After the Virginia conflict, I heard a far-right group was coming to Seattle, so I went. I can’t call them Nazis. I don’t know how to describe them. They are so weird. The more I find out, the more I get confused. I never talked to them personally, but I overheard a lot of conversation at three rallies. Maybe because of my poor English hearing, I find it very hard to make any sense of their mutual connections and political stands. They look strange, too. I was surprised to see people of color protesting with them: There was a Samoan guy pounding a staff and a guy wrapped in a Kek flag who appeared to be Latino. There was a street preacher with all kinds of hate signs proudly standing on stage with the racists, and a very friendly skinhead Libertarian.
I think Libertarians are selfish, gifted people. Some of them say they have earned their status. I say most were born in America, healthy and talented, so of course they were able to achieve more. Not everyone is born that way. The fortunate have received these gifts, because God trusted them to take care of the less privileged.
I began to question, who are these people? Are they far right? President Donald Trump supporters? Some kind of law enforcement surveillance on a hunt for leftists? Maybe their only connection is free speech. Why do they need to demand free speech? They could wear plain clothes, gather somewhere and speak. Nothing they say is anything I have not already heard on right-wing radio stations. I don’t think they would get much attention, but for the crazy costumes.
This time they were so friendly, they even offered to share the stage. I wonder if the real neo-Nazis showed up, would these guys want to share the stage with Nazis, or just with the leftists? If they are that friendly, why wear Nazi helmets or military fatigues?
I remember their June rally. After counter-protesters left City Hall, they followed us around, agitating. It seemed like they were trying to get us to throw the first punch, like Trump on North Korea. We did get into a fight. So what they do contradicts what they say. Trump said both sides are to blame. The two sides are not the same. One side wants a White-only America. The other side wants to keep America together.
Because of the anarchist stereotype, people misunderstand the far left. Anarchists are very compassionate. They help vulnerable people.
The further left the group, the less hierarchical, more democratic and more egalitarian.
If there is any possibility of a growing Nazi racism, we must nip it in the bud. So even if a very violent group comes, I’ll try to be there. I am committed to nonviolence. If this means I get beat up or killed, then I must. I know I will need a lot of prayer and God’s help, for I am not very brave. But I cannot sit home while Nazis roam our city.
Never again.
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