Antifa in the Eyes of a Beholder

Well, since I don't know much about it, firsthand, I'm going to guess at what the nature of Antifa is. First: I have to say that it seems most of the people who opine about this subject on social media probably don't have credentials any better than mine. So here goes:

Second: Perhaps the plain truth about Antifa is somewhat like what it is with beauty, in that it probably depends on the eye of the beholder. Consequently, the same goes with how much of a true threat Antifa poses to everyday people, folks who mind their own business. And, how much of a threat Antifa poses to the agenda of armed Neo-Nazis stomping around in public in self-styled military get-ups. 

Third: most of the people who have been viewed by outsiders as Antifa “operatives” could be more accurately described as “sympathizers.” That, because they weren't really part of an organized group taking orders from higher-ups. Instead, they were acting in conjunction with a handful of like-minded friends, mostly young people, who agreed in a general sense with what they perceived are Antifa's goals. 

Fourth: whatever hardcore insider operatives that exist under the Antifa banner are not acting in such a way as they can be easily discovered online. They probably don't issue orders that can be intercepted by just anyone. Some have probably watched “The Battle of Algiers” (1966) more than once. So they know better than to set up a hierarchy that can busted, unraveled and then simply be rounded up. 

Fifth: Thus, all that said, I think Antifa looks like more of a movement than an organization with a chain of command. Still, since it is surely opposed to fascism that puts it totally at odds with white nationalists, the Ku Klux Klan, the Proud Boys, etc. And, it more or less aligns Antifa with a progressive movement such as Black Lives Matter. 

However, since some Antifa sympathizers have been willing to physically battle opposing groups in the street, Antifa cannot be seen as a force strictly for nonviolent protests. For a historical reference, maybe think Malcolm X, rather than Dr. Martin Luther King. Of course, I could be wrong, but that's how it looks to this geezer.

Note: To watch "The Battle of Algiers" click on the link. To see English subtitles click on settings and scroll down and click on it.