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What are your opinions on building, let's say, left wing 'militias'? (lemmygrad.ml)

submitted 1 week ago by SlayGuevara@lemmygrad.ml to c/comradeship@lemmygrad.ml

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I used to be a football hooligan in what now seems like a previous life and I hope it comes as no surprise that the vast majority of the ultras sections are hunting grounds for right wing movements seeking out young (mostly) men who are willing to form what are essentially militias.

Apart from this several right wing groups throughout Europe and the US have their own militias who do martial arts and combat training.

This, of course, seems all very LARP-y until it doesn't and they come to protests better equipped to fight.

For the time I have been active in political organizing not once have I seen the same effort coming from a left wing party and honestly it seems rather naive. I don't think you should advertise stuff like that out in the open because that would make you an easy target for bad press and it will probably scare people away anyway.

But still. Should left wing organisations offer martial arts or other self defense courses? Should we be 'above that'? And what if shit does hit the fan?

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[–] Drewfro66@lemmygrad.ml 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I understand where you're coming from but I think there are multiple reasons why military- or guerilla-style combat training isn't really useful for the situations Marxist groups will find themselves in in the near future.

To the extent that armed resistance is effective, it is effective as a deterrent. If it comes to armed conflict, we will lose. This basic level of deterrence does not require training (at least, not extensive or dedicated training) - it only requires being armed.

Marxists in the United States do not (yet) have the support of the people. Becoming Maoist guerillas living in the woods and performing adventurism on police precincts and factories might be cool but it isn't really an effective use of personnel. The best use of a Marxist is as an organizer - a mover of people. Any action that turns a potential organizer into a criminal who cannot operate in professional society is ineffective as a revolutionary tactic.

Even if we did spend weeks doing combat training and arming ourselves, if the police or the military starting sending goons to our homes and community centers, there would be very little utility in shooting back. Our options would be (1). Go to jail and fight through the legal system, (2). Go into hiding, or (3). Flee the country.

If the cops raid your home, having combat training will not determine success, only how many cops you take with you. And cops are easier to replace than Marxists.

[–] cayde6ml@lemmygrad.ml 0 points 2 days ago

Very fair points.

I still feel like no matter how you slice it, there needs to be some kind of preparation. But I can't argue against your solid points.