Antifa

I am new to Iowa. By that I mean I’ve only been here 30 years.

My parents lived through the great depression and WWII. My mother, the oldest of nine, often had to stay home from school to help with the little ones. Two of those little ones, Gene and Don Gilmore of St Joseph, MO, were killed aboard ship by the Japanese. Emperor Hirohito of Japan was that country’s fascist leader. You can bet that my mother was AntiFa.

Of course, every American knows the name Adolf Hitler, another fascist, who came to power because it became not only unfashionable, but illegal, to speak against him and his party. Hitler may be the most well-known fascist in history.

Benito Mussolini, not as familiar a name as Adolf Hitler, was Italy’s fascist leader during WWII. Mussolini came to power in Italy by first nationalizing his own police force and then creating a one-party system that became dangerous and deadly to publicly oppose. Mussolini, another good reason to be AntiFa.

If you are older than I am, you should have some engrained memory of WWII and respect for what my parents and your parents, the greatest generation, endured to fight fascism. If you are younger and none of this sounds familiar, please read just a little of our great nation’s history, the perils of fascism, and learn to recognize the traits of fascism as our nation and its leadership leans in that dangerous direction.

On January 6, 2021, our nation’s 200 plus year history of peaceful transition of power and worldwide reputation of a free and fair democracy was sullied. Police officers were attacked and a violent mob stormed the Capitol forcing our elected leaders to run for their lives. I saw it with my own eyes, and so did you. Our president’s behavior and decisions ended it for me right then and there. I didn’t become AntiFa. I was born and raised AntiFa.

Bill Owen,

Harlan