You may know Andy Ngo for his investigative journalism or for how he was chased, tackled, and beaten down by a number of violent protestors who looked much like Antifa. Don’t believe us? Here’s unedited video of the multiple men attacking the lone, unarmed reporter from all angles, including behind. It is relatively easy to argue that the Vietnamese-descended Ngo is a leading authority on what Antifa does not want the public to know. However, he has been called, “controversial, and the accuracy and credibility of his reporting have been disputed by other journalists,” Source. His book, Unmasked, goes deep into the hidden side of the group and here are 6 things I did not know about Antifa.
1. A Hopeful Seattle City Councilman was Charged With Trying to Burn Down a Police Precinct
Page 42 – During the “Summer of Love,” the CHAZ/CHOP zone was ceded to Antifa and their kin by Seattle authorities. During the weeks-long period, many acts of violence towards person and property occurred. However, none had been done by someone who had run for City Council. Then 35 year old Isaiah Willoughby was filmed on video setting a dumpster on fire and attempting to burn Seattle’s East Police Precinct. Luckily, others were able to stop him. In 2020, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years in prison.
2. They Stabbed a Black Man in the Back
Page 67 – In July of 2020, Andrew Duncomb went to the Portland Oregon Courthouse to film the protests. He was followed by Blake David Hempe where he would ultimately end up allegedly following Duncomb, a black journalist looking to “show it wasn’t just the feds creating the problem.” A friend filmed the stabbing. Hempe was arrested and charged with unlawful use of a weapon and second degree assault.
3. There are Teaching Syllabuses With Alarming Content
Page 83 – Ngo was able to acquire some of Antifa’s teachings through painstaking-methods. Specifically, he was able to access a syllabus from the RCA cell of the Torch Network, “a network of of connected silent militant Antifa groups.” They included such topics and readings as:
- How is communication about sensitive info best handled?
- Your actions impact the entire group, and … your comrades are depending on you.
- What is militant antiracism?
- What is white skin privilege?
- What is the relationship between class and white supremacy?
- Be able to discuss how whiteness was invented to break working class solidarity.
- Why and how are you a feminist?
- How do I leverage the weakness of my opponents?
Quick note: the syllabus itself acknowledges that people of color and women “may not take up as much space in meetings,” page 94.
4. The Toll it Took on Ngo
Page 150 – Ngo recounts his attack in detail. Even though it is on video, it is difficult to put yourself there. Ngo does an excellent job of describing the attack, the ongoing injuries done to him, and how it changed him. Unlike in the movies, Ngo was not rushed to a hospital by police where he received emergency care. He had to extricate himself from the area after being beaten and “milkshaked”, which is a way of “signaling to others to that it was okay to hurt me,” which the crowd happily did. By the time he was able to get care, he had to wait on a stretcher for hours until he was brought the results of his imaging, a subarachnoid hemorrhage, or brain damage. Although the physical injuries still remain in part, it is heart-breaking to hear Ngo describe the emotional toll the attacks still take on him.
5. Antifa is Violent and They Acknowledge It
Page 157 – Despite the claims of “peaceful protestors,” videos have emerged of Antifa brand violence. One of the most damaging was released in June 2020, wherein an Antifa instructor gives his students tips on how to be violent and not get caught. This branch of Rose City Antifa was told, among other things, to “practice things like an eye gouge.” In later chapters, Ngo details vicious attacks and cold-blooded murders conducted by Antifa, as well as the outrage they spout if and when one of their members is taken down by police – see all of Chapter 9: Deadly Violence.
6. The Media as an Ally
Page 211 – It’s hard to imagine any American supporting violence done in the name of a cause, no matter how much they support it. However, the media at large does either purposefully-willing or sloppy reporting on the violence linked to Antifa. Instead, they choose headlines like:
- How False Antifa Rumors Spread Locally: NY Times – June 22, 2020
- Anti-Fascists Will Fight Trump’s Fascism in the Streets: The Nation – January 19, 2017
- Hurricane Harvey: Antifa are on the ground in Texas helping flooding relief efforts: The Independent August 31, 2017
- If You’re Not Antifa, You’re Pro-fa: Portland Mercury – August 1, 2019
- Who caused the violence at protests? It wasn’t antifa: Washington Post – June 22, 2020
- Anti-fascists linked to zero murders in the US in 25 years: The Guardian – July 27, 2020
Read for Yourself
You may get the book yourself in several formats and languages by going to Andy Ngo’s official site. You can also learn more about him, watch video’s of Antifa violence for yourself, follow him on social media, and much more.
Lilia F is the author of Ordinance 93, a novel set in a world where having a baby without permission is against the law and the first four people to break it. She also writes about everything from reaction injection molding to low fat recipes while indulging her need for creative outlets including novels and screenplays. Find out more on Twitter.
