEIRD
Since when is questioning the Holocaust an act of fascism? Irving actually questions the body count, using a revised figure of 1.5 million.
Southern Poverty Law Center has been exposed by Harpers Magazine, the Baltimore Sun and other mainstream media sources. www.johntanton.org/answering_my_cri... number of hate groups and hate crimes cited by SPLC cannot be verified. Hate crime laws constitute double jeopardy, since crimes, such as assault, already carry significant penalties. The hate crime label can be used arbitrarily, like the terrorism enhancement used against some environmental activists.
It's easy to attack people for not having a political framework when none of it was printed. Here's a history lesson- in Portland white supremacists have attacked parties, shot up people's houses and murdered immigrants. True story. There's a large base of them still in the Pacific Northwest who openly talk about doing more, and the people who expose them are considered the reactionary hate-mongers? I feel like I'm taking crazy pills. Read "A Hundred Little Hitlers" and then we'll talk about reactionary politics in the Northwest.
This article is a warning about a very dangerous phenomenon against dissent (in many disguises) spreading in many directions across the US. It is extremely well organized and funded. This was an excellent - balanced and well written - article, and clearly describes one of the many faces of creeping fascism taking over our country community by community and state by state. I guess I would call it an example of "anonymous terrorism" by masked men practicing organized gang stalking. Organized gang stalking is a product of the CIA MKUltra program during the Cold War, and was developed in particular by the University of California under contract. Many universities, colleges and private institutions are under contract to train students and faculty on how to do it, so I am not surprised to read in the article that hate crime expert Stanislav Vysotsky, a Willamette University sociology assistant professor, was leafletting at the Rose City Antifa table and may or may not be associated with them. Another aspect of this targeting specifically of a 911 Truth group, is that the NSA set up a special "911 department" and has worked for years with local law enforcement to distance Wash. DC and the Mossad from 911. This is understandable since they were deeply implicated by many credible sources including recently the former President of Italy. They have used very nasty CoinTelPro tactics, similar to Rose City Antifa. Other egregious and outrageous examples of extremist groups like this targeting dissent - such as small independent newspapers - are similar to viscious attacks on the Coastal Post in Marin County north of San Francisco, and the Berkeley Daily Planet in Berkeley. Readers can go to COASTAL POST - www.coastalpost.com/ and/or the "Campaign Against the Berkeley Daily Planet" - www.berkeleydaily.org/issue/2009-06... THE REAL GOALS OF THIS TARGETING OF INDIVIDUALS AND NEWSPAPERS IS TO PUT THEM OUT OF BUSINESS, OUT OF JOBS, AND BANKRUPT THEM COMPLETELY SO THEY CAN NEVER SPEAK OUT AGAIN. THAT IS OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT AND IF WE DON'T CONTINUE TO EXERCISE IT WE ARE NOT TRUE PARTIOTS. Leuren Moret, Berkeley, California
Sounds like a bunch of Reed trust fund douche nozzles with too much time on their hands.
This article shows an amazing unwillingness to look at racism and anti-semitism.
The article states that Aneluskas says nothing overtly anti-Semitic in the speech, but after a brief vignette about using a bathroom in the Twin Towers (his only connection to the WTC bombings that the 9/11 group is supposed to be about) he mentions that he won't be talking about "Jewish control" as much as he "should" and then goes on to recommend a book about it. This is anti-Semitism in its most classical: the idea that Jews as a collective secretly control national and international institutions. This was used to justify the pogroms in Tsarist Russia (where the Jews where herded into remote ghettoes), in WWII and in other anti-Semitic actions. If Aneluskas said nothing else, he made an anti-Semitic comment, one that undoubtedly serves as a dog-whistle to those like-minded people in attendance.
The idea that "Polite Portland may seem the last city in the U.S. in need of anti-fascist squads," ignores the history of the state where anti-black policy was inshrined in the constitution and where at various times the KKK had a grip on the statehouse. It also ignores the history of the city of Portland where on Sandy a restaurant called the Coon Chicken Inn served as a landmark, its entryway through the oversized lips of a black caricature. It also ignores the recent history where in 1989 members of a local skinhead group with ties to a national skinhead movement beat Mulugeta Seraw to death.
In the wake of the Seraw death the Coalition for Human Dignity did a similar name and shame campaign to Rose City Anti-fa. There are differences. Antifa has chosen anonymity which hurts its power. More laudably is that Antifa is acting before violence results, not in response to a murder.
It is a false equivalency to turn the purveyors of hate speech in to victims. Hate speech serves to send a message to a portion of the community that they are not welcome. Responding to hate speech may well do the same to the purveyors of hate, but it serves to show the oppressed in the community that they are welcome. Simply shrugging and saying "the haters have a right to hate" strengthens their marginalizing power.
"In the end we will not remember the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends" - MLK
"Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." - Eli Weisel
"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor" -Desmond Tutu
(I realize the contradiction in decrying anti-fa's anonymity and being so myself, but I don't post my name on the internet)
Wow, you are all over the place.
Is your Eli Weisel quote justification for your support to invade Iraq? And depose a ruthless dictator who is pilaging, plundering, raping and massacring his own people? 'Cause that is what you argument looks like.
Using hate to fight hate? Kind of like using torture against our enemies? Sure looks like your message.
NEVER us using hate and extremeism acceptable.
What a great justification for your position against another to be able to point out hate and extremism.
I could be wrong, but I'm just sayin"...
your leap from a call to action to help the oppressed to a call for war is a remarkable one. No, it's not a justification of that (and why only the Weisel quote?)
The quotes are three iterations of the same idea: speak out against oppression. In this case the oppression is not coming in the form of government action as it was for Tutu, King & Weisel, but from the purveyors of hate who hope to create an environment where at best Jews and minorities are unwelcome and, at worst, where violence against them is allowable.
Now try to build another strawman. Nowhere does my response call for violence, torture or the invasion of Iraq.
I've been a Portland activist for over 11 yrs. I've followed this group's activities & I support them(as do most activists). I watched the whole Valdas program. The entire premise of the speech was that cultural Marxism destroyed structures of social inequity like sexism & racism(as if it was a bad thing). Valdas pointed to the 50s as a shining example of social structure. He lamented that you couldn't use racial slurs "even though our ancestors had been using them for generations". The racism was not veiled at all, just politely stated. Tim Calvert's anti-semitism has been a quiet concern among radicals for many years now. He's been treated with kid gloves because of his activist cred. Now look what happened. Ignoring the problem didn't make it go away. It made him think it was ok to bring fascist speakers to spread his racism. It's past due time someone called him out on it. I'm ashamed to say it wasn't me.
Portland has only recently become known for being a progressive city(thanks to Coalition For Human Dignity, SHARPS, ARA, punks, artists, etc.). Portland has an awful history right up to the 90s. Portland was ground zero for the "All White Homeland" plan. Complete with bombing campaign, armed compound/national headquarters, and mass leafleting Nazi propaganda. Metzger found Portland fertile ground for recruitment. Jello Biafra made Portland Nazis famous when he recorded his story of being chased by one of the many Nazi gangs that patrolled downtown in the late 80s & early 90s to "keep it white". Many people were assaulted & murdered in hate crimes. The Nazis took over the meth trade to fund their race war making them more powerful than ever. Many crimes were unreported because Nazis were on the police force. Nazis were moving here in droves because of the polite tolerance of their politics. It took extreme tactics to drive the Nazis out. Home demos, work demos, home destruction, street brawls, banning them from punk shows, etc. Guess who the corporate media supported back then too!
They haven't had the balls to show their faces here until a couple years ago. It starts over again, but this time Portland won't let it get so bad before taking action. Portland doesn't need permission from the Week Willy to put it's foot down.
Fuck you Pitkin and fuck you Willamette Week for publishing yet more radical bashing trash.
The freedom of speech is for everyone, I find, even the people I do not agree with. There is nothing to be gained in fear and anger based reactionary acts, even in the face of racist and violent people. That being said, it would help its message if members of Antifa would stop harassing local citizens who are only suspected rasists.
It's a tough line to walk, being judge and jury. Hopefully some hard facts are researched before Antifa starts protesting individuals again.
Holocaust deniers are not criminals, they just have an opinion, and whether it's wrong or not isn't for me to say. And until Orwell's thought-crime becomes law, it's still legal to have beliefs and ideas. This goes for either side of any issue.
I must also comment that this article implies to the more rudimentary reader that there is some connection between the 9/11 truth movement and neo-nazi hate groups. This open-ended idea does not resolve itself before the end of the article, which leads the reader into assuming that there is a direct connection. It is also mentioned but never gone into detail, the rise of hate groups since Obama became president, implying that critics of Obama are inherent racists.
I know the Willy-Week isn't that big of a paper, but try to cover your bases before printing, we are living in a very serious and literal time. We need to stop the fear and confusion, not add to it, as this article seems wont to do.
History says their opinion runs counter to established fact. It takes little bravery to come out and say that.
The first amendment does protect hate speech, it also protects the right to speak out against it.
Citizen,
Per this and your previous posts: You are letting your loathing cloud your reasoning.
You say we must use hate against hate groups, you are wrong. Hiding behind masks and encouraging violence, your response smacks of facism.
Hate is hate, and it is ALWAYS the wrong argument. Sinking to THEIR level of hate says more about you than your target. Do you belong to ELF?
To the Editor, Willamette Week:
As co-authors of a scholarly study of neonazism, we both were shocked by the selective and biased presentation of our views in the recent article by James Pitkin, �Anti-Fascist Front.� We wish to correct the record.
Chip Berlet: I do not quibble with the quote that appeared. Pitkin is well aware, however, that 90% of the interview I gave him was supportive of the public confrontation by the anti-fascists. Some folks in Portland�s otherwise progressive community have a long and reprehensible history of tolerating and even promoting conspiracy theories tinged (or awash) with racism or antisemitism. I explained this to Pitkin in detail, and suggested for interviews several other well-know progressives aware of this dynamic. At least one was interviewed by Pitkin. While I am critical of certain tactical methods used by the anti-fascists, I otherwise wholeheartedly support their public condemnation and exposure of racists and antisemites.
Stanislav Vysotsky: As a sociologist doing ethnographic research, I try to remain a neutral observer when I am conducting field research. For Pitkin to imply I am secretly working with the anti-fascist group is inaccurate; calls into question my integrity as a scholar; and makes my work more difficult. What I told Pitkin was a summary of current social movement theories explaining how movements and counter-movements use tactical and strategic activities in propaganda, mobilization, and recruitment campaigns. Thus what I said can be found in scores of sociological books, chapters, and journal articles. I was speaking as an academic, not as member of the anti-fascist group.
Chip Berlet
Stanislav Vysotsky
09/23/2009
Antifa. What a joke. This gaggle of deluded, white bread suburbanites should ask their parents to get em some capes and underoos to match the masks. Christmas is just around the corner.
How do these "activists" expect to be taken seriously when they are not brave enough to show their own faces? I respect and support anti-racism causes especially since I am of mixed race myself, but as a grown man I find it extremely difficult to align myself with a group that hides their faces and behaves in such a child like manner.
Political activists who wear masks (face-covering bandanas) in public are cowards.
To the Editor, Willamette Week:
Having organized against both the radical and far right in the Pacific Northwest, as a staff member of both the Community Alliance of Lane County and the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment from 1990 until 2003, I am extremely disappointed with this article by Willamette Week.
While Pitkin and the editor obviously made a "journalistic" decision to condense the nearly hour long interview with me and place it out of context, more disturbing is the Willamette Week's willingness to underplay a serious issue of anti-Semitism that exists in Oregon. The downplaying of the obvious organized anti-Semitism and Holocaust Denial activities of the Pacifica Forum are simply unfathomable and journalistically unbalance.
With several phone calls to Eugene, OR one can find varied political sources who verify the concerns, about Pacific Forum's anti-Semitism and its interaction with Portland "radicals," that the Rose City Anti-Fascists raised. I did so and am surprised that Pitkin chose not to. Or possibly Pitkin did make these phone calls and Willamette Week chose not to report the facts.
Pitkin ignores the major point made by each of the anti-hate organizations that you interviewed (Center for New Community, Political Research Associates, and the Southern Poverty Law Center). Each organization was clear with Pitkin that the real issue facing Portland was not the tactics of Rose City Anti-Fascists but the historical unwillingness of liberal and progressive activists/institutions (like Willamette Week for instance) to confront far right organizing within its midst.
The repercussions for not doing so in the Pacific Northwest have historically led to serious consequences. It appears that Pitkin ignored this history in hopes of convincing the Portland community that the same direct action organizing techniques utilized for nearly 150 years by radicals is now wrong when it comes to confronting organized bigotry. While the Center for New Community may differ on tactics utilized by the Rose City Anti-Fascists it absolutely supports the right of this group to hold accountable and make public those individuals and institutions that choose to flirt or embrace far right ideologies including anti-Semitism.
Both James Pitkin and the Willamette Week have done a disservice to the readers of the Willamette Week who turn to the paper as a source of real information and insight not found in the mainstream media. Instead this week they received what can only be called an individual reporters vindictive attack.
I'm truly sorry that Jim Pitkin was able to pull a statement from me out of context in an attempt to give this Willamette Week story a veneer of balance. Fox News would truly be proud.
Eric Ward
09/23/09
Thank you James Pitkin for your courage and defense of free speech. They will accuse us of everything, but we must continue to investigate 9/11.
Oh geez, i hardly know where to start.
I most definately support ANTIFA actions. Afterall, there's absolutely a threat from right-wing extremist thugs, even here (or especially here?) in Portland. I've demonstrated at Lents park during an anti-facist rally in 2007, just afew months after being arrested/brutalised by cops at an anti-war/imperialist rally in downtown. Hate crimes & violent reprisals have indeed shot straight up since last Fall. Plus, some cowardly piece-o-shit has [once again] been busy trashing my [SE Belmont] neiborhood with "Nationalist Alliance" stickers.
That said...
... "The tactic can also prove clumsy. In May, Rose City Antifa published the addresses of two Volksfront members living in Southeast Portland, including a telephone number for the skinheads� landlord. Trouble was, the landlord had died more than two months before of diabetes and heart disease. Callers instead reached his grieving widow."
Is THIS true? B/c if it is, it was a very foolish & jackass move. C`con folks, yall gotta atleast do your thurough research.
Another thing...
... regarding Tim Calvert, what evidence is there to even mildly suggest that he's an anti-semite? Because based upon what i've [so-far] read, Mr.Calvert seems to indeed be a very thrurough Leftist. So i don't understand how he could be at all anti-semitic.
Also...
... i sincerely hope that my fellow komrades in RC ANTIFA are sensible enough to tell the difference b/t being anti-ZIONIST & anti-jew! There is a difference b/t calling out Israel (one of the most thuroughly racist states in the world) on the Aparthied it inflicts upon the people of Palestine, & calling the Holocaust into question!!!
B/c to me, that difference isn't at all a fine line. It's a very broad, well-defined line. So denouncing someone as anti-jew, for simply raising questions about Israel's countless human-rights violations is as stupid, thoughtless, & reactionary as calling a Metalhead a nazi b/c he's wearing a band shirt with runic symbols on it! Plus, it plays right into the (very pro-zionist)Anti-Defamation Leagues' hands!
If people have doubts on the accuracy of Rose City Antifa's claims regarding Tim Calvert, one only needs to look on Portland Indymedia to verify these claims.
RCA has a spotless record in verifying their facts, unlike this sorry excuse for a weekly rag.
And also among Portlands radical left, there is a clear distinction between Anti-Zionism and Anti-Semitism. However this is a line that many fascists (ie National Socialists) have been making a conscious effort to blur. The video posted by the RCA of Tim Calvert et al hosting Valdas Anelauskas (a self-declared "racialist")is clear proof to anyone with an informed political analysis.
"One only need look at Indymedia to verify those claims"... come on.
Since when did Indymedia and its anecdotal reporting becoming a bastion of credible news?
"... i sincerely hope that my fellow komrades in RC ANTIFA are sensible enough to tell the difference b/t being anti-ZIONIST & anti-jew!"
this is a red herring. the people in question are not speaking about Israel. They are talking about Holocaust Denial and typical antisemitic conspiracy theories about how groups of Jews control the media, educational system, etc.
There is no reason to bring up the complicated relationship between antisemitism and anti-zionism here.
well its how i feel about the crying www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGReJL7Zu0U
Thanks you James Pitkin for the well done article.
Mike's video does a good job in describing the Rose City Antifa at this time. I pray they will become more mature and dry their tears. Maybe at that point they will be able to begin a dialogue with members of the Portland 911 Truth Alliance to learn what we really believe and desire for our country that has been taken over by fascist like Bush and now Obama and company.
Rose City Antifa's response to Pitkin's article may be found here:
PORTLAND911TRUTH ROCKS!
keep standing up for free speech and investigations. Thanks to group efforts we know about the Harley Guy and other suspects on 911.
groups.yahoo.com/group/Portland911T...
911-harley-shirt-guy.blogspot.com/2...
groups.yahoo.com/group/Portland911T...
forum.911movement.org/index.php?s=1...
forum.911movement.org/index.php?s=d...
PORTLAND911TRUTH HAS NOTHING TO HIDE
KEEP FREE SPEECH FREE
peace
Are you nuts?
ive been a skinhead for 15yrs and my days of bullying and bashing others for being different are long over.this is the us. right?i can think what i want!what u antifucs ok to bully and bash.
Perhaps if the 9/11 Truth Alliance didn't have a fetish for dabbling in National Socialist politics this wouldn't be happening. The "truther" scene has since its beginning been ridden with fervent Nationalism, Racism/Xenophobia, and Political Confusion.
Its not a great feat to take politically confused "truthers" who blame the 9/11 attacks on some insidious "neo-con" conspiracy for world domination, and change the target to "jews", "ZOG", "Communists" etc etc.
Its little wonder you'll also find many of the same confused "truthers" being supporters of the political smoke and mirrors of racists like LaRouche. All in all one can conclude that many of these truthers are merely pawns in a senseless politcal struggle in which they hold next to no comprehension of.
Not all fascists wear Nazi arm bands or Klan robes!
No Platform for Fascists! Nunca Pasaran!
Fascism should not be tolerated in any expression. It must be shut down and squashed- did we learn any thing from the history of WWII. People need to use their heads, fascism is not just and expression of another political opinon, if it is gone unchecked people die. Bottom line.
There was recently an article in either the Portland Observer or the Skanner, I can't remember which, reporting on a surge of racist attacks in the Portland area. I don't have the article in front of me, and the internet pages for those two local papers aren't updated, so I can't post the specifics here now, but anyone in Portland can look it up for themselves. Interesting that the reporter for the WW did not actually report on this upsurge of specifically white-supremecist group activi in the area and, in fact, gave the impression that the opposite is true. Pretty shoddy reporting that is actually irresponsible and damaging.
Some other responses to the article:
Grace Grant, reportedl a member of LAughing Horse, is quoted as comparing ARA with the early colonialists' treatment of heretics....what a heretical statement! The early colonialists were genocidal murderers, and they also murdered each other if tey spoke out against the ongoing genocide inn their midst...and now ARA is being compared to these murderers for speaking out against the genocidal rhetoric of white-supremecists?...just bewildering...oh, well, I never buy anything from that place anyhow. I think that it's fine if that person who wants to defend nazis wants to not be a part of a community that takes a stand against racist organizing.
Then Tim Calvert compares ARA to the Inquisition, Stalinists, and the Catholic Church....but i guess it's ok to support white-supremecist holocaust-deniars and not compare them to, oh, say, the nazis or something terrible like that? Anyhow, ARA is not killing anybody nor encouraging the mass-murder of people. Sorry Tim if you feel like you personally are under attack for supporting racists, but that doesn't translate to prejudice or discriminatory hatred. You are under attack for your actions in support of racists.
Comparing what ARA does to the gay-bashing of the past, as one commentor did, is just ridiculous. That's like comparing the actions of some fighting of a would-be rapist to the violent acts of an actual rapist. Are people really this thoughtless, or are haters posting nonsense on indymedia to try to detract from ARA's support in the community?
If the "grieving widow" who rents to nazis actually doesn't support nazis, then why doesn't she give them their 30-days notice to move-the-fuck on? If she's giving them a place to live and organize, then she is supporting them, regardless of what she says.
Another funny thing that the WW's "reporter" wrote: he referred to David Irving as a "historian." According to wikiepedia, "Irving's reputation as an historian was widely discredited[3] after he brought an unsuccessful libel case against the American historian Deborah Lipstadt and Penguin Books in 1996. During the trial, an English court found that Irving was an "active Holocaust denier," as well as an antisemite and racist, and that he "associates with right-wing extremists who promote neo-Nazism."[4] The judge also ruled that Irving had "for his own ideological reasons persistently and deliberately misrepresented and manipulated historical evidence."[4][5]
On a visit to Austria, Irving was apprehended, tried and convicted of "glorifying and identifying with the German Nazi Party", which is a crime in Austria under the Verbotsgesetz law. He served a prison sentence from February to December 2006 on the charges."
All it takes is a brief look through David Irving's website to see that he idolizes Hitler and could be accurately described as a nazi-sympathizer. But for some reason, "reporter" James Pitkin doesn't use these terms to describe Irving. Instead, he describes him as a "historian," imprisoned for "denying the Holocaust." True, Irving openly denies that the Holocaust happened, but, as quoted above from the wikipedia article, he was imprisoned for "glorifying and identifying with the German Nazi Party."
As for the mentioning and coverage of the demonstration at nazi-supporting Embassy suites, MR. Putkin seems to be trying to color the event as a failure and condescendingly comments that Rose City Antifa members congratulated themselves on Indymedia anyways." Obviously, Antifa was there first and with more people than the nazis or even the Embassy Suites nazi-supporting staff and could have shut it down by force and violence, but chose a different tactic, which was successful at disrupting this attempt at nazi-organizing. Supporters both in person and on Indymedia is by no means limmited to ARA or Antifa members.
Also, it appears that the WW used video footage from the Indymedia website on their internet site. Is that legal?
Anyhow, a shitty article.
The article reads
" Along with the usual assortment of bills and junk mail was a pink envelope postmarked from Portland with no return address. Titrud opened it and found a greeting card covered with pink flowers. The card read, “Thinking of You.”
Also included was a color photo of Hitler, with runic symbols scrawled across his face and around his head. On the back of the photo were Germanic runes that spelled out the words “Destroy Yourself.”
Titrud, who is 50 years old and lives with his wife, was not surprised, nor did he call police. The letter included a calling card for Rose City Antifa, a Portland anti-racist group that recently tried to shut down an event Titrud helped organize featuring a speaker who’s been accused of anti-Semitism. "
1. Who translated the Germanic runes? And how did they know they were Germanic? There are several rune forms, including Elder and Anglo Saxon.
A friend of mine in the Asatru pagan community says runes spelling "Destroy yourself" would be unreadable to anyone unfamiliar with runes. Compare to runes spelling "sit", which would look like primitive letters. And Dalecarlian runes are the only ones with a clear modern "y".
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runic_alphabe...
2: What is a Rose City Antifa "calling card"? Is that a business card? If so, that letter could have come from anyone. Most groups pass out contact materials to anyone.
Its a stretch to think Rose City Antifa, not shy about public demonstrations, is mailing cryptic notes in ancient runes to suspected Nazis. This aspect of Titrud's story should have been questioned more vigorously by James Pitkin. Especially as Titrud wasn't interested in notifying police about the "creepy weird" people who know where he and his family lives.
Antifa has no motive for a silly tactic that might make people feel sorry for the fascists.
Exactly what I was thinking. Sending crap in the mail is not Antifas MO. We know Antifas MO: shout outside a racist event to shut them down. Put up posters of people organizing racist events(not for being racists, for ORGANIZING racism). Antifas takes credit for their actions. Antifas(to best of my knowledge) has NOT taken credit for this Hitler card and has no history of acting like this.
But we know what type of people do. FASCISTS.
www.designbytes.com/a_waterm.html
"The firebombing, cross-burning and 'hate letter' are forms of 'malicious harassment'(IC 18-7902) and qualify this criminal attack as a 'hate crime'. The local police department has failed to register this crime as a 'hate crime' which would have required the investigation to continue for five years."
Someone wants the fascists to look like victims or wants Antifas to look like fascists(both?).
yeah that was confusing. the way the story starts you think tim titrud is part of the antifascist front and fascists are harassing him. talk about bad writing.
can anyone explain how antifas got tim titruds address or why they would send him shit? wtf this story smells.
Everyone always goes to "free speech" when radicals (we're NOT progressives) try to silence oppressors.
Free speech is a right given to us by the government. It means the POLICE can't show up at a Nazi event and say, "you can't have this talk!" It does NOT mean that the people can't silence people who are wrong and harmful- in fact, many of us view it as our duty to silence people like Nazis, since no one else will do it for us.
An important correction. Free Speech is a fundamental right of the PEOPLE in the United States, and the GOVERNMENT is prohibited from interfering with it with few narrowly-defined exceptions. There is NO law probiting activists from telling other people to shut up, and publicly condemning their bigoted speech. Disruption and violence is problematic and can be illegal, but there is NO law against agitating for someone to be fired because they disgrace the community in which they have sought, and been given, cover.
What the article fails to mention about the posters put up along NW 21 and 23 which notify the neighborhood that Julian Lee is Nazi trash is that Antifa did extensive research after dozens of Nazi stickers were put up in the area, and they KNOW it was Julian Lee who did it (the stickers pointed people to a website run by Julian Lee, plus some folks were able to give a description of the person seen putting up the stickers which matches Lee). So don't go implying that Antifa hadn't done their homework and was perhaps calling out an "innocent" man.
And as far as publishing a phone number which went not to a landlord but to his "grieving widow," who is the landlord after the husband dies? That grieving widow is. And for her to say she doesn't support Nazism is untrue when she is providing housing to one of them.
Portland activist have long stood by companies and individuals who have taken a stand against Nazis. Had she chosen to end their lease, there would have been people in this community to help ensure she didn't suffer financial loss while finding new, non-Nazi renters.
Even despite that, the claim that someone can't kick a Nazi out of his house for fear of "financial loss" implies that for the right amount of money, anyone would support facism.
You do know that it would be illegal for the landlords to evict tenants based on their political beliefs, right?
Tracy:
Go to pdx911truth.com to see the antifa business card and the writing on the back of the photo.
Tim Titrud
Thank you. That makes it a little clearer. I'm told the transliteration is correct. Using red paint and a brush seems melodramatic...
The next questions would be:
1. Who translated it?
2. Of the five photos why was the envelope not included? The envelope, even without a return address, would have date and zip code information that would tell what part of the city it was sent from. The Antifa's office could weigh in...or eliminate...the possibility of their people being involved.
It looks very unlikely this is from Antifa, at least officially. If someone got carried away, I expect Antifa will give them a talking to.
Of course these questions should have been explored by Mr. Pitkin in the course of his journalistic responsibilities. I hope Mr. Pitkin at least was able to view the envelope.
what tim titrud doesnt want ppl to know
ppl in teh portlandtruthalliacne run a conspiracy forum where they say
/ALL THE VICTIMS ARE FAKE AND GENERATED BY A DECADE-OLD COMPUTER PROGRAM/
forum.911movement.org/index.php?s=3...
timmyz profile
forum.911movement.org/index.php?s=3...
the portland911group
forum.911movement.org/index.php?s=3...
they also got antijew holocaust denial stuff
forum.911movement.org/index.php?s=1...
forum.911movement.org/index.php?s=2...
forum.911movement.org/index.php?s=2...
and some psycho weird sh1t about single mothers
forum.911movement.org/index.php?s=2...
i can totally believe these ppl are nazis
Thanks Willamette Week, from all those on the receiving end of the slander and threats from Antifascists and Indymedia.
One possible answer to this odd situation:
"The most perfidious way of harming a cause consists of defending it deliberately with faulty arguments." - Nietzsche.
This method is also known as 'poisoning the well.' But to add to another well-worn phrase, 'please don't throw the 9/11 truth baby out with the disinformation bath water!'
Many who've seriously looked into the evidence about 9/11/2001 agree with or lean toward some form of 'inside job' explanation for what happened that day. Take a hard look at the damning DVD "9/11 Mysteries," or carefully read books like "Crossing the Rubicon" and "The 9/11 Commission Report: Omissions and Distortions." These are almost impeccable in their critical analyses of 9/11/2001 when compared to 'official' conspiracy story sources, and, when combined with looking at everything else investigators can find out about it, feel they have little rational choice other than to see the events of 9/11/2001 as having been some form of 'inside job.' And this isn't even mentioning the fairly recent discovery of nano-thermite chips in WTC tower debris by Steven Jones, et al. < tinyurl.com/dny6mo >
Well, if an 'inside job' was indeed at work, then associating in the public's mind
(a) the 9/11 truth movement
plus
(b) racism and/or other bizarre theories
equals
*precisely* what those who might be covering up any 9/11 'inside job' would want: more cover.
Indeed, they may want this association meme so badly that they try to *make sure* it happens.
Consider this scenario: Provocateurs are put into grassroots, progressive-leaning 9/11 groups, and honest citizen investigators are one by one ousted by incessant personal attacks, harassment, real and faked internecine 'fights,' or just the general negative atmosphere of group meetings. These ousted citizens are quickly replaced by followers of bizarre &/or racist theories and yet more provocateurs. Public figures are invited by the group to speak; some speakers are authentic 9/11 researchers/whistleblowers, others spout bizarre &/or racist theories. The general public, of course, doesn't know which is which in advance but eventually learns to associate the concept of "9/11 truth" with "bizarre &/or racist theories" and subsequently steers clear of anything having to do with "9/11 truth."
It certainly doesn't help that some of the leading exponents of mainstream 9/11 truth seem oblivious to this phenomenon, occasionally even appearing themselves on openly racist talk shows and conferences. But even given that disturbing situation, the evidence for 9/11/2001 having been some form of 'inside job' is simply too overwhelming to brush aside as 'fascist conspiracy mongering.' (But it does make one wonder about the degree of naivete' or ultimate allegiances of said leading exponents....)
Anyway, IMHO the irony of this present situation with Tim Calvert, Portland 9/11 Truth Alliance, et al may be this:
The expressed anti-Jewish, etc. sentiment is not motivated by actual disdain toward Jews, etc. so much as simply wanting to implement cynical disinformation designed to fracture the 9/11 truth movement both internally and from the 'left/progressive' public.
But whether authentic racism or cynical tactic, allowing oneself to be swayed to believe that the 9/11 truth movement is dominated by ugly racists and bizarre theories is also counter to the facts about the mainstream of that movement. (For just a few examples, see www.911truth.org, www.911blogger.com, www.truthaction.org, stj911.org (Scholars for 9/11 Truth & Justice), and pl911truth.com (Political Leaders for 9/11 Truth).)
As far as the term 'conspiracy theory' used pejoratively, progressives and allies should take a hard look-and soon-at "Conspiracy Phobia On the Left" by Michael Parenti, who is hardly a wild-eyed radical right-winger (see
www.questionsquestions.net/document... ).
KBOO also recently broadcast a talk Parenti gave about how so many on the left have been led to reflexively dismiss any discussion of conspiracy by those in positions of power.
Also consider this: There really is a sizable percentage of the neo-Nazi, white-supremacist movement who sincerely consider themselves to be environmentalists and even make statements for protecting/living harmoniously with Nature. Suppose a local environmental group was dominated by such people, and suppose it invited speakers of their outlook to give talks about it. Does that mean that progressives and their allies should immediately abandon working for environmental causes or otherwise on behalf of Nature? Of course it doesn't. But by the same token, the racist actions of the Portland 9/11 Truth Alliance shouldn't mean that progressives and their allies should abandon uncovering and spreading the truth about 9/11/2001.
Why? BECAUSE WIDESPREAD PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE OF THE FACTS OF 9/11/2001 ENDS THE WARS, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC. The attacks of 9/11 were done-in part-to generate and maintain those wars. Widespread willful ignorance/fear/denial of that knowledge by the public, on the other hand, simply maintains the Empire's status quo: endless wars and endless suffering for many, leading to endless profits and endless power for few.
The stakes involved in widespread 9/11-truth knowledge are absolutely enormous; that's why there's such a big disinformation push by those wanting to maintain the coverup and maintain this status quo. Yes, the ramifications of 9/11 truth are deeply disturbing-there's been and continues to be betrayal and manipulation on a large scale (though many doing so no doubt were/are being manipulated/duped by various means), and 9/11 truth itself is only the tip of a very big social pathology iceberg.
Transforming this situation for the better requires widespread knowledge of the actual facts involved. So follow the truth wherever it leads and expose it to light, but-as the situation in Portland is now pointing out-just also be sure to use great care when choosing those to expose it with.
"PORTLAND911TRUTH HAS NOTHING TO HIDE"
LOL. Tell that to Mark Humphrey, a Canadian actor harassed by members of this group as "The Harley Guy".
Or Google "Harley Guy Nazis".
They're whining about slander by Antifa? Lol. Antifa is being NICE, all things considered...
Bravo - well stated Jay. You have hit the nail on the head!
Silly
Forget the differences lets go after the Washington, wall street Criminals.Quit playing penny anti. Yers its me. I am still around
Am I the only one that sees this article as a shit stirring attempt? This is the worst kind of reporting, and I don't say that with any bias towards WW or Mr. Pitkin (who I think is actually a fine journalist). It's the old 'Look, a threatening group of radicals!' story. I'm not a member of Antifa, but it wouldn't take a genius to see that this article's purpose is nothing but to shine a bad light on a group that may or may not deserve the bad press. It reads as if Antifa is a sort of inquisition against those who might think some racist thoughts. I believe they are most likely going after people that are trying to organize or promote those ideas.
And if they do that in an ethical way, I don't see a problem.
Maybe I'm wrong. I don't know the whole story, and I definitely didn't get it out of this article.
Couple of things. First, Portland is not the "polite" city you say it is in terms of racist activity. I only occasionally listen to local news, but swastikas, church-burnings and racist graffitti are often in it. The public library will yield information about a Klan murder of international notoriety in the 1980's (that's not ancient history to me).
Second, I think the author is quoting a pretty naive expert on "social movements" if they are not aware of the schism between the peace-nik pacifists and the younger & angrier anarchists.
Third, there is a real threat, and it is racism that obscures our knowing the connections between many of the "white guy gone crazy" crimes such as Oklahoma City and Columbine. The connection is fascism, Hitler, and an agenda that is only hidden because it is allowed to be.
You do realize that Oklahoma City was retaliation for the governments abuse of power at Waco and Ruby Ridge! Don't you?
So i see WW isn't allowing any more comments on this article.
The Bush government was full of Zionists. So are the USA's largest banks, the major media, and the Hollywood film industry. It's very likely that the Israeli Mossad assisted the CIA and the Pentagon in perpetrating the 9/11 attacks. Jews are wonderful people, but Israel is a grave threat to world peace, freedom and justice.
Good to know that "Jews are wonderful people", despite controlling USA's largest banks, the major media, and the Hollywood film industry. Why does it increasingly feel like 1933?
While claiming to oppose all forms of fascism, the Rose City Antifa has been conspicuously absent from rallies that protest the US invasion and occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan, and from rallies that protest the Israeli genocide against the Palestinian Arabs.
Portland Indymedia is controlled by the Rose City Antifa, who will allow no publication of comments that are critical of the Antifa on Portland Indymedia. The Rose City Antifa has no regard for free speech, and a reading of the Antifa members' writings reveals that the Antifa condones pre-emptive violence against anyone that they consider a 'threat to the community'.
The Rose City Antifa is essentially a vigilante organization with their own peculiar totalitarian agenda.
The Israelis and the Americans are the new Nazis, and the Antifa are their Brownshirts.
WTF Pitkin?
I am really curious as to where this level of malice towards RCA stems from. It is clear that this article was largely shaped by some sort of petty personal vendetta, and not by any sort of thoughtful analysis or dispassionate research of the far right and anti-racist organizing. Apparently Pitkin talked with many smart, well-informed people on this subject and chose to completely ignore them. It seems to me that someone that may have bristled initially at the tactics of RCA, would have at least been somewhat receptive to the insights that people like Chip Berlet, Eric Ward and others could offer. I am sure that they made well-reasoned arguments and provided a far superior, more nuanced analysis than the likes of Titrud or Calvert (who obviously have a very personal stake in undermining RCA).
Pitkin's obstinate refusal to veer from his half-baked conclusions despite the preponderance of evidence, his imperviousness to reason, his avoidance and suppression of context or facts inconvenient to his ends, seems to me like the willful ignorance of an ideologue.
So what's the deal?
And what about the uncritical post Pitkin made touting 911 Truth Alliance last week? Why wasn't that organization tagged as "controversial"? The 911 Truth Alliance had the single largest group presence at David Irving's talk. They have hosted a white separatist speaker (along with other radical right, homophobic, misogynist all stars). They continue to throw around anti-Semitic garbage at every opportunity (as in their ad nauseam accusations that somehow Israel or the ADL or some other Great Jewish Satan is actually funding antifa and really pulling the strings... because apparently Tim Calvert is totally at the top of the list of crucial enemies of the FBI-Mason-Jew-Reptiles that really run the world...).
Anyway, way to go Pitkin. You really messed up that strawman you created. Now you are winning fans like Tom Metzger (the racist mastermind behind the Seraw murder) and Jay Knott (of Pacifica Forum notoriety, BTW you can see him gearing up to see his fellow pseudo-intellectual nazi-lover, David Irving, in the indymedia photo montage from that event).
The unquestionably anti-Semitic Pacifica Forum is delighted with the piece, as I'm sure Stormfront will soon be.
And you really stuck it to that professor that was dumb enough to talk with you as if you were a reasonable person, or at the very least a somewhat reputable journalist. Pretty interesting that you feel like RCA are complete monsters for daring to post the personal information of fascist organizers, but you feel like it is totally fine to give the greater fascist community of Portland someone to peg their revenge on, albeit a hapless academic tangentially related to your target (just for the record, the Nazis are the ones that actually kill people, maybe you should have looked into that). But hey, you aren't fettered by the pesky shackles of ethics.
It's gotta feel great.
"I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." -- saying attributed to Voltaire
"I know many books which have bored their readers, but I know of none which has done real evil." -- Voltaire
"Let us read and let us dance -- two amusements that will never do any harm to the world." -- Voltaire
The real Voltaire: so unlike 'Voltairine' and the Antifa!
Tracy:
Hope this helps
1. Who translated it?
I had a friend translate it and to protect him I would rather not give out the information.
2. Of the five photos why was the envelope not included? The envelope, even without a return address, would have date and zip code information that would tell what part of the city it was sent from. The Antifa's office could weigh in...or eliminate...the possibility of their people being involved.
I now have it posted on the pdx911truth.com web site with my address covered up.
Tim Titrud
"I had a friend translate it and to protect him I would rather not give out the information. "
Understandable. Of course you shouldn't publish his(or anyone's) personal information without consent. Knowing it was "a friend" is enough.
Re: envelope. Thanks for scanning that. Though the zip is so blurred it's unreadable. Cjones brings up the question of how Antifas knew your address, but if you have your own business that's probably not hard to find out.
The relevant question is: has Antifas taken credit for what someone correctly identified was a fascist form of harassment? To date, the answer is "no". Jumping to the conclusion that, because of the Antifas' card, they sent it, would be what the sender intended.(not to question that assumption was amateurish on Pitkin's part since this incident of mail harassment seems to be the basis of this particular article)
We need to consider the possibility that a third party, with fascist sympathies, sent the letter with the deliberate intention of stirring upbad feeling against Antifas.
This is what the reporter should have done.
Tracy:
I was also going to respond to you at Portland Indymedia because you also posted there earlier. I noticed that my earlier post to you from yesterday was removed. Censorship is alive and well at Portland Indymedia.
portland.indymedia.org/en/2009/09/3...
Thank you for your very reasonable questions
Tim Titrud
As another poster perfectly pointed out, i'm deeply troubled [& annoyed] by the fact that a very ligitimate 9/11 TRUTH movement has been infiltrated by un-informed, quasi-agendist, RonPaul-Tards Who want to make wild claims about Jews & communists.
Basically, many of these rednecks simply are using 9/11 as an excuse to [more openly] vend any anti-semitic, anti-socialist, xenaphobic, or various other phobias & paranoias they've had festering within them for years.
I feel that such phobias have become a nation-wide, self-induced, psychosis that's allowed for false-flag attacks, so-called "swine-flu" hysteria, & beefed up militaristic police units on MAX lines (despite 0 threat).
As i type this, the media is inundated with terrorist plots, scary Muslims, "thwarted" attacks, etc.
Meanwhile, White Supremist, anti-Abortion terrorist groups, & many other far-right/ultra-christian groups have been steadly amassing their ranks. And further emboldend by millionair TV/radio wind-bags & even some [sitting] senators. Already, several foot-soldiers have gone out & murdered several people this year, including a doctor, a Black security gaurd, & a Latino man who was beaten to death by a gang of nazi cowards.
But the FBI & other law "enforcement" in this country are FAAAR more concerned with pursuing "Green" activists.
Black on white violent crime far exceeds the inverse. DOJ stats thoroughly back it up. If intellectual honesty means anything, we need to acknowledge racism in the US on the whole. It's not just about a handful of white kooks in funny hats.
Boy, these comments sure do make clear why the left can't pull its head out of its collective ass enough to get a damn thing done.
I'm all for exposing racist organizers and in general holding a hard line against overt racism, calling out people who crack racist jokes, etc. I don't support pressuring landlords and employers to break the law and kick out racists. It's very hard to support the argument that a landlord or employer supports racism or fascism or whatever awful belief system by employing or renting to even an avowed white supremacist. Why is that? Because it's ILLEGAL TO DISCRIMINATE with regards to both housing and employment. If there is evidence that the RCA has contacted the landlord of someone who has been evicted, they have a very good case to sue their former landlord, who didn't want to be called a racist. How terribly brave of you to put in legal jeopardy those who actually don't want to rent to racist fucks even as you yourselves remain anonymous.
You can claim you do thorough research, but what about the ramifications to the employers and landlords you bully by targeting racists at their work?
And what about all the rampant fascist rhetoric that is NOT tinged with overt racism? There's more to fascism than racism and the holocaust, after all.
Hey, I'm not a lawyer and this is not legal advice, but it appears as though Oregon law prohibits a landlord from discriminating on the basis of "race, color, sex, marital status, source of income, familial status, religion or national origin" (ORS 659A.421)
From what I can tell, it seems that Oregon law prohibits employers from discriminating on the basis of "race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status or age if the individual is 18 years of age or older" plus a few other categories. (ORS 659A.030)
I have not yet found any law stating that landlords and employers in Oregon are forbidden from chucking someone out because the person is trying to start a race war or is circulating anti-Semitic propaganda, but if you find that law, be sure to point it out here.
1. Like it or nor, it is *NOT* illegal for an employer or landlord to discriminate based on political beliefs. Look it up.
2. For all you tough talkers (that have likely done ZERO anti-racist/anti-fascist work) on the anonymity issue: Nazis in Portland have firebombed houses, have murdered people. People that do anti-fascist work may have families and partners that they may not want dead despite their political commitments. You would never know from this article but RCA has actually been very successful in disrupting the organizing efforts of groups like Vollksfront. These groups are rife with murderous thugs and zealots keen on vengeance. Also, the state is far more interested in immobilizing the left than the right. What good does it do to be tagged by the Feds? Also the intelligence work that RCA does requires that people not be readily recognizable. It is also handy to foment paranoia in fascist circles, much better that they not know who is really the enemy. I'm not sure what exactly people are thinking when they are so sanctimonious about the fact that RCA is anonymous. What exactly is the benefit? Martydom? Do they imagine that Nazis and Anti-fa are going to hold a public debate?
RCA had their chance to participate in this article, but they ran away from the reporter. NOw they are going to cry about the article and how the reporter got it all wrong. I tell you, the masked pussy is the perfect mascot for this group.
The responses on PIM are censored by RCA and the government goons they do the bidding of. They are the farthest thing from anarchists. Pssst.... wearing a bandana over your face doesn't make you anarchists. I agree with Cascara, RCA are brownshirts.
If you read the email transaction on PIM (run by the Zionist-CIA goon-Mason- Illuminati-Reptile Overlords that antifa serves), you can plainly see that RCA did grant an interview. WW refused to amend simple factual errors in it's previous 'Rogue of the Week' piece as well as the blog posting by Pitkin. Therefore the conditions of the interview were violated. If there wasn't even the most baseline good faith assurance that simple fact checking would be in place, why would they grant an interview? Obviously, it would have been butchered anyway, as everyone interviewed has stated their comments were.
Also ease up on the misogyny there Captain Anarchy. Do you even know what a brown shirt is? Do you understand that anarchists have fought fascists in far more vicious ways than RCA is currently doing and they were still anarchists? Being rude, or even mean, does not make you a fascist.
RCA is maddy waddy because they could not control the article. They pouted and stomped their feet because the reporter and WW controlled the article. Ah yes, RCA is used to being in control of their media since they control PIM. There is so much censorship over there that they live in their own little world. They throw around 'magic' words that get people all worked up. They also apparently don't think people are smart enough to make up their own minds. They don't think people should listen, learn, discuss, debate. No, rather, they would like to do all of that for us. RCA = Thinkpol. Is the RCA motto, "We think so you don't have to"? So tell me, Mister RCA Spokesman, what are the RCA views on Israel? On zionism? Palestine? What are they doing to make a stand regarding them? Anything? Or are they too busy harrassing local nobody Crimethinkers?
"I agree with Cascara, RCA are brownshirts."
no they arent. but someone wants people to think that. did you/someone you know send tim that weirdo card? way to be obvious.
Here's a reality check:
Tim Titrud's wife is a Japanese immigrant, and Tim lived with her in Japan for two years.
Most of the Portland 9/11 Truth Alliance members have Jewish friends with whom they are in frequent contact.
Zionism poses a serious threat to world peace, equal rights, and justice. Israel and Mossad were probable perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks, along with the CIA, Pentagon, and Bush Administration. Investigating Israel's participation in the 9/11 attacks is essential to understanding what happend on 9/11.
"Most of the Portland 9/11 Truth Alliance members have Jewish friends with whom they are in frequent contact."
yeah they used to say "some of my best friends are jewish"
and why are you publishing more information here about his family if he's being harassed by antifas? that's dumb.
To the Editor, Willamette Week,
The disparaging nature of James Pitkin’s recent article on Rose City Antifa was painfully (and dangerously) misleading. It’s articles like these by folks like Pitkin that make folks like me dubious of journalists is general.
While I could go on and on about the author’s unethical use of fear-mongering
(and subtle racism), I’d rather use this space to call out what was perhaps the most atrocious aspect of the article: by obscure suggestion, Pitkin likens Rose City Antifa to right-wingers who promote the death of choice-providing physicians. Not only is this an unethical and untimely comparison (given the recent murder of Dr. George Tiller), it is just plain calumnious nonsense. Since when are people fighting against organized racism and anti-Semitism in any way similar to people who advocate for the murder of fellow humans? Since when can we draw any parallels between people who are continuing on the work of folks like Rosa Parks and those who use violence against other humans to further their religious insanity?
Could Pitkin’s inability to differentiate between two such separate ideologies possibly spring from his own relationship to closeted anti-Semitic groups such as the 9-11 Truth Alliance? Pitkin was eager to discuss what the group was “up to” in his September 11 Blog Post “How Our Local 9-11 Truthers Are Commemorating the Day” (wweek.com/editorial/3546/13087/). While it’s not my place to say whether Pitkin and Titrud (and other 9-11 Truthers) have a collusion in all of this, it does seem clear that Pitkin has been publicly supporting Titrud (and his racist work and organizing) for some time now – especially given Pitkin’s smear job on Rose City Antifa on July 15th (Rogue of the Week).
Rose City Antifa is a group fighting for human liberation and against oppression. Their work is targeted at outing people who are actively organizing and supporting ideas of racism and anti-Semitism – something we should ALL be in support of. Do Portland a Favor and ask James Pitkin to offer Rose City Antifa a public apology.
In response to Pitkin's article last week on RCA:
There are two possibilties which emerge when Pitkin's article is placed under a critical light: Either Pitkin is a lazy journalist, or he is intentionally disingenous in how he presents information in his article.
Pitkin's article is rife with factual inaccuracies. His essential arguement, that RCA has unfoundedly accused a list of seemingly innocent conspiracy theorists, leftists, and other citizens of collusion with anti-semites and/or racists doesn't hold water. Two easily confirmed facts which Pitkin's article blatantly denies: although he attempts to paint Calvert, Titrud, and Analeuskas as innocent victims, Calvert has actually presented the world with video evidence (as referenced in Pitkin's article) which undermines both Pitkin's assertion that,"In a video of the lecture available online, Anelauskas makes no overtly anti-Semitic remarks. " In the video of the lecture posted at
en.sevenload.com/videos/XTOAEUI-Fra...
Calvert introduces Analeuskas, explicitly acknowledging Analeuskas having been challenged and acknowledges that despite being notified of Analeuskas' politics, he insisted on promoting and making his event happen. Furthermore, Analeuskas references noted Holocaust denier David Irving, and German neo-nazi Ernst Zundell, in his speech-Pitkin is either a lazy journalist or disingeneous in suggesting otherwise.
Pitkin goes on to refer to Irving as a historian, a laughable title for a man whose entire,"historical," career is based in bending and distorting historical realities to defend Hitler and Nazi Germany as victims of a campaign of Jewish lies. Analeuskas' speech goes on to decry the gains won by the organizing of people of color, sexual minorities, and women in this country as the central tenets of a conspiracy to undermine its very civilization.
The Portland 9/11 Truth Comission had a video link to this speech and still have the flier advertising the event posted on their website:
www.911truthgroups.org/Default.aspx...
Liberalism loves to hold up the banner of human rights and equality-until it comes time to defend them. With this article, WW continues in a long tradition of slandering and attacking the very people who have defended and fought hard for those ideals.
As with in the 80s and 90s here in Portland, it will be left to youth in the streets, anarchists, SHARPS, communists and other citizens who actually embrace humanist ideals to actually wage the struggles neccessary to defend those ideals. I'm crossing my fingers (but not holding my breath) that at least some of WW and others with the resources and power may land on the right side this time.
-Peter Little
So we 'obviously have a very personal stake in undermining Rose City Anti-Fascists', do we?
This reminds me of the comment by Zionists about the Jewish Film Festival in San Francisco. The Festival invited Cindy Corrie to introduce a documentary about her daughter Rachel, who was killed by an Israeli bulldozer: "We are appalled at the film festival’s decision to invite Cindy Corrie into our community. This bereaved mother cannot help but have a negative bias toward Israel".
Maybe we do have a stake in undermining 'anti' fascists who slander people who question the party line, spread white guilt and hearsay, exaggerate white extremism, try to get their critics fired or evicted, censor and threaten them, etc.. But we are ALWAYS open to dialog.
Unlike the pc hacks over at 'Indy' media, WW allows both sides, though hopefully you will remove thinly-veiled threats of violence. I particularly want to congratulate James Pitkin on his brave defense of Valdas Anelauskas. (This does not mean I agree with Valdas - I don't - though some of our self-appointed thought-cops seem to think listening to him means accepting his views). The media usually describes the mildest critics of Israel and its supporters as 'anti-semitic', but James and his editor have added a little to my hope and prediction that this country WILL eventually pressurize Israel to treat the Palestinians justly, as it leaned on apartheid South Africa. But it will be a long uphill fight - South Africa didn't have a fifth column of powerful supporters. American anti-racists opposed South Africa, rather than its critics.
The only time the infamous Pacifica Forum in Eugene gave a platform to advocating violence was when it invited a Zionist woman who defended Israel's 'right to defend itself' by lobbing phosphorus shells at schools in the Gaza strip. She was at the AIPAC meeting in Portland in March. Protesting outside was the 9/11 Truth Alliance. The subsequent campaign against this group is of course coincidental.
Obama has become O-bomber. Israel could soon unleash a war which could kill a million people and cause the collapse of the world economy. This is no time to play 'hunt the Nazi' in your local bike co-op. Let's unite for the anti-war rally in Pioneer Square, Friday Oct. 2, 5 pm..
"I particularly want to congratulate James Pitkin on his brave defense of Valdas Anelauskas. "
Pitkin had problems asking basic questions to investigate this story, something basic a determined, if not "brave", reporter would do. I suspect any "bravery" you percieve is accidental.
Contrary to what the Rose City Antifa says, trying to get someone fired from their job, sending someone threatening letters, and spreading malicious and unfounded rumors about people ARE acts of violence.
Visit the Antifa's websites and you will find that the Antifa endorses unprovoked violence, including beatings and murder, against anyone that the Antifa opposes. No wonder the Antifa is on the FBI's watch list.
The Rose City Antifa claims to oppose fascism in all of its forms, but we never hear about the Antifa attending any anti-war protests against the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan, or against the Israeli genocide of the Palestinians.
So I'm calling all of the members of the Rose City Antifa out, to attend the anti-war rally at Portland's Pioneer Courthouse Square at 5 PM on Friday, October 5th. At the rally, you will accompany the members of the Portland 9/11 Truth Alliance and other organized and independent anti-fascists in protesting the USA's imperialism and its wars of aggression, and also to protest racist, fascist Israel's murderous treatment of the Palestinians.
I encourage all of the members of the Rose City Antifa to wear their trademark bandana masks to the anti-war rally this Friday at Pioneer Courthouse Square. If the Antifa members don't wear their masks at the rally, how else can we recognize them?
It would also be helpful if the Rose City Antifa members came to the anti-war rally this Friday carrying anti-Zionist placards and a Palestinian flag to demonstrate their solidarity with the beleagured Palestinians.
Never Forget -- Zionism is fascism!
To all the members of the Rose City Antifa, I say this: "Attend the anti-war rally in Portland this friday wearing your bandana masks and carrying anti-Zionist placards. Be there or be fascists."
"ObaManiacs & their damned Marxist hate-crimes laws..."
Yeah, i see what this Valdas Anelauskas guy is all about, now! Also, he's a big fanboy of Pat Buchanan - another red flag. Anelauskas also refers to Jews as "those people".
And i'm sure Anelauskas would just LOVE it if America were to go back to the way things were in the 1950's. You know, back when there was still full-blow Aparthied, terrorism against Blacks, Gays had NO rights, Women could work few jobs, & churches were pretty-much rape-camps.
This guy goes on, in his broken English, about how Marxism & Liberalism are the greatest scourge facing the 21st century. Yet makes NO mention of FASCISM, of German prior to the 1950, modern fascism today, etc.
It's pretty damned clear where this guy's coming from. His speak isn't even coded!
It is a disservice, a distortion, and a danger to conflate anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism. It is very, very possible to disagree with Israel's occupation and at the same time oppose anti-semitism - they are, in fact, the same. None of we humans are defined by national boundaries and identity - thankfully.
Tracy:
Are you brave enough to make a statement that the tactics the antifa use to bully and intimidate people are wrong.
Tim Titrud
I can't speak for Tracy but the only bully tactic atributed to Antifas is this card you got in the mail. The article fails utterely to confirm this was the work of Antifas. Without that you don't have a case.
Anyone can send nasty mail with a business card to stir up trouble. Its easy. I could do it right now. This is Portland. All I do is go to any bulliten board, choose a card of someone I don't like, mail it to someone they don't like with nasty words, and presto! A shit fest to-go one of the corporate news rags in this town can use for filler.
Obviously there's bad blood between you and Antifas, but you've let this personal squabble cloud your judgement.
I'm a Jew and the last group of moron's I want defending me are RCA! Yeah, the Nazi freakshow here in Portland sucks, but you defenders of nothing should find another mission.
I just don't understand why WW would give this group any credibility by writing a story about it. To be honest, I've never heard of RCA until this article. They're a J-O-K-E stop giving them attention.
P.S. Take off the masks. Wearing them makes you all look weak and scared.
Sooo, lemme get this straight, Amazed:
You've NEVER so much as even HEARD of Rose City Antifa prior to THIS article. Yet, you've completely made up your mind already, as to what YOU think this group all about... ok.
You never bothered yourself to do any research, google/wiki any names, try & find out [alittle] more, about something you [admittedly] know nothing about; you just, take an iron-clan, knee-jerk reaction based upon one grossly flawed article.
And you're saying RCA should find [another] mission? What, beside combating fasicts & outing nazis? You say you're a Jew, & this isn't a NOBLE cause to you?!
Between the article and the inane posts from the deluded antifas and their zealous, frothing at the mouth supporters, I think we've got all the info we need. These kids are a bunch of kooks. Fortunately they've got time to grow up. Most will I trust.
>>> Bill
I didn't know a damn thing about Valdas Anelauskas prior to this article. So i looked him up. I watched the entire video of Anelauskas' speaking here: en.sevenload.com/videos/XTOAEUI-Fra...
Also, i googled Valdas Anelauskas in order to further confirm what his pro-fascist, radicalist Right-wing agenda is.
Frankly, i'm surprised Tim Calvert, with HIS Liberal creds, would allow himself to be anywhere near an admitted fascist like Anelauskas.
Clearly, some of the more narrow-minded people here are content to simply cull all they need to know from one source.
And to use childish statements such as "frothing at the mouth" would suggest that you've already made up your mind long ago. So why even bother to look futher, since you already know everything?
Damos, your high road attempt is laughable. I've read plenty of your choleric rants. What could be more childish than calling someone a "tard" as in "RonPaul-Tards"?
The importance of remembering the Holocaust is to not repeat its genocide.
The Israelis failed to learn the lesson of the Holocaust, and for the past sixty-one years the Israelis have been committing genocide against the Palestinian Arabs.
The Israelis are racists and fascists, as are those who support or defend the Israelis in word or deed.
Today the chief relevance of the Holocaust, and the chief purpose for remembering the Holocaust, is to remind us that racist, fascist nations like Israel should be opposed by all those who love justice and human rights.
FACT is FACT! Investigate the gas chambers just like 911 not everything u hear on tv is the truth. David Cole went to aushwitz and proved no zyklon b was ever used in the so called gas chamber but in the delousing chambers all walls are blue stained from the gas. dont believe the tv do ur own research
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCrhoXBQCeY...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ur3zyKztQ3g...
if the videos do not start, then move the circle on the timeline a few seconds into the timeline and then press play.
if it still will not play then move the circle a few more seconds into the timeline and press play again.
"halliburtoncrusher" provides links to two videos featuring Ernst Zundel. Zundel is a "Hitler sympathizer determined to propagate the neo-Nazi movement" according to www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor... and many other sources (check his Wikipedia entry.)
"Halliburton Crusher" is the alias of "one of the original members of the portland 911 truth alliance group here in portland oregon" according to his comment here: portland.indymedia.org/en/2009/07/3...
So, there's another yet another example of a Portland 9/11 Truth Alliance member promoting Holocaust-denial. Why are Pitkin and the Willamette Week covering for these creeps?
I opened the portlandindymedia link and I read halliburtoncrusher's comment there. He doesn't sound like a neonazi or fascist sympathizer to me. No way. He sounds like a guy who loves truth and justice and wants to hear what everybody has to say.
Unlike you, Hmmm.
Thanks for those links. A google search of halliburton crusher yeilds some disturbing results. Making this a good question:
Why are Pitkin and the Willamette Week covering for these creeps?
Why indeed.
"hmmm" - i am really not that interested in ernst zundel in regard to his "neo-nazi" ties, if that is your concern. it is david coles video that interests me.
"hmmm" - did you watch the david cole videos i provided or not? words are words. you or anyone can agree or disagree with me, or anyone, about items.
no one is "covering" for anyone in my opinion. we simply have freedom of speech.
i ask that no one write any comments in reference to me unless you watch the two video clips that i have provided in comment #83, otherwise you are wasting your freedom of speech/expression trying to suppress mine with assumptions and innuendos, if you are willing to disagree with me without having looked at these videos.
"The ultimate ignorance is the rejection of something you know nothing about and refuse to investigate" - whitenight 639
watch the two videos.
To all the members of the Rose City Antifa: come to the anti-war rally in Portland's Pioneer Courthouse Square at 5 PM on Friday, Oct 2nd.
Wear your bandana masks to the rally so we'll recognize you, and bring some anti-Zionist placards and a Palestinian flag to carry. If you don't have a Palestinian flag, get in touch with the Portland 9/11 Truth Alliance (of course you know how to do that) and they'll help you find one.
Be there or be fascists!
Same old shit from the antisemites...
There is no debate with two sides, because the Holocaust happened.
The European Holocaust is ancient history, and most of the Holocaust survivors have died of old age. All of that sixty-four year-old crap about the Holocaust just diverts attention away from the really serious and dangerous problem in the world today, which is the US-supported Israeli fascism.
The Israelis claim to be the perennial victims, supposedly threatened by hostile neighbors on every side. Yet Israel supported the racist Apartheid government of South Africa, Israel participated in the genocide of 200,000 Guatemalan peasants during the 1980s, Israel orchestrated the recent aggression against South Osettia, and Israel is one of the largest arms-dealing nations in the world.
Currently the biggest customer of Israeli arms sales is India, whose racist Hindutva movement and fascist Bharata Janata Party want to transform India into an official Hindu State, comparable to the Jewish State of Israel. The Israeli Mossad has committed numerous false flag attacks, including the 9/11 attacks on the WTC and the Pentagon.
Colorwheel said
"sending someone threatening letters,"
Could Colorwheel show the rest of us where its proven Antifas sent that letter?
Colorwheel uses the plural 'letters'. Could Colorwheel also show where Antifas is documented sending threatening letters in the past?
Thanks.
Colorwheel also said that the FBI was investigating the Antifa, dude. Maybe you should ask them about the letters.
Judaism is not a race; it is a religion. Most of the people who call themselves Jews are of European origin, and they are indistinguishable in appearance from other Europeans.
That's why the very idea of anyone 'looking like a Jew' is impossible. Because Jews have no distinguishing physical characteristics and they do not constitute a unique race of people.
Look at the photos of the victims and the survivors of the Holocaust and you will see people who are indistinguishable in appearance from other Europeans. If the Nazi SS and Gestapo traded clothes with their Jewish victims, no one could tell from their faces and their stature who was a Nazi and who was a Jew. Any attempt to identify Jews by their physical appearance from among a random crowd of Europeans would be impossible.
Since Judaism is only a religion and there is no such thing as a Jewish race, the characterization of Jews as 'Semites' is a false concept. The Nazis who regarded the Jews as a race and any Jews who imagine themselves to be members of a Jewish race are both mistaken and misguided.
To oppose Judaism cannot be racism because there is no such thing as a Jewish race.
Thanks (again) wweek for this ridiculous concern trolling. I bet Tom Metzger and his racist thugs are just loving it.
Good on ya, RCA, it's about time somebody stood up these right wing nutcases. Keep up the fight.
The Holocaust ended sixty-four years ago.
Why does the Antifa focus on the Holocaust, while ignoring the Israeli racism, fascism, and genocide that is happening TODAY?
You Antifa schmucks are SO stuck in the past. The Holocaust that matters today is the Israeli Holocaust of the Palestinian Arabs.
AIPAC, the Israel lobby, promoted the US aggressions against Afghanistan and Iraq. Now Israel is promoting a US attack on Iran.
There were no WMDs in Iraq, and there are no WMDs in Iran. Meanwhile Israel has several hundred nuclear bombs and the USA has thousands.
Warmongering Israel is fascist and racist, and together with the USA, Israel is the greatest threat to peace, freedom, justice, and equal rights in the world today.
Could Colorwheel show the rest of us where its proven Antifas sent that letter?
Henrey:
The evidence is very strong that the letter was sent to me from the antifa. The picture of Hitler I received was stolen from the Irving event by the antifa and this was confirmed to me by David Irving. I have since filled a report to the Clackamas County 'sheriff on the harassment card.
Tim Titrud
Before this comment I would say(maybe I did already)"the evidence is very strong" for a third party provocateur.
After your comment, which includes David Irving as a witness(!) and a stubborn instance to hold Antifas responsible, the suspicion moves to a group supporting Irving and wanting to be martyrs.
There's a precedence:
www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/24/m...
Why isn't the "theft" of the Hitler photo in the article? How do you know it was stolen? When was it noticed missing? There is no indication that photo was from the David Irving event on July 19th. And Antifas held onto that photo for almost 2 months so they could send a nasty card on September 14th for no reason at all? Give me a break!
Help! Is there an investigative reporter in the house?
Seriously, you need to step back and look at this objectively, if you still can. The links to the 911 yahoo group and forum suggest objectivity is not common at conspiracy boards. Following them I learned there were no airplanes on 9/11 and all the victims are fake(!). Little wonder some 9/11 conspiracy people doubt the Holocaust happened. Its another example of lack of critical thinking and jumping to conclusions.
Stanislav Vysotsky, a sociology professor at Willamette University, was seen placing leaflets on a display table for the Rose City Antifa. Vysotsky claims that his relationship with the Antifa is strictly academic, and part of his ethnocentric research.
Helping the Antifa with their leafleting is not consistent with detached academic research.
The naive students at Willamette University may believe Vysotsky when he claims that his relationship with the Antifa is strictly academic, but the more experienced and mature readers of Willamette Week should not.
Somebody doesn't know the difference between "ethnocentric" and "ethnographic." (Or, if that's supposed to be Judeophobic humor, somebody has failed.)
http://killtownsecretarchive.blogspot.com/2009/09/911-truth-nazis-in-news.html
AND
FAIL TO FOLLOW
J.Q.Reader writes on Sep 23rd, 2009 8:33am
So where do these clowns actually lay out the moral and intellectual framework of their apparent ideology? All I see here is another example of NW reactionism, rather than a serious moral or intellectual position. For instance, what is their position on what Israel has done in Gaza within whatever strange concept of justice they seem to espouse? (And it's hard to take any faculty member from Willamette U, a university whose record of at best mediocre intellectual achievement is easily verified.)