I Am A Teacher And I Am Anti-Fascist by Dr. Michael Flanagan

President Trump this morning tweeted that the political ideology of ANTIFA will be labeled a terrorist organization. I am a teacher. I am anti-racist. I am anti-fascist. And now apparently, according to the President, I am a designated terrorist. As a history teacher, and a teacher of government and economics, I know that the words used by politicians carry weight and are meant to elicit response by their constituents. His words this morning are as dangerous as any he has ever uttered. 

When the elected President of this country, in the time of plague, economic collapse and racial injustice, now attempts to classify a political ideology as a terrorist organization, it is clear who the fascist is. When that elected leader controls the military and has the support of rank and file police departments—police departments that have been armed with militarized equipment—then we are witnessing the actual fascist. 

When that elected leader also has the support of the elites and the corporations, and controls a major propaganda wing of the news media, then we are witnessing history repeat itself. This government—and not just the President but members of both political parties—have allowed racist institutions to fester and thrive in our nation.  

They have kept the people working as wage slaves for corporate profits. They have forced the hands of the people towards political and social revolution. And this morning after nationwide protests against police brutality and systemic racism, this President declares that being anti-fascist, is being a terrorist. What that means is any dissent against him or his administration, is a terrorist act. That is the definition of fascism.

As educators, and as American citizens, we must all stand against this statement, and whatever subsequent acts may follow from this would be dictator. America used to be anti-fascist, when the world needed us to be. Now the President of the United States is basically trying to criminalize dissent against fascism? I will not let that stand.

 I will now declare myself #ANTIFA. I am a history teacher, I can do no less.