photo: @nycantifa
On this episode of the It’s Going Down podcast, we discuss the continuing anti-democratic turn of Trumpism into an authoritarian, paramilitary movement. We touch on two key stories: first, the embrace of anti-vaccine conspiracy theories by some sections of the police and other public employees, which has manifested in continued coalition building with the far-Right and ongoing street protests.
This Staten Island anti-vaxx rally was put on by MAGA enthusiasts like Scott LoBaido who are deeply connected to Proud Boys & Jan 6th Capitol stormers. Anti-vaxx protests have become the way for the Trumpist Far Right to organize w/ Trump out of office.https://t.co/eUpajuaicU
— New York City Antifa (@NYCAntifa) October 31, 2021
We then turn towards a bombshell report from Rolling Stone which details the degree in which pro-Trump Republicans, in direct communication with the White House, worked hand in glove with ‘Stop the Steal’ activists in the lead up to January 6th.
From the report:
Rolling Stone has confirmed that both sources were involved in organizing the main event aimed at objecting to the electoral certification, which took place at the White House Ellipse on Jan. 6. Trump spoke at that rally and encouraged his supporters to march to the Capitol. Some members of the audience at the Ellipse began walking the mile and a half to the Capitol as Trump gave his speech. The barricades were stormed minutes before the former president concluded his remarks.
These two sources also helped plan a series of demonstrations that took place in multiple states around the country in the weeks between the election and the storming of the Capitol. According to these sources, multiple people associated with the March for Trump and Stop the Steal events that took place during this period communicated with members of Congress throughout this process.
Along with Greene, the conspiratorial pro-Trump Republican from Georgia who took office earlier this year, the pair both say the members who participated in these conversations or had top staffers join in included Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.), Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.), Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), and Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas).
And Gosar, who has been one of the most prominent defenders of the Jan. 6 rioters, allegedly took things a step further. Both sources say he dangled the possibility of a “blanket pardon” in an unrelated ongoing investigation to encourage them to plan the protests.
We ask: where will this strategy take the GOP? Will it be used to hold onto electoral power, or push for something outside of it by means of paramilitary violence? One thing is for sure, the rank-n-file of the fascist Right will continue to be marshaled to directly attack anti-capitalist and anti-racist social movements from below while mass-disinformation and conspiracy theories will help to inspire even more far-Right violence and terror.
A great example of far right incoherence in Suffolk County, Long Island yesterday–Proud Boys marched with a "law and order" banner & a thin blue line/punisher flag, while their leadership is in jail awaiting trial/sentencing & there is an active FBI investigation into the group. https://t.co/J9xs1td54G
— New York City Antifa (@NYCAntifa) October 17, 2021
by It's Going Down via It's Going Down
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