“Nancy Pelosi’s statement should have come sooner, but the fact that it was said confirms that violence isn’t welcome on either side of the aisle.”
With almost every relevant political rally or demonstration that has taken place in the United States recently, one is almost sure to find members of Antifa—short for anti-fascist. Members of the group can be easily spotted because most of the time they are dressed in all black and conceal their identity by wearing masks. Yet they troll demonstrations and speaking events looking for a confrontation.
Make no mistake though, members of this group are not peaceful protesters. They have been known to attack people with chains, locks, rocks, or any object they can turn into a weapon. There are countless videos that have gone viral highlighting Antifa and their shenanigans. Part of their mode of operation is also to harass police officers in hopes of provoking a confrontation. While they align themselves with Democrats, one prominent leader of the Democratic party has condemned Antifa’s violent methods.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-California) released a statement following yet another violent clash in Berkeley between Antifa and Trump supporters. “Our democracy has no room for inciting violence or endangering the public, no matter the ideology of those who commit such acts. The violent actions of people calling themselves antifa in Berkeley this weekend deserve unequivocal condemnation, and the perpetrators should be arrested and prosecuted.”
Pelosi’s statement continued to highlight the importance of free speech in the state of California, saying, “Non-violence is fundamental to that right.” While many have blasted Democratic leadership for not denouncing violence committed by extreme left-wing groups, this is a welcome change that shows progress on both sides in condemning hate however it presents itself.
One of the issues Democrats took with President Donald Trump’s statement immediately following the violent clash in Charlottesville, VA was the fact that he didn’t focus solely on denouncing white supremacist and neo-nazis. Some argued that he stopped short of completely condemning white supremacy so as not to offend his constituents. While his statement could have been reworded a little better, it’s important to note that leadership on both sides are not ignoring the hatred that has been occurring in America.
Nancy Pelosi’s statement should have come sooner, but the fact that it was said confirms that violence isn’t welcome on either side of the aisle. Regardless of the cause protesters are supporting while exercising their First Amendment rights, it’s never okay to resort to violence. This also includes those vile individuals who choose to spread hatred in the form of racism and bigotry.
Gathering to counter protest this dangerous ideology should not result in confrontation so serious that someone is killed. Assembling peaceably is more important than ever before, as our country sees the rift that is growing between not only political parties, but friends and family with opposing opinions. While it has never been easier to voice commentary through means such as social media, it’s also a scary time to do so publicly without fear of being physically assaulted by masked individuals.
Antifa does not represent me even a little bit.
