Defend Auburn, Alabama Against the White Power Invasion on April 18th

On Saturday, April 15th, students, anti-racists, anti-fascists, and other residents of the Bay Area clashed in the streets of Berkeley, CA against an array of organized white supremacist and far-Right forces. Unlike most events and actions the far-Right has organized in recent past — usually ending in embarrassing failure — this time members of the Right were able to bring out an organized force committed to inflicting violence against our comrades and other community members in a city once thought to be a stronghold for leftist and generally socially tolerant sentiments. Bolstered by what they view as a success, the far-Right is now bragging that if it can take over Berkeley it can do the same in any city.

Now, to add to the gravity of the situation, racist “Alt-Right” leader Richard Spencer and his goons have decided on a show of force in the South, threatening to overrun the campus of Alabama’s Auburn University with white power combatants armed with “safety gear.”

Events began with antisemitic flyers surfacing around Auburn University, promoting the founding of a campus “White Student Union”. Late on the night of Tuesday the 11th, not long after these flyers made headlines, white power leader Richard Spencer announced online that he had booked a room on AU campus for a speaking event which would take place the next Tuesday, April 18th. Following public uproar, this Friday university officials in consultation with police announced that they had decided to cancel Spencer’s appearance due to “safety concerns”.

Spencer promptly issued a YouTube response asserting that, regardless of the cancellation, he would still show up to the campus with security teams in tow. Spencer has also arranged for other far-right leaders, such as Mike Peinovich of “The Daily Shoah,” to fly into Auburn in support of Tuesday’s white power rally. Alt-Right chatter online makes clear that this gathering is intended to be a demonstration of power. Racist organizers are doing little to veil their intimidatory and violent intent. In addition, other groups such as “Anti-Communist Action” have made a firm vow that “shit’s gonna go down” at Auburn on Tuesday, and are organizing their own numbers for this purpose.

We must show up ready for conflict in the numbers necessary to thwart their attempts at silencing us. We must ensure that the voices of those who oppose exterminationist agendas can be heard above those of Richard Spencer and his white nationalist and fascist supporters. A call to action has been issued to mobilize Southern anti-racists to get to Auburn. So far it is endorsed by the following organizations:

Atlanta Antifascists;
Atlanta Resistance Medics;
Athens Antifascists;
General Defense Committee, Atlanta branch;
Atlanta Redneck Revolt;
Anti-fascist News;
Ida B. Wells Coalition;
Metro Atlanta Chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America;
One People’s Project;
Socialist Party of Central Alabama;
Workers’ Solidarity Alliance;
and the Young Dems of GSU.

We will be gathering at Auburn University’s Foy Hall at 6:00pm on April 18th, the same day as Spencer’s event.

This is not simply a matter of pro-Trump vs. anti-Trump. There are committed racists and fascists trying to organize in our cities and our hometowns, in our neighborhoods and at our schools. It is imperative that we come together in our communities, in strength and solidarity, to put an end to their agendas.

We ask that the people of Auburn, Alabama, the Deep South, and beyond take the strongest possible stand against white supremacy on Tuesday.

Follow @no_nazi_auburn and @afainatl on Twitter for updates.