Anti-Racist Action
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The Anti-Racist Action Network (ARA) is a decentralized network of militant anti-fascist and anti-racists in North America. ARA activists organize actions to disrupt neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups, and help organize activities combatting fascist and racist ideologies. ARA groups also oppose sexism, homophobia, heterosexism, anti-Semitism, and Pro-life activists. Some ARA groups have been associated with the skinhead and punk subcultures, and have worked with organizations such as Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice (SHARP).
History
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Anti-Racist Action was founded in Minneapolis, Minnesota in the late 1980s by members of the militant anti-fascist skinhead group The Minneapolis Baldies and other activists.[1] ARA then expanded to several communities in the United States and Canada. Members of Love and Rage, a revolutionary anarchist organization played a major role in building ARA groups and the ARA Network in the 1990s, [citation needed] and the group's structure was formalized in 1994 at the first Midwest Anti-Fascist Network conference, in Columbus, Ohio. [2]
On July 4, 1998, two Las Vegas ARA members, Daniel Shersty and Lin Newborn, were murdered execution-style by neo-Nazis[3] in the desert outside Las Vegas. Shot at close range with a shotgun, they were found murdered in an area of the desert known to be used by white supremacists for target practice.[4]
On August 24, 2002, a large neo-Nazi demonstration was planned in Washington, D.C. Some groups of neo-Nazis were planning to take a bus from the Baltimore Travel Plaza to Washington. Also present at the Travel Plaza were a number of ARA affiliates (mostly Baltimore punk rock fans and activists) demonstrating against the neo-Nazis. The ARA started throwing rocks threw windows causing 28 of the ARA activists to be cornered by Baltimore City Police and arrested. Within about 36 hours, most had been released from jail. Many claimed that they were not properly informed about any crime they had allegedly committed until their release, if informed at all. The group became known as the Baltimore 28, Parking Lot 28, Baltimore Anti-Racist 28 or the Anti Racist 28. At many following local punk concerts, donations were raised for a legal defense fund, and to pay back borrowed bail money. The resulting charges to 26 of the 28 included inciting a riot, malicious destruction of property, aggravated assault, and disorderly conduct. The charges were eventually dropped. One of the 28 was not charged with any crimes due to her status as a minor.
On October 15, 2005, ARA activists played a strong role in Toledo, disrupting the National Socialist Movement's planned march to protest gang activity in the north end of Toledo, Ohio.[citation needed] The incident became known as the 2005 Toledo Riot.
On August 26, 2006, Midwest ARA activists lead a black bloc and confrontation against the National Socialist Movement's rally against immigration on the steps of the capital in Madison, Wisconsin.[citation needed]
Notable members
See also
- Anti-fascism
- Anti-Fascist Action
- Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice
- Militant anti-fascism
- Red and Anarchist Skinheads
Footnotes
- ^ Skinheads at Forty - City Pages (Minneapolis/St. Paul)
- ^ [1]
- ^ Racist Skinheads - Nazi Skinhead gets death in murder of antiracists
- ^ Schoenmann, Joe. "Anti-racist Skinheads Killed". Retrieved 2007-03-02.