AntiFash Gordon

The NYPD's arrests of two Proud Boys are not about justice. It's about the state's monopoly on legitimate violence being challenged. We're in a three-way fight between us, the state, and the far-right. I don't care if Proud Boys catch charges, but it's not a victory for us.

The arrests serve two purposes: The first is to mollify liberals and assure them that the state is stable, unchallenged. The second is to create a pretense of evenhandedness, so that they can crack down on the left, who possess the moral legitimacy of self-defense.

We shouldn't support either of these, as the first will serve to alienate us from our allies, and prevent us from building a larger coalition. The second will invite the violence of the state into our homes and families for the crime of defending our homes and families.

It can be tempting to celebrate a loss for the Proud Boys as a win for us, but celebrating the state is always a loss for us. Stay strong, stay autonomous, and keep organizing, friends.