Banning "Antifa." This is the latest obsession of reactionary
governments worldwide. These efforts have intensified recently in theUnited States with the signing in late September of a presidential
decree by Donald Trump designating "Antifa" as a terrorist organization.
It doesn't matter that such an organization doesn't exist as such, or
that American law doesn't allow for the designation of domestic
terrorism. The important thing is the publicity, to make a strong
impact, and above all, to maintain the vaguest possible definitions to
attack any type of opponent. Make no mistake, however ridiculous the
idea of designating as terrorist an organization that doesn't exist in
itself may seem, the slightest opposition to the government can quickly
be labeled Antifa, and therefore punished by the full force of the
repressive apparatus.
This is the example that reactionary governments in the rest of the
world, and particularly in Europe, are now following. It will come as no
surprise to see Orban's Hungary follow the United States' lead just four
days later and add "antifa ideology" to a list of terrorist
organizations (sic). This can lead to financial sanctions, deportations,
or re-entry bans, among other things. This is not Hungary's first
attempt at such a move; the country has previously convicted several
antifa activists, including MEP Ilaria Salis, whose parliamentary
immunity was ultimately upheld by a single vote on October 7, 2025.
Others have not been so fortunate and remain in Hungarian prisons.
Meanwhile, in Belgium, the president of one of the largest right-wing
parties, the Reformist Movement (MR), called for the dissolution of the
antifa movement, which he described as "the greatest danger to our
democracy." A bill tabled by the Minister of the Interior, also a member
of the MR party, to ban and dissolve radical movements will soon be
examined. In the Netherlands, a non-binding motion was passed by
parliament, initiated by Geert Wilders, leader of the far right, to ban
and dissolve "Antifa."
Following this, a Belgian far-right MEP tabled a proposal in the
European Parliament to classify "Antifa" as a terrorist organization.
France itself is not lagging behind, having dissolved the anti-fascist
organization Jeune Garde in June 2025. All these measures are justified
by invoking the "violence" deployed by Antifa movements, with the aim of
discrediting them and making the public accept the increased repression.
This argument is flawed, since many far-right groups exhibiting
heightened violence go unpunished. It is only because antifascism
opposes reactionaries, authoritarians, and fascists that it is
designated as the enemy.
Although Charlie Kirk's killer had no connection to the antifa movement,
Donald Trump signed an executive order on September 22, 2025,
designating the "Antifa" movement as a terrorist organization.
Gage Skidmore
These various dissolutions, bans, or designations as terrorist
organizations may not all be legally successful, but it is certain that
the repression of antifascist movements will continue. By designating
"Antifa" as an entity and attaching all kinds of demands to it
(feminism, antiracism, LGBTQ+ rights, anticapitalism, etc.), it is easy
to label anything and everything as antifa, and therefore to consider
these demands as terrorist as well.
This repression of antifascism goes hand in hand with the repression of
transgender rights. While the mechanisms obviously differ, the
demonization of both is accompanied by accusations of deviating from
conservative and fascist values.
Thus, the ability to accuse any opponent of terrorism will undoubtedly
have media repercussions, stifling all antifascist discourse, but above
all, it will allow for the punishment of a wide range of activists
through expedited legal proceedings and even harsher sentences. Any
suspicion of complicity will also be potentially punished, and will
affect more moderate organizations whose demands fall under the vague
catch-all term "Antifa." This is therefore a global offensive, partly
coordinated, and one that will surely spread throughout the world to
strengthen state power and gradually erode fundamental freedoms. It is
imperative for the antifascist movement to take this threat seriously
and prepare for it.
Bart Everson
How we wish the antifascist movement were as powerful in reality as it
is in the minds of reactionaries.
A sprawling organization with considerable resources, capable of
significant disruption, even threatening the very existence of
governments, according to some justifications. But we know that the
antifascist movement, or rather movements, are multifaceted, more or
less organized, and unfortunately in decline. While repression will make
organizing antifascist struggles increasingly difficult, we must not
despair. While we should expect nothing from the antifascist struggle in
the courts or parliaments, we must continue the work within our
organizations, our counter-powers, and throughout all our communities.
It is imperative to "defeat fascism everywhere," as UCL calls for in one
of its 2025 congress resolutions.
This begins with strengthening our means of protection, whether
political, legal, digital, or otherwise, as our sister organization in
the United States, Black Rose/Rosa Negra, mentions in the interview
published on page 9 of this newspaper[1]. But it is also imperative to
continue mobilizing. This is how the antifa movement can grow and resist
these attacks. In all the countries where it has been banned, antifa
movements do not disappear. They simply have to adapt. Strengthening
solidarity and coordination between organizations and collectives,
locally as well as internationally, is crucial. The enemy is organizing;
it is our turn to continue doing the same.
Sano (UCL Marseille)
Submit
[1]"Black Rose/Rosa Negra: 'State threats make some more reluctant to
act'", Alternative libertaire no. 365, November 2025.
https://www.unioncommunistelibertaire.org/?Repression-Interdire-Antifa-le-fantasme-fasciste
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