Refuse Fascism was a radical left-wing organization devoted to promoting nationwide action to remove President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and all officials associated with their administration from office on the grounds that they constitute a “fascist regime.” The group has been present at many Antifa radical-left demonstrations, and co-founder Sunsara Taylor has refused to condemn violent protest as a legitimate means of communicating the organization’s message. The group is an offshoot of the radical-left Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP). ¹

History

Refuse Fascism was founded immediately after the election of President Donald Trump “on an emergency basis,” characterizing the Trump-Pence administration as “illegitimate because it is fascist.” ² The group seeks not only to impeach and remove President Trump, but to remove all individuals associated with his election from public office. ³ Refuse Fascism was created by members of the radical-left Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP). ⁴

In July 2017, the Revolutionary Communist Party released a statement claiming responsibility for the creation of Refuse Fascism, arguing that capitalism is the same system as fascism and that the election of President Trump will lead the government to “bludgeon and eliminate whole groups of people.” ⁵ The RCP remained one of the main supporters of Refuse Fascism and committed to contribute as many resources as possible to the organization. ⁶

Though Refuse Fascism has denied being officially connected to any other Antifa groups and organized nonviolent protests, founder and spokesperson Sunsara Taylor has refused to condemn frequently violent antifa protestors, claiming that the violence is justified by the “fascism” of the Trump administration. ⁷

Protests

Refuse Fascism organized demonstrations and was known for its black and white “NO!” protest signs. ⁸

Refuse Fascism appeared on the national stage for the first time at President Trump’s January 2017 inauguration, joining the “#J20” march after months of taking out advertisements in national news outlets like the Washington Post and generating media materials. ⁹ At that same Inauguration Day march, allegedly unrelated Antifa demonstrations smashed store windows and burned a limousine in Washington, D.C. ¹⁰ Refuse Fascism joined several left-wing protests, including the July 2017 Impeachment March; the August 2017 counter-protests in Charlottesville, Virginia; and the September 2017 protests against the “Free Speech Week” at the University of California, Berkeley. ¹¹

In November 2019, Refuse Fascism staged a protest against conservative pundit Ann Coulter, with organizers speculating that over 2000 people attended the protest. ¹² Seven demonstrators were arrested, including one Berkeley student who fellow organizers defended on the grounds that “Ann Coulter is a racist…she’s a Nazi.” ¹³ Refuse Fascism organized a similar, smaller demonstration at the University of California, Los Angeles against Donald Trump, Jr. as part of their “Out Now” movement that demanded the removal of President Trump. ¹⁴

The “Out Now” campaign intensified in the wake of President Trump’s first impeachment by the United States House of Representatives in 2019. On December 17, 2019, on the eve of the impeachment vote, Refuse Fascism organizers joined the New York City Impeachment March. ¹⁵ Twenty Refuse Fascism organizers marched to the center of the crowd, chanting that the Trump administration had imposed “concentration camps on the border” and promoted the “unleashing of naked white supremacy.” ¹⁶ Leaders called on American citizens to pressure the Senate to convict President Trump and remove him from office in January 2020 by engaging in mass, sustained protests. ¹⁷

New Civil War Controversy

From September to November 2017, Refuse Fascism protests led to speculation that Antifa groups would launch a violent insurrection against the federal government. ¹⁸ On September 29, 2017, eight Refuse Fascism antifa protestors shut down traffic on U.S. Highway 101 in Los Angeles for twenty minutes at rush hour, carrying signs that spelled out “Nov. 4 It Begins.” ¹⁹ November 4 referred to a day of nationwide demonstrations which Refuse Fascism had organized in several United States cities. ²⁰

The November 4 protests were designed to be ongoing mass demonstrations in the streets, which would remain active every single day until President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence were removed from office. ²¹ Co-founder Taylor claimed that she believed the protest would start with “thousand, that keeps coming back and grows to tens of thousands, to hundreds of thousands, to millions.” ²²

Given the group’s Antifa history, rumors began to circulate on Facebook that the protests would be violent and targeted at white Americans; the claims were eventually picked up by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. ²³ This was proven false when, on November 4, Refuse Fascism was only able to muster a few small protests with fewer than 1,000 people each, with only 300 attending the main demonstration in New York City. ²⁴

People

Refuse Fascism is not a registered organization, and as such, it does not release its funding and board member information. The group is fiscally sponsored by the left-wing, anti-capitalist Alliance for Global Justice (AFGJ). ²⁵ Refuse Fascism also solicits non-exempt donations through its website by way of PayPal, Venmo, and crowdfunding campaigns. ²⁶ AfGJ has numerous associations with the radical left, running efforts in defense of the de facto socialist dictatorship of Venezuela,²⁷ publishing a defense of the North Korean regime,²⁸ and taking actions on behalf of radical-left extremists including Leonard Peltier and Mumia Abu-Jamal. ^{29 30 31}

Sunsara Taylor and Carl Dix are co-founders of Refuse Fascism, both radical left-wing activists associated with the Revolutionary Communist Party. ^{32 33 34} Taylor is an avid supporter of the RCP platform advanced by party president Bob Avakian, which preaches the achievement of communist ideals through outright revolution. ³⁵ Taylor is on the advisory board of World Can’t Wait, another communist organization aimed at exposing the “crimes” of the United States government that was originally initiated to drive President George W. Bush from office. ^{36 37} Taylor is an outspoken pro-abortion advocate, leading the 2013 Abortion Rights Freedom Ride, a campaign to promote the pro-abortion movement.³⁸

Carl Dix is a founding member of the Revolutionary Communist Party who advocates for a full communist revolution in the United States. ³⁹ Dix served two years in Leavenworth Military Penitentiary for refusing to fight in the Vietnam War.⁴⁰

1. Montgomery, Blake. “Here’s A Guide To The Antifa Network That’s Trying To Solidify A Nazi-Punching Movement.” BuzzFeed News. BuzzFeed News, September 8, 2017. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/blakemontgomery/antifa-social-media.
2. “What Is Refuse Fascism?” Refuse Fascism. Accessed December 20, 2019. https://refusefascism.org/about-contact/.
3. Montgomery, Blake. “Here’s A Guide To The Antifa Network That’s Trying To Solidify A Nazi-Punching Movement.” BuzzFeed News. BuzzFeed News, September 8, 2017. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/blakemontgomery/antifa-social-media.
4. Montgomery, Blake. “Here’s A Guide To The Antifa Network That’s Trying To Solidify A Nazi-Punching Movement.” BuzzFeed News. BuzzFeed News, September 8, 2017. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/blakemontgomery/antifa-social-media.
5. “Why We Have Taken Up the Fight to Build Refuse Fascism and to Drive Out the Trump/Pence Fascist Regime.” REVOLUTION. Revolutionary Communist Party, USA, July 24, 2017. https://revcom.us/a/501/rcp-statement-why-we-have-taken-up-fight-to-build-refuse-fascism-en.html.
6. “Why We Have Taken Up the Fight to Build Refuse Fascism and to Drive Out the

   Trump/Pence Fascist Regime.” REVOLUTION. Revolutionary Communist Party, USA, July 24, 2017. https://revcom.us/a/501/rcp-statement-why-we-have-taken-up-fight-to-build-refuse-fascism-en.html.

7. Montgomery, Blake. “Here’s A Guide To The Antifa Network That’s Trying To Solidify A Nazi-Punching Movement.” BuzzFeed News. BuzzFeed News, September 8, 2017. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/blakemontgomery/antifa-social-media.
8. Smith, Jack. “The Far-Right Thinks a Violent Antifa Overthrow Is Coming Nov. 4, but the Truth Is Far Stranger.” Mic. Bustle Digital Group, November 2, 2017. https://www.mic.com/articles/185680/the-far-right-thinks-a-violent-antifa-overthrow-is-coming-nov-4-but-the-truth-is-far-stranger.
9. Smith, Jack. “The Far-Right Thinks a Violent Antifa Overthrow Is Coming Nov. 4, but the

   Truth Is Far Stranger.” Mic. Bustle Digital Group, November 2, 2017. https://www.mic.com/articles/185680/the-far-right-thinks-a-violent-antifa-overthrow-is-coming-nov-4-but-the-truth-is-far-stranger.

10. Smith, Jack. “The Far-Right Thinks a Violent Antifa Overthrow Is Coming Nov. 4, but the Truth Is Far Stranger.” Mic. Bustle Digital Group, November 2, 2017. https://www.mic.com/articles/185680/the-far-right-thinks-a-violent-antifa-overthrow-is-coming-nov-4-but-the-truth-is-far-stranger.
11. Smith, Jack. “The Far-Right Thinks a Violent Antifa Overthrow Is Coming Nov. 4, but the Truth Is Far Stranger.” Mic. Bustle Digital Group, November 2, 2017. https://www.mic.com/articles/185680/the-far-right-thinks-a-violent-antifa-overthrow-is-coming-nov-4-but-the-truth-is-far-stranger.
12. Silva, Chantal Da. “Protesters Arrested as ‘Thousands’ of Students Rally against Ann Coulter

    Speech in Berkeley: ‘She’s a Fascist.’” Newsweek. Newsweek, November 21, 2019. https://www.newsweek.com/protesters-arrested-thousands-students-rally-against-ann-coulter-speech-berkeley-shes-1473221.

13. Silva, Chantal Da. “Protesters Arrested as ‘Thousands’ of Students Rally against Ann Coulter Speech in Berkeley: ‘She’s a Fascist.’” Newsweek. Newsweek, November 21, 2019. https://www.newsweek.com/protesters-arrested-thousands-students-rally-against-ann-coulter-speech-berkeley-shes-1473221.
14. Stephens, Morgan. “Refuse Fascism Protests Donald Trump Jr. at UCLA.” USC Annenberg Media, November 26, 2019. http://www.uscannenbergmedia.com/2019/11/27/refuse-fascism-protests-donald-trump-jr-at-ucla/.
15. “‘Trump/Pence #OUTNOW!” Resonates at Impeachment March in NYC 12/17/2019.” Refuse Fascism, December 19, 2019. https://refusefascism.org/2019/12/18/trump-pence-outnow-resonates-at-impeachment-march-in-nyc-12-17-2019/.
16. “‘Trump/Pence #OUTNOW!” Resonates at Impeachment March in NYC 12/17/2019.” Refuse Fascism, December 19, 2019. https://refusefascism.org/2019/12/18/trump-pence-outnow-resonates-at-impeachment-march-in-nyc-12-17-2019/.
17. “‘Trump/Pence #OUTNOW!” Resonates at Impeachment March in NYC 12/17/2019.” Refuse Fascism, December 19, 2019. https://refusefascism.org/2019/12/18/trump-pence-outnow-resonates-at-impeachment-march-in-nyc-12-17-2019/.
18. Wilson, Jason. “Why the Far Right Believes a US Civil War Will Start on Saturday.” The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, November 1, 2017. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/01/far-right-conspiracy-theory-us-civil-war.
19. McGahan, Jason. “Why Did Protesters Block Traffic on the 101 This Week?” LA Weekly,

    September 29, 2017. https://www.laweekly.com/why-did-protesters-block-traffic-on-the-101-this-week/.

20. McGahan, Jason. “Why Did Protesters Block Traffic on the 101 This Week?” LA Weekly, September 29, 2017. https://www.laweekly.com/why-did-protesters-block-traffic-on-the-101-this-week/.
21. Smith, Jack. “The Far-Right Thinks a Violent Antifa Overthrow Is Coming Nov. 4, but the Truth Is Far Stranger.” Mic. Bustle Digital Group, November 2, 2017. https://www.mic.com/articles/185680/the-far-right-thinks-a-violent-antifa-overthrow-is-coming-nov-4-but-the-truth-is-far-stranger.
22. Smith, Jack. “The Far-Right Thinks a Violent Antifa Overthrow Is Coming Nov. 4, but the Truth Is Far Stranger.” Mic. Bustle Digital Group, November 2, 2017. https://www.mic.com/articles/185680/the-far-right-thinks-a-violent-antifa-overthrow-is-coming-nov-4-but-the-truth-is-far-stranger.
23. Wilson, Jason. “Why the Far Right Believes a US Civil War Will Start on Saturday.” The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, November 1, 2017. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/01/far-right-conspiracy-theory-us-civil-war.
24. Hayden, Michael Edison. “Alex Jones Turned November 4 into a Bizarre Fable about Antifa.” Newsweek. Newsweek, November 4, 2017. https://www.newsweek.com/antifa-civil-war-november-4-really-just-few-protests-against-trump-702150.
25. “#GivingTuesday: Turn Dread for The Future Into A Force For Hope!” Refuse Fascism. Accessed December 20, 2019. https://donate.refusefascism.org/.
26. “#GivingTuesday: Turn Dread for The Future Into A Force For Hope!” Refuse Fascism. Accessed December 20, 2019. https://donate.refusefascism.org/.
27. “Protest at OAS says ‘U.S. hands off Venezuela!’” Workers World. June 09, 2017. Accessed November 30, 2017. https://www.workers.org/2017/06/09/protest-at-oas-says-u-s-hands-off-venezuela/
28. Smith, Stansfield. “An Interview with North Koreans.” Alliance for Global Justice. April 07, 2013. Accessed December 07, 2017. https://afgj.org/an-interview-with-north-koreans. Workers.org version: Smith, Stan. “A Korean View of Current Situation.” Workers World, April 12, 2013. https://www.workers.org/2013/04/8171/. Archived version of both: AfGJ + Workers.org – North Korea
29. “Political Prisoners in the USA.” Alliance for Global Justice. September 07, 2017. Accessed December 08, 2017. https://afgj.org/politicalprisonersusa
30. Pamela Anderson Foundation, Return of a Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2014, Part XV
31. “AfGJ’s Fiscally Sponsored Projects.” Alliance for Global Justice. Accessed December 08, 2017. https://afgj.org/sponsored-projects/fiscally-sponsored-projects/fiscally-sponsored-projects.
32. Smith, Jack. “The Far-Right Thinks a Violent Antifa Overthrow Is Coming Nov. 4, but the Truth Is Far Stranger.” Mic. Bustle Digital Group, November 2, 2017. https://www.mic.com/articles/185680/the-far-right-thinks-a-violent-antifa-overthrow-is-coming-nov-4-but-the-truth-is-far-stranger.
33. Cook, Lauren, and Rajvi Desai. “Protest at Trump Building on Wall Street Denounces President’s Haiti Comments.” amNewYork, January 19, 2018. https://www.amny.com/news/trump-protest-wall-street-1-16258371/.
34. Montgomery, Blake. “Here’s A Guide To The Antifa Network That’s Trying To Solidify A Nazi-Punching Movement.” BuzzFeed News. BuzzFeed News, September 8, 2017. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/blakemontgomery/antifa-social-media.
35. “Who Is Sunsara Taylor?” Perma. Stop Patriarchy. Accessed December 20, 2019. https://perma.cc/669Z-XND4.
36. “Who Is Sunsara Taylor?” Perma. Stop Patriarchy. Accessed December 20, 2019. https://perma.cc/669Z-XND4.
37. “About.” World Can’t Wait. Accessed December 20, 2019. http://www.worldcantwait.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=0&Itemid=2.
38. “Who Is Sunsara Taylor?” Perma. Stop Patriarchy. Accessed December 20, 2019. https://perma.cc/669Z-XND4.
39. “What Carl Dix Stands For.” REVOLUTION. Revolutionary Communist Party, USA. Accessed December 20, 2019. https://revcom.us/a/carldix/cd2.htm.
40. “What Carl Dix Stands For.” REVOLUTION. Revolutionary Communist Party, USA. Accessed December 20, 2019. https://revcom.us/a/carldix/cd2.htm.