Blame it on privilege, but I found the VICE documentary educational, not because of what the neo-Nazis and white supremacists said, since it’s the same thing they’ve been saying forever, but because it made clear these people are holding these “rallies” for the sole purpose of stirring up violence. However, because they are more media savvy than their predecessors, the new generation are able to hide behind “free speech”. This makes it imperative that people opposing them NOT respond in the way desired — with counter-violence.
Those of old enough to remember the ’60s and ’70s saw that effort to effect change crash and burn because it turned to violence, in part thanks to the support of the FBI’s COINTELPRO. So, we’re suspicious when those on the anti-fascist side turn violent, because the deja vu is strong.
I encouraged people to watch the documentary, because far too many of the comfortable among them are paying lip service to opposition while it’s clear they still see the new fascists and white extremists like movie villains. The whole thing just isn’t real to them. I have hope that some may be jolted into that reality by listening to the ranting and, most important, the pseudo-logic the “alt-right” is preaching that sounds so reasonable to those who lack the knowledge base to see the holes in their argument.