Anti-Fascists Meet in Ohio

by M.C. Reddy

The Midwest Anti-Fascist Network [MAFNET] held its first conference over the weekend of October 15-16. Columbus (Oh.) Anti-Racist Action hosted the meeting in old North High, an adult education facility.

The previous 12 months saw runs of weekly Klan appearances at state capitals and courthouses throughout the Midwest. MAFNET formed in Ohio and Michigan as a loose collaboration of a few groupings and individuals active in counter-mobilizations.

The conference served to expand the Network geographically. In addition to Ohio and Michigan, participants came from Minnesota, Ontario, Alabama, New York, Missouri, Indiana, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Illinois.

The 15 workshops ranged from topics such as organizing counter-demonstrations, the nazi music scene and anti-racist skinheads, to physical defense and pirate radio. Numerous videos were available for showing in another area. The 15th anniversary of the murders of left-wing activists by the Klan and nazis in Greensboro, NC was just weeks away. A widow of one victim, herself under fire that day, spoke in conjunction with a film on the events. A general meeting was held on Sunday afternoon.

Two hundred and twenty-one people registered. Ninety or so regularly participated in a combination of workshops and/or Sunday's meeting. Others came for a specific workshop or event. A certain few, Socialist Workers Party, Workers World Party, and Spar tacist League types, came to do little more than set up tables. Unsurprisingly, they have no real interest in the Network. Some people pre-registered in order to make a supporting contribution. Necessary support services tended to keep others more or less out of sight or off-site.

Gifts, registration fees, and a percentage take of the door at a local club, enabled the conference to turn a profit and garner a bit of a war chest.

The weekend not only expanded MAFNET, it also built on its original diversity. Assembled was a healthy mix of new and older activists, independent rads, skins, radical lesbians, non-sectarian Trotskyists and anarchists of several stripes.

The Network has held to two points of agreement. One is the perspective of building a movement that unites the struggles against racism, sexism, anti-Semitism and lesbian and gay oppression. A principle from jump, it was reaffirmed along with the need to respect various political cultures of resistance.

The second bond is clear support for same time/same place counter-actions to fascist demonstrations. This commitment was shown on numerous occasions. Actions organized by MAFNET affiliates have been in opposition to liberal efforts. (That is, when the liberals have chosen to do anything at all.) Their cross-town 'festival of diversity,' marches away from the race terrorists, and utterly craven day-after symbolic cleansings were eclipsed in numbers and press coverage.

Until now the Network has existed only as a loose structure that mobilized regional support for such local actions. In order to become an effective force for the future, several things need to happen. The political discussion must deepen. The Network's organizational and programmatic decisions will eventually need to be less tentative. The forms and areas of struggle must become more varied.

Many local groups are involved in related areas of anti-fascist/anti-racist work not limited to reactive counter-demos. This applies to those presently within the Network and out. MAFNET could serve to give these struggles, and the techniques used, wid er exposure. Resources could be channeled to those with promise or an immediate emergency.

The potential is there. Sunday's general meeting decided that the Columbus ARA News double as MAFNET's, announcing and reporting on actions, etc. ARA News gets around widely, in significant numbers. The conference itself added an educational and a soci al dimension to MAFNET. It was decided to hold another conference next October. Columbus, which has demonstrated ability and resources in this area, has enthusiastically volunteered to do it again. The Buckeyes will also produce a limited run of an occasi onal discussion bulletin. The bulletin's actual existence depends on others submitting copy.

Contact:

Federation members and friends with any further questions contact: