Antifa: A Century of Extremism – An Exposé
Few words in American politics today stir up as much heated debate as Antifa. To some, it represents a necessary bulwark against fascism while engaging in its own form of it. To others, it is an extremist current whose decentralized networks embrace violence and intimidation as political tools.
Regardless of perception, Antifa’s history reveals a militant tradition with deep roots in 20th-century European communism, sub-cultural radicalism, and modern terrorism dressed up as protest movements.
👉To put it simply:
Fascism (original sense) = ultranationalist, corporatist, one-party dictatorship.
Antifa (modern sense) = socialist/anarchist, but frequently employing fascist-style methods of militant suppression and street force, which creates the irony that “anti-fascists” act in fascistic ways.
For nearly a century, the banner of Antifa has flown wherever militant opposition to perceived fascism arises. Yet, far from a loose street movement of idealistic youth, Antifa has consistently been associated with extremist violence, militant organizing, and ideological rivalries rooted in Marxism and anarchism.
I. Origins in Weimar Germany (1932–1933)
1932 — The Communist Party of Germany (KPD) launches Antifaschistische Aktion. It is a militant multiparty front designed to wrest control of Germany’s working class from the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP, the “Nazis”). The Nazis, despite the socialist-sounding name, were radically anti-Marxist, anti-communist, and ultra-nationalist.
Visuals: Antifa’s now-iconic two-flag symbol (red flag = communism, black flag = anarchism) appears.
Tactics: Street brawls, strikes, and paramilitary intimidation mirror Nazi SA (Sturmabteilung) tactics.
1933 — Hitler consolidates power. The KPD is banned, Antifa crushed, leaders jailed or executed. The Antifa project collapses in Germany but survives in communist exile communities abroad.
II. Postwar Survival and Transformation (1945–1970s)
1945–1950s — With the Soviet occupation of East Germany, “antifascism” becomes official state ideology. The East German Socialist Unity Party (SED) promotes antifascism as justification for repression, claiming all opposition is “fascist.”
1960s–70s, West Germany — Student radicals, anarchists, and autonomous groups revive direct-action antifascism. Militant groups like the Red Army Faction (RAF) and the Autonomen incorporate antifascist rhetoric, using street violence, arson, and bombings to justify themselves as the “true heirs” of Antifa.
III. The Black Bloc and Punk Subculture (1980s)
1980s, West Germany — The black bloc tactic emerges: groups in uniform black clothing, helmets, and masks coordinate as anonymous cells. This tactic spreads globally, embedding into the DNA of Antifa.
1980s, United States — Antifa ideology merges with punk culture. Neo-Nazi skinheads infiltrate punk scenes, sparking violent clashes.
1987 — Founding of Anti-Racist Action (ARA) in Minneapolis. ARA declares open war on white supremacists, adopting militant Antifa language and tactics.
ARA absorbs other factions:
Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice (SHARP)
Love and Rage anarchist collective
Queer Nation and militant LGBTQ defense crews
IV. Consolidation and Expansion (1990s–2000s)
1990s — ARA spreads across U.S. cities. Crews attack white power concerts, disrupt political rallies, and distribute doxxed lists of far-right activists.
2001–2010s — The collapse of organized U.S. neo-Nazism leaves Antifa relatively dormant. Activists redirect into anti-globalization protests (Seattle, 1999) and Occupy Wall Street (2011).
V. Resurgence in the Trump Era (2016–2020)
2016 — Trump’s presidential run galvanizes Antifa networks. Online organizing surges.
2017, Berkeley, CA — “Battle of Berkeley.” Black bloc Antifa violently assaults pro-Trump demonstrators, sparking national awareness.
2017, Charlottesville, VA — At the “Unite the Right” rally, Antifa clashes with white nationalists. After a counter-protester is killed by a white supremacist, Antifa gains legitimacy in some leftist circles, but violence at the event cements its extremist reputation.
2018–2019, Portland, OR — Antifa groups repeatedly clash with Patriot Prayer and Proud Boys. Journalist Andy Ngo is beaten and hospitalized in 2019.
2019, Tacoma, WA — Antifa extremist Willem Van Spronsen firebombs an ICE detention center while armed. He is killed by police. His manifesto glorifies violence as antifascist duty.
2020, Nationwide — Following George Floyd’s death and the distortion of facts around this known violent criminal, Antifa-aligned militants exploit protests, engaging in arson, rioting, and attacks on police precincts (notably in Minneapolis, Portland, Seattle). Federal officials classify Antifa as part of a violent extremist milieu.
VI. Timeline of Notable Incidents (1932–2025)
1930s–1940s
1932: Antifaschistische Aktion founded by KPD in Germany.
1933: Nazi seizure of power; Antifa crushed.
1960s–1970s
1968: West German student protests revive antifascist banners.
1970s: Autonomen groups adopt black bloc tactics in Germany.
1980s
1987: Anti-Racist Action founded in Minneapolis; militant street confrontations with neo-Nazis spread across U.S.
1990s
1993–1999: ARA networks peak, known for violent disruption of white power concerts.
Antifa ideology crosses the Atlantic. Neo-Nazi skinheads infiltrate punk scenes, sparking the rise of Anti-Racist Action (ARA) in Minneapolis.
ARA absorbs groups like Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice (SHARP) and Love and Rage, embracing militant confrontation.
2000s
2001–2010: Antifa when largely dormant, publicly and became hidden within into anti-globalization activism.
2001–2010: Antifa members began creating dark web communities
2010s
2016: Trump’s rise and Trump Derangement Syndrome perpetuated by the Democratic Party fuels Antifa revival.
2017: Berkeley riots; Charlottesville clashes.
2018: Portland riots escalate.
2019: Assault on journalist Andy Ngo; Tacoma ICE firebomb attack.
2020s
2020: Antifa cells implicated in rioting during George Floyd protests nationwide.
2021: Ongoing violent counter-demonstrations in Portland, Seattle.
2022: Antifa-linked cells attack construction equipment at Atlanta “Cop City” project.
2023: Violent clashes at Pride and drag events across the U.S., framed as “antifascist protection.”
2024: Antifa-aligned anarchists linked to sabotage of rail lines in Washington state, citing opposition to “fascist infrastructure.”
2025: FBI and DHS reports classify Antifa as part of the domestic violent extremist (DVE) landscape, citing recruitment of youth via TikTok, Discord, and anarchist literature.
VII. Recruitment and Radicalization
Subculture Infiltration: Punk, hardcore, and anarchist music scenes in the 1980s–1990s.
Campuses: Radical professors and activist student groups introduce antifascist rhetoric.
Digital platforms: Telegram, Signal, Discord, and TikTok increasingly serve as organizing hubs.
Tactics manuals: Circulated online, detailing street fighting, surveillance evasion, and “de-arrest” techniques.
VIII. Sponsorship and Funding Streams
DIY fundraising: Zines, benefit concerts, T-shirt sales.
Crowdfunding: GoFundMe and other platforms often raise bail and legal funds for arrested Antifa members.
Overlap with nonprofits: Bail funds and legal defense groups sometimes indirectly support Antifa-linked defendants and group cells (many of which are aligned with the Democratic Party).
Unproven claims: Allegations of billionaire funding (e.g., George Soros) remain unsubstantiated at the time of this article.
IX. Antifa Today: Extremism Without Borders
Antifa in 2025 remains an allegedly decentralized and leaderless movement. It has no national charter, no official membership, and no central authority. Yet its ideology and tactics persist globally:
Europe: German, Italian, and French Antifa groups continue militant street protests.
United States: Clashes around immigration, police facilities, and culture-war flashpoints keep Antifa active.
Digital space: Recruitment and propaganda increasingly happen online, with memes and short-form videos radicalizing youth into extremist action.
A Movement in the Shadows
The name Antifa comes directly from the Communist Party of Germany’s Antifaschistische Aktion, founded in 1932 to fight National Socialism in the streets of Weimar Germany. In every era since, Antifa has resurfaced wherever militant left-wing movements organize.
Its tactics — street brawls, black bloc anonymity, and extremist violence — remain consistent over nearly a century. Supporters claim Antifa is a necessary defense against authoritarianism. Critics, law enforcement, and even some on the left argue it is itself an extremist current, destabilizing democratic norms through violence.
What is certain is that Antifa is not fading. From 1932 Berlin to 2025 America, Antifa remains part of a continuing cycle of political extremism; decentralized, confrontational, and unwilling to compromise.
The other part not talked about
Antifa overlaps with anti-religious parody religions such as the Church of Satan and The Satanic Temple (TST). Here is what evidence shows:
Documented contact: At TST’s 2018 rally in Little Rock, masked Antifa demonstrators were present and assisted in distributing flyers identifying white supremacists. This illustrates ad-hoc cooperation, not formal membership overlap.
TST’s position: Leaders of The Satanic Temple have explicitly denied being aligned with Antifa, framing their activism as secular and legalistic. However, it is known for ties to violent and racist organizations, especially through its primary leadership. In reaction, Antifa accuse the Church of tolerating far-right infiltration.
Church of Satan divisions: The Church of Satan has published criticism of Antifa, while some Antifa-aligned commentators accuse the Church of tolerating far-right infiltration and some have also sought to establish their own Satanic orders also mixed with Communist Marxist ideologies.
The Pagan and Heathen Communities: Numerous partisan outlets that identify themselves with pagan and heathen movements predominately express .
More Centralized in the Digital Underground
From the mid-2010s onward, however, digital tactics became central — not only on mainstream social networks but also on encrypted messaging apps and, in more covert corners, on the deep/dark web.
Federal and academic reporting on radicalization notes that violent extremists of all stripes (including left-wing militants) increasingly migrate to encrypted platforms to plan, radicalize and share operational material.
Digital platforms and decentralized identities:
confirmed, evidence-based findings
Below are concise, documented facts (no recaps, no opinion) about verified use of online and “deep web” technologies by militant anti-fascist actors, and about the documented overlap with the hacktivist identity Anonymous.
Encrypted messengers are the primary operational layer. Multiple academic and field reports show anti-fascist affinity groups and “antifa” activists moved core coordination off open social media and onto encrypted/closed apps (Signal, Wire, Keybase, ProtonMail/ProtonVPN, Telegram) beginning in the mid-2010s to improve OPSEC and vet newcomers. Academia+1
Telegram and Discord function as cross-ideological coordination hubs. Research mapping extremist use of alternative platforms documents that Telegram and Discord host channels for both far-right and far-left actors (Telegram in particular accumulated many extremist channels; studies found fewer but present far-left channels alongside numerous far-right channels). Analysts treat Telegram/Discord as “hard to moderate” spaces where both sides migrated. WIRED+1
Decentralized Fediverse instances (Lemmy and similar) host left-wing and militant content. Peer-review / preprint research (2024–2025) has identified clusters of left-wing and extremist postings on Lemmy instances and other federated nodes, showing migration of some political communities into the decentralized social web. arXiv
Deep-web / Tor hosting is used for persistence — but in a patchwork way. Security and academic studies document that some militant political content (zines, “manuals,” mirrored archives) has been persisted on onion/Tor services and other less-takable resources so material survives surface-platform removals. the evidence shows fragmentary mirroring and hosting — not a single Antifa “darknet infrastructure.” arXiv+1
“Cyber-persistent” antifascist activity exists (researchers, doxxing, data-sharing). Multiple investigations and profiles show anti-fascist researchers and activists run databases, leak/compare public records, use scraped social media and receive anonymous tips to identify far-right actors (and sometimes publish identifying information). These activities are now as central to modern antifascist practice as in-person affinity tactics. The New Yorker+1
Law-enforcement / policy reports treat encrypted and dark-web use as a cross-ideological phenomenon. UN/European and national extremism reports and major think-tanks (GW Program on Extremism, UNICRI, CSIS, Europol) document that violent and extremist actors on the left and right exploit encrypted messaging, decentralized platforms, and parts of the dark web — and they caution that these behaviors complicate attribution and monitoring. Program on Extremism+2UNICRI+2
No credible public evidence supports a single, centralized “Antifa” dark-net network. Multiple mapping projects and academic audits emphasize decentralization and fragmentation: numerous small affinity groups and individuals operate independently across surface, encrypted, federated and Tor layers rather than via a single hidden-service command-and-control. arXiv+1
Anonymous has repeatedly announced and carried out anti-fascist/anti-alt-right operations; some anti-fascist actors have adopted Anonymous-style tactics or collaborated with hacktivist actions. After Charlottesville (2017) and in subsequent years, various Anonymous spokes-channels and affiliated actors publicly declared operations against neo-Nazi/alt-right sites and published or defaced far-right material; mainstream reporting and technology press covered those actions. This establishes that the decentralized “Anonymous” identity has been used in anti-fascist cyber-actions — and that some individuals who participate in anti-fascist activism have, at times, operated under or alongside Anonymous-branded operations. The Guardian+1
There is little to no forensic public evidence tying large numbers of named Antifa organizers to Anonymous cyber-attacks (anonymity and decentralization make individual attribution difficult). Journalistic and academic accounts report tactical alignment and occasional cooperation (doxxing, leaks, site-defacements), but direct, named-person overlap in large numbers is not demonstrable in the public record. The New Yorker+1
Practical consequence (documented): the digital stack complicates attribution and prosecution. Studies and policy reports show the combined use of encrypted apps, decentralized Fediverse instances, and mirrored onion hosting produces resilience to takedowns and raises investigative complexity for law enforcement and researchers; many reports therefore call for cross-platform, evidence-driven approaches rather than label-based enforcement.
Antifa and Pagan Communities: A Convergence of Extremes
Over the past two decades, Antifa’s presence has extended beyond the streets, the deep web, and traditional political spaces — penetrating into modern pagan and occultist communities. What began as scattered instances of anti-fascist rhetoric in online forums and Facebook groups has, according to multiple independent researchers and former community participants, evolved into a sustained recruitment platform for Antifa-aligned activists.
Paganism as a Platform for Antifa Recruitment
Modern paganism, with its decentralized structure and emphasis on resistance to institutionalized religion — particularly Christianity — has proven fertile ground for Antifa messaging. A significant number of pagan social media groups, particularly on Facebook/Meta platforms, are saturated with Antifa rhetoric, blending “social justice” activism with occult and neo-pagan symbolism.
Members often display what critics describe as an anti-Christian persecution complex, framing Christianity not just as a historical oppressor of pagan traditions, but as an ever-present adversary tied to capitalism, patriarchy, and “fascism.” This framing has been leveraged by Antifa to recruit and radicalize new members within the broader pagan movement, presenting militancy as both a spiritual and political duty.
The Fallout: Pagan Communities Under Siege From the Start
This Antifa infiltration has not gone uncontested. Many pagan and heathen practitioners who reject political extremism have reported feeling alienated, silenced, or attacked within their own religious communities. The result has been the fragmentation of the pagan movement into politically charged factions.
Examples include:
W.I.T.C.H. (Women’s International Terrorist Conspiracy from Hell) revival groups, which use witchcraft imagery to promote radical feminism, often marked by misandric rhetoric and Antifa-aligned “direct action” strategies. They literally call themselves terrorists.
Witches for Trump, a counter-reactionary platform that emerged as a backlash against the left-leaning saturation of pagan online spaces, openly aligning with anti-leftist and pro-nationalist politics.
Heathen counter-groups that attempt to reject both white supremacist appropriation of Norse symbolism and Antifa-aligned “woke paganism,” often finding themselves squeezed from both extremes.
The Negative Impact on Pagan & Heathen Identities
For many rank-and-file practitioners of paganism and heathenry, Antifa’s influence has been disastrous. Instead of fostering diverse spiritual communities, these movements have become battlegrounds for political extremism, with pagans and heathens alike being forced to take sides. Additionally, many also infiltrate other religious movements and organizations including Christian and Catholic to enhance a sense of delegitimizing their validity through means of controlled opposition so as to further the goal of creating world wide chaos and anarchy.
The result:
Loss of apolitical spaces where spirituality, folklore, and ritual once stood apart from politics.
Polarization into pro-Antifa vs. anti-Leftist camps, fracturing long-standing pagan networks.
Delegitimization of the movement in the public eye, where pagan and heathen groups are increasingly perceived as either Antifa satellites or white-supremacist enclaves, and by default, too closely linked with the various parody movements and self identified Satanic and Zionist and even extremist Islamist orders.
A Broader Pattern
The infiltration of paganism is not an isolated phenomenon, but part of Antifa’s broader strategy of embedding itself within subcultures and decentralized communities where distrust of authority, hostility to organized religion, and counter-cultural identities are already strong.
Paganism, with its (albeit largely fictional) revivalist ethos and historical narrative of persecution, provides both a ready-made grievance and a symbolic aesthetic that Antifa and many other such "movements" can and do exploit as additional tools for driving wedges between communities and families as part of the goal to bring down not just America but all concepts of civilization.
Where Antifa mirrors fascist methods (despite “anti-fascist” branding)
Militant street squads – Fascist squadristi (Blackshirts) used violence, intimidation, and public disruption against political opponents; Antifa has also adopted militant street actions, confrontations, and property destruction as normalized tools.
Suppression of opposition through intimidation – Fascists shut down liberal and socialist opponents; Antifa often seeks to silence or “no-platform” those they label “fascist,” sometimes expanding this to anyone with conservative or right-wing views.
Cult of moral absolutism – Fascists cast themselves as the heroic vanguard saving the nation; Antifa casts itself as the heroic vanguard saving society from fascism. In both, dissent is painted as evil, and violence is morally justified as “necessary.”
Revolutionary unity rhetoric – Fascists exalted the unified nation; Antifa, rooted in anarchist/socialist strains, speaks of solidarity of the oppressed. In both, the collective justifies the suppression of the individual.
Why distinctions blur in practice
While Antifa claims a leftist, anti-fascist heritage (stemming originally from communist anti-fascist action in 1920s–30s Europe), its methods parallel historical fascist methods: street violence, intimidation, squadrism, intolerance of pluralism, elevation of their cause as absolute.
This is why critics argue that the distinctions between “fascist” and “anti-fascist” become superficial at the level of behavior, even though the ideologies they profess differ (nationalist corporatism vs. socialist/anarchist collectivism).
Communism/Socialism (Marxist-Leninist tradition)
Internationalist: the class is the sacred unit, transcending nations.
Collectivist economy: abolition of private property and capitalism, full socialization under state or communal ownership.
One-party dictatorship: pluralism abolished, all political life channeled through the Communist Party.
Cult of leadership: Lenin, Stalin, Mao, etc., elevated as personifications of revolutionary will.
Revolutionary militias: Red Guards, Cheka, and other groups used terror and intimidation to secure power.
Anti-liberal and anti-fascist: rejection of both parliamentary democracy and nationalist movements.
Myth of historical destiny: belief in the inevitable triumph of the proletariat through struggle and revolution.
Antifa (modern, decentralized movement)
Self-identified as anti-fascist, rooted in anarchist and socialist traditions.
Internationalist rhetoric: solidarity of oppressed groups, transnational struggle.
Anti-capitalist orientation: hostility toward markets, corporations, and perceived “systems of oppression.”
No central party, but often militant cells and affinity groups functioning as street-level enforcers.
Cult of moral absolutism: sees itself as the vanguard protecting society from “fascists,” broadly defined.
Normalization of militant tactics: property destruction, intimidation, and street violence presented as “resistance.”
Anti-liberal as well as anti-right: frequently rejects free speech, debate, or pluralism in favor of shutting down opposition by force.
Where Fascism and Communism overlap
Both reject liberal democracy and pluralism.
Both elevate a collective ideal (nation or class) above the individual.
Both historically created one-party dictatorships with cults of leadership.
Both used organized militias and terror to silence or eliminate opposition.
Both relied on myths of destiny (national rebirth vs proletarian victory).
Where Antifa mirrors fascism (despite socialist claims)
Uses militant street squads to suppress opposition.
Normalizes intimidation and violence as legitimate politics.
Treats dissenters not as opponents but as existential enemies.
Claims a moral monopoly — dissent is branded “evil” or “fascist.”
In practice, shows hostility toward liberal freedoms (speech, assembly, pluralism) much like fascists historically did.
So the distinction is ideological in theory (nation vs. class, capitalism vs. socialism), but methodological similarities (violence, authoritarian intolerance, suppression of opposition) blur those differences in practice — which is why Antifa, while calling itself “anti-fascist,” can behave in ways structurally similar to fascist movements if not exactly the same, especially rhetoric.
