Democratic Socialists of America flag near Emancipation Park
Saturday afternoon’s events in Charlottesville, VA have devastated many people. An act of terrorism was committed on a group of counter-protesters leaving many injured and one person dead. Now, in the aftermath of this horrific violence we need to start to find a way forward.
There was a sizable contingent of socialists at the counter protest trying to stand up to the hate and bigotry of the neo nazis. It wasn’t just the DSA (Democratic Socialists of America) that mobilized to be a part of this counter protest, the IWW (Industrial Workers of the World) and ISO (International Socialist Orginization) had numbers there as well.
These people went to make their voices heard and to confront right-wing hatred, racism, and the ethno-nationalism of the “Alt-Right”. I’m proud of all the counter-protesters who took their time, and energy to show that this type of racism will not be tolerated in our society. When openly racist elements are not met and opposed at every opportunity then we lose as a country.
There were some pretty unflattering takes on this situation leading up to the clashes between the Alt-Right and liberal/left aligned forces yesterday, but I don’t want this to devolve into some angry diatribe against people who are ostensibly allies in the fight for what is right. I am writing this as a plea for some to please reflect on what you are doing when you hoist your favorite cudgel and use it to deliver blows to people who are trying to find some commonality of purpose with you. You might find some of them frustrating, unhelpful, annoying, or what have you but the fact remains that their views are much closer to your world view than the people you oppose on the other side.
Alt-left is a term that really never made much sense to me personally. Perhaps that is because of where my politics reside on the matrix or perhaps it is just the company I keep. As far as I’m concerned, socialism cannot work unless there is equality for all people, otherwise it is self-defeating. From the things that I have read about organizations like the DSA, they understand their shortcomings and are working to fix them. I admit I’m no expert on the goings on of the DSA, but they seem aware that it is a work in progress and that they are actively trying to fix things.
When people label the DSA, “Bernie Bros.”, socialists, universal healthcare purists, etc “Alt-left” it is a label used to attach them to groups of literal neo nazis that are committing terrorist acts on peaceful justice-seekers. It might be a great way to score points in the never ending war for domination of the Daily Kos rec list but what is it accomplishing? In my mind, it is erasing what has been happening in this country this weekend. By labeling as such you are equating people who were brave enough to stand up and make their voices heard against white supremacists and their armed militia escorts with the supremacists themselves. These people and the movement in general deserve for their allies to not equate them with those they are standing up against.
Call them something else! Fight! stand up for what you believe in. It is only natural that people who spend time on a political site are going to feel deeply about the beliefs they hold. But when they call you a centrist or corporate shill or Dem apologist or whatever else, please at least think before you decide to hit them with the cudgel of being “just the same as the terrorist white supremacists only on the left.” Please realize how unequal those two things are.
Two DSA members were hospitalized because of the attack. Please don’t equate them with their attackers by calling the DSA alt left. Heather Heyer died standing up to these people, she probably would’ve been labeled here as a “Bro”. It has been reported but is unconfirmed that she was a member of the IWW. I’m not sure if that’s considered alt-left, but I certainly hope no one would consider equating her with the alt right terrorist that killed her.
Heather’s mom stated in an interview with The Huffington Post,
“I don’t want her death to be a focus for more hatred, I want her death to be a rallying cry for justice and equality and fairness and compassion. I’m very sorry that [Fields] chose that path because he has now ruined his life as well as robbed a great many of us of someone we love very much.”
“No mother wants to lose a child, but I’m proud of her,” she said. “I’m proud of what she did.”
Not everyone is going to get along here, I’m not so naive as to think otherwise. Many people who are deemed alt left here were standing up for injustice in Virginia yesterday; Many more of them stand up to injustice in their daily lives on a regular basis. You don’t have to get along all the time, just perhaps think twice before you decide to wield the alt left cudgel on your allies.
The events of this weekend have been hard for me to deal with and I have realized I must take a more active role in fighting for what I believe in. I’m off to a solidarity rally. I suggest if you feel inclined you should seek one out as well.
More information:
Stand in Solidarity with Charlottesville - Find an event
DSA Statement on Nazi Violence in Charlottesville
