Bay 161 is a radical-left activist group based in the state of California that is allegedly affiliated with the decentralized Antifa network. The organization identifies and “doxes” individuals and other groups it claims are “fascist” or “racist” while taking part in protests against alleged far-right groups. ¹

It is unknown if the group is still operational as of 2025. Its website was active with a shutdown message while its last social media post was from 2024. ¹

Background

Bay 161 is a local advocacy group with alleged ties to the decentralized Antifa network. According to The Economist, alleged members claim that the network was inspired by 1930s protesters in Germany who opposed the Nazi Party’s rise to power, with the group emerging around the 1980s to protest against neo-Nazi groups.  ²

The numbers in Bay 161 refer to the first, sixth, and first letters in the alphabet (AFA), which refer to Anti-Fascist Action, another term for Antifa. In certain Antifa slogans, 161 is allegedly paired with 88, a reference used by neo-Nazis to mean “HH” for “Heil Hitler.” Thus, the numbers “161/88” refers to Antifa fighting Nazism. ³

Like other alleged Antifa-affiliated groups, Bay 161 lacks a centralized structure and a minimal presence on membership and leadership. Instead, the group operates an online blog that claims to provide updates on potential fascist or racist activities occurring within the San Francisco Bay region of California.  ^{2 4}

Activities

The primary activity of Bay 161 is using its online post to identify and “dox” individuals and groups it accuses of being “fascist” or “racist” within the Bay region of California. In February 2024, the group identified an individual that had been mentioned in a local news article who “[delivered] an antisemitic diatribe” at a local city council meeting. Earlier that year, Bay 161 posted a three-part essay series on alleged far-right attempts to create an affiliated network in the region.  ^{5 6}

In December 2020, members of Bay 161 joined a group of similar groups that demonstrated against the alleged presence of far-right group the Proud Boys. Other groups that participated included NorCal Resist, Antifa Sacramento, Berkeley Antifa, Still Here, the Sacramento Queer and Trans Organizing Coalition, We Keep Us Safe 916, Official Sactivists, Sacramento Punks With Lunch, Brown Berets de Califas, National Brown Berets – Sacramento Unit, the All-African People’s Revolutionary Party, Sacramento Radical Education, Turlock BLM, Voices of VV, Brown Berets de SacraAztla, Sacramento Democratic Socialists of America, and the Sacramento People’s Budget. ⁷

As of December 2025, Bay 161’s website was still operational and contained an archive of active and former allegedly Antifa-affiliated organization websites. However, text on Bay 161’s website reads “The time has come and we shut down the server.”  ¹

Bay 161 was a member of the national Torch Antifa Network. As of December 2025, the Network maintains Bay 161 on its chapter list, and includes Bay 161’s Mastodon and Bluesky accounts. ⁸ The most recent posts on these accounts as of December 2025 were made in December 2024. ^{5 6}

1. “Homepage.” Bay 161. Accessed December 4, 2025. https://bay161.blackblogs.org/.
2. “What is Antifa?” The Economist. July 29, 2017. Accessed August 28, 2017. https://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2017/08/economist-explains-11
3. “Antifainternational.” Tumblr. Accessed December 4, 2025. https://www.tumblr.com/antifainternational/127230841409/what-does-161-mean-or-88-14.
4. “Homepage.” Asheville Anti Racism. Accessed December 3, 2025. https://ashevilleantiracism.noblogs.org/.
5. “Bay 161.” Mastodon. Accessed December 4, 2025. https://kolektiva.social/@bay161.
6. “Bay 161.” BlueSky. Accessed December 4, 2025. https://bsky.app/profile/bay161.bsky.social.
7. “After Weeks of Violent Proud Boy Attacks, People are Mobilizing to Defend Sacramento.” Anarchist Federation. December 2, 2020. Accessed December 4, 2025. https://www.anarchistfederation.net/after-weeks-of-violent-proud-boy-attacks-people-are-mobilizing-to-defend-sacramento/#/.
8. “Chapters.” Bay 161. Accessed December 4, 2025. https://torch-antifa.org/chapters/.