January 6th is coming and shit is gonna get real

Two things are true:

1) The far right will look for an enemy to punch and they will find one. The only choice we have is whether they find someone prepared or a random person coming home from work

2) The far right loves to fight

This complicates because on one hand you have to show up to fight them and on the other holy shit do they want to fight you, they're buying plane tickets specifically to fight you

There's a reason the highest Proud Boy degree involves fighting you, they fucking love it

It's also complicated because who wouldn't want to fight these assholes? They're assholes

But it's what they want

It is therefore my opinion that the goal on the ground should be to NOT fight, but to deescalate

I know this seems counterintuitive but I have infiltrated far right rallies for three years now and the thing that kills future rallies dead is boredom. If it's boring this time, they won't show up next time

Portland, August 2018: due to overwhelming counterprotest and pressure from federal agents, the Proud Boys marched to the waterfront, planted a flag, and then left

"A lot of people paid a lot of money to come out here," someone said to me, coldly furious at the lack of violence

I don't think total deescalation is a reasonable expectation when the far right is as angry as they are right now. But to whatever extent possible, the goal of counterprotest right now should be to make shit as boring as possible

Make them feel like they wasted their money

Solidarity to everyone, and strength to all of us for what's coming. We'll get through because we have to, and because we always do