Bash the Fash
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About
Bash the Fash is a catchphrase associated with anarchist and antifa movements, meaning "bash the fascist," which some read as advocating for violence as a means to stop the spread of fascism. Online the phrase is often used in vertical posting and comment chains.
Origin
Since the end World War II, Anarchists and anti-fascist activists have often advocated for the use violent opposition to fascism. One of the most frequently cited inspirations for this belief comes from Nazi dictator Adolph Hitler, who in 1933 claimed that only violence could have been have prevented the rise of Nazism, if it had been utilized in the party's infancy. He said:
"Only one danger could have jeopardised this development – if our adversaries had understood its principle, established a clear understanding of our ideas, and not offered any resistance. Or, alternatively, if they had from the first day annihilated with the utmost brutality the nucleus of our new movement."[1]
In 1993, the Scottish anarcho-punk band Oi Polloi released the Guilty EP, which featured the song "Bash the Fash." The song features direct references to Hitler's quote: "Adolf Hitler himself said that the only way the rise of the German nazi party could have been prevented was if its enemies had recognised it for what it was right at the start and had smashed it in its infancy with utmost force."[3]
Oi!
Nineteen nineties and the nazis are back
Family burnt out in an arson attack
Children lying in hospital dying of their burns
It's about time that everyone learns (to)
BASH – BASH THE FASH!
Germany in the thirties was the same
A life or death struggle – not some kind of game
Learn at least the basics of some martial art
Then you'll be ready when the aggro starts
B.N.P. scum marching on your street
They even get elected when they should get beat
Beat off the streets that belong to us
You won't stop them with chants and placards so just
First they came for the Jews
And I did nothing to help them because I was not a Jew
Then they came for the communists
And I did nothing to help them because I was not a communist
Next they came for the trade unionists
And I did nothing to help them because I was not a trade unionist
And then they came for me
And there was no one left to help me
Adolf Hitler himself said that the only way the rise of the German nazi party could have been prevented was if its
enemies had recognised it for what it was right at the start and had smashed it in its infancy with utmost force.
For once we would agree with him – waving placards and chanting at fascists through megaphones
accomplishes absolutely nothing. The only way to stop nazi scum like the B.N.P. is by physically confronting
them and literally kicking them off our streets.
Nazi falls amidst a hall of fists and feet
Stomping out the rhythm of the cable street beat
With our boots on the scumbag's head
The only good nazi is one that's dead
A.F.A. girls and boys block the fash escape route
Now we've got them cornered and they're gonna eat boot
Trying to escape but they just can't manage
Our boots rain in wreaking terrible damage
Spread
On May 4th, 2009, Urban Dictionary user bash the fash added a definition for "fash." They wrote, "short for a FAcialist Skin Head, FASH, if you see one, its a piece of shit nazi scum, kill it BASH THE FASH!!! bash the fash is a kick ass song by Oi Polloi."[4]
Although the phrase has been used by Leftist communities since at least the 1980s, it saw a massive resurgence online after Richard Spencer's was punched in the face on January 20th, 2017. The punch (shown below) sparked a cultural debate about whether it was ok to use violence against Nazis or other fascist groups.
Following the inauguration of President Donald Trump, the phrase also found popularity in Comrade Jeb! memes in which Jeb Bush is portrayed as an antifa.
In March 2017, moderators of the /r/Anarchism subreddit received requests to take action against users using the phrase "bash the fash," saying that it violates Reddit's anti-violence rules.[5] Redditor Marusama[6] responded in the subreddit, saying that they would not be taking action against these users (posts shown below, left and right, respectively). Their account has since been suspended, as of July 2017.[7]
Search Interest
External References
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