Frequently asked questions
Why do you focus on building mass protests?
Here in Melbourne CARF was born in response to Reclaim Australia’s first mobilisation, which attracted almost 5,000 of their supporters. By mobilising enough numbers to outmatch the far-right every time they’ve reared their ugly heads in Melbourne, we’ve managed to reduce attendance to their demonstrations to a tiny core. This is why mass protests are vital!
The far-right want to target many different minorities, along with the Left and the working class. Protests enable all these different groups to come together, to mingle, and engage with each other’s ideas. Protests are solidarity in action. We believe that there is no replacement for face to face activity and solidarity. When people hit the streets, when young people, students, workers, migrants, refugees, LGBTIQA+ people, unionists, and others march as one we can feel a sense of power that is denied us in our everyday lives.
When we stop a bus filled with facsists, break through police lines or look a fascist in the face and scream our lungs out, we are breaking one of the rules of capitalist society: ‘Shut up and accept the status quo.’
Why don’t you demand these events are cancelled or demanded far-right celebrities are banned from entering the country?
Some anti-fascists focus on legal or administrative strategies to fight the far-right—like petitioning the government to ban far-right figures from coming into the country, or lobbying venues to not host them. CARF believes the best way to challenge the ideology of the far-right is through organising grassroots activism, not by relying on the state to ban or fine fascists or their supporters. We believe that appealing to state authorities is a poisoned chalice. It hands over more power and legitimacy to institutions that are complicit in the rise of the far-right in the first place. We don’t support the Australian state using their power to ban individuals from coming into this country on the basis of their political opinions—we already see these powers used to deport refugees back to danger!
Similarly, appealing to local councils to ban the fascists from gathering might seem a quick solution to an immediate problem, but what about when councils ban the Left or refugee protests? What if a Mayor is sympathetic to the ideology of the far-right? What about when governments and the police tolerate fascist organisations? Or when the boundaries of ‘edgy’ culture grow to admit ideas that used to be considered beyond the pale into the realm of acceptable discourse?
What attitude does CARF have toward the state?
The recent growth of One Nation in Australia, the electoral success of anti-immigration parties in Europe and the integration of Golden Dawn members into the police force in Greece are all evidence that when the far-right grow large enough, the state will back them. Even now in Victoria, the police go out of their way to facilitate the street marches of these groups.
We cannot rely on the authorities to shut down the far-right. We are trying to build a movement that is strong enough to shut them down on our own terms. We need to harness the power of ordinary people. If we grow our movement’s size and confidence, we won’t need to appeal to the authorities to shut down the far-right. We will do it ourselves.
Why so confrontational? Won’t holding a big protest give these groups more oxygen?
No. These people already have enough oxygen—they are treated to mainstream media coverage thanks to their ‘controversial’ status. Their videos have an avid audience and there is an entire network of underground discussion forums devoted to their ideas.
They want to be free to put on events where their supporters can mingle, where those who are in the early stages of being seduced by their ideology can be targeted by the more hardcore ‘red-pilled’ fans. Ignoring them only gives them space to grow further. Not challenging them allows them to edge their way into the ‘respectable’ mainstream.
Shouldn’t we just ignore the far-right?
Some say that we should ignore the far-right as we are “giving them the attention they want” and “they’ll go away if we ignore them”. This is a dangerous myth. The far-right are a pressing international threat, coming close to or outright winning elections in Europe and the US.
Closer to home, fascism is growing and finding fertile ground. Ignoring Pauline Hanson didn’t work—in fact, the mass movement against her drove her underground for much of the 2000s before she was normalised by Sunrise and other mainstream media.
Ignoring or appeasing the Nazis in the 1930s and Fascisti in the 1920s allowed the rise of Hitler and Mussolini. The despicable atrocities that followed speak to the need to act now. Never again means never again.
Does CARF engage in violent protests?
CARF does not pursue a strategy of deliberately provoking violence. While our protests directly confront the fascists, unlike some other anti-fascist organisations, we do not seek to start fist-fights or brawls. We focus on rallying a loud crowd that takes control of space, disrupts the activities of fascists, and exposes their ideology for what it is.
However, we recognise that fascists and the state are ready and willing to use violence so we are prepared to confront that. We support and defend people who are forced to fight. We never assume that state institutions such as the police will protect us from fascists, because they will not. The Australian state has, more often than not, been seen to protect and collaborate with fascists. CARF protesters have been the victims of violence at the hands of police who crack jokes with local Nazis.
Historically, fascism is defeated by working class self-organising and self-defense, and we continue that tradition and strategy. CARF prioritises the safety of every participant on our side. We developed an effective marshalling system and we have medics on hand at every event. When CARF members were charged with offences for defending themselves from fascists, we supported them through their legal proceedings. If you are bringing a friend along for the first time, tell them that the marshals (those people in hi vis vests) are there to keep people on our side safe.
I’m against fascism and racism but I don’t think I’d fit in at CARF, what do I do?
CARF is a proudly non-sectarian, broad based group. Socialists, Anarchists, Greens and Union movement supporters all fill our ranks and can be found enjoying a drink together after meetings. We make a conscious effort to welcome and support new members—hence this booklet and the mentoring system. You don’t need to be a hardened activist—anyone can come along and contribute to the campaign irrespective of experience. We want to build a mass movement; that means you, and everyone who thinks fascism sucks!
Isn’t protesting the far-right an attack on free speech?
CARF stands for freedom of speech and expression, including the freedom to protest rotten ideas like racism, misogyny, homophobia, etc. The far-right are hypocrites on freedom of speech: they only care about free speech when it’s their ideas being challenged.
CARF media spokesperson, Chris Di Pasquale, wrote an excellent article on this topic.
Do you hide your faces and organise in ‘black blocs’?
A black bloc is a tactic used by some anti-fascist organisations, like wearing masks and all black attire to make individual participants harder to identify because they are concerned about state repression or being doxxed by fascists.
CARF doesn’t condemn these tactics, but we certainly do not rely on them either. Most CARF participants campaign using their real names and attend rallies without going out of their way to obscure their identities. It could be argued that black bloc tactics and actions may result in consequences the main group did not agree to partic ipate in, which could compromise the safety of the group. Inward looking tactics don’t help to build a mass movement!
Currently we are experiencing the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, and in some towns and states in Australia the wearing of masks/face coverings has been required by law (or are worn by choice) as personal protective equipment. Your safety and the safety of those around you is paramount and consideration for each situation should be taken into account. Common sense and discretion should be used at all times.
History shows that popular fascist movements are not defeated by the state or by small groups of militants, but by huge numbers of regular people. Not using black bloc tactics is a deliberate strategy towards building an open, outward-looking orientation that attracts everyone who has anti-racist/anti-fascist ideas. Cable Street, Lewisham, Boston 2017, etc. were all overwhelming victories won by mass anti-fascist movements.
CARF opposes fascism loudly and publicly. While we respect anyone’s right to anonymity and privacy, we don’t consider that the threat of the far-right is such that everyone needs to keep their identity secret. We argue that we are safest and most effective when we build a mass movement involving as many people as possible, acting in solidarity. Our activities are centred on political protest: chanting, yelling, taking over space, blocking entrances. We don’t seek to start street-fights or require our members and supporters to wear a particular style of clothing. We choose these tactics because experience tells us that they are the most effective for our long-term strategy of building a popular, mass anti-fascist movement.
Protesters at the 2019 demonstration calling for justice for the victims of the Christchurch massacre.