As a far-right mob storms the Capitol in Washington DC, learn more about the
history of opposition to white supremacy in the US. This podcast episode tells
the story of Anti-Racist Action, a militant anti-fascist organisation in
Minneapolis, Minnesota founded in the 1980s.
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Anti-Racist Action (ARA) started in Minneapolis and is a predecessor to the
crews often now called antifa. ARA started in 1987 with a multiracial group of
teenage skinheads who fought the rising white power movement. It grew into a
network of groups in at least 120 towns and cities across the US and Canada.
ARA’s first principle was: “We go where they go. Never let the Nazis have the
streets.” They eventually applied that not only to white power organising, but
to homophobic and anti-abortion organizing, and to police violence, which they
saw as all connected.
Producer and host Anna Stitt tells the story of the group in Minneapolis
through vivid first-person accounts, archival audio, and music from the era.
It starts under the railroad tracks in Uptown, Minneapolis and traces a
movement that continues to shape the US to this day.
More information, photos, full acknowledgements and the transcript of this
episode here on our website: https://workingclasshistory.com/podcast/e49-anti-
racist-action-in-minneapolis/
Listen to our exclusive bonus episode, where we discussed the topic further
with Anna, and listen to more tape from participants about their early lives,
political backgrounds and more on patreon here:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/e49-1-anti-bonus-46081746
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