Rave Reads: No Fascist USA! By Hilary Moore & James Tracy

There couldn’t be a better time to read this book. Hilary Moore and James Tracy do a deep-dive into the John Brown ANTI-KLAN Committee (JBAKC). A group that has fought for decades against fascism in the United States. Starting back in the 1970s, going all the way through the 1990s, Moore and Tracy begin with an in-depth examination of the political and social climate that gave rise to the committee. They describe how the JBAKC emerged from the radical milieu of the 1970s, influenced by the civil rights movement, anti-Vietnam War protests, and the rise of New Left activism. The authors effectively convey the sense of urgency and danger that prompted the formation of the JBAKC, as white supremacist groups like the Ku Klux Klan and the American Nazi Party gained traction and visibility. The authors describe how members of the JBAKC infiltrated Klan rallies, organized counter-demonstrations, and worked to expose and shame individuals and institutions that supported or tolerated racist ideologies. They highlight the committee’s emphasis on solidarity with other marginalized groups, particularly communities of color, and their efforts to build broad-based coalitions against fascism and racism. They trace the roots of white supremacist and fascist ideologies in the United States, exploring how these currents have evolved and adapted. The authors also examine the broader landscape of anti-fascist and anti-racist activism, highlighting the connections and continuities between the JBAKC and earlier and later movements. JBAKC helped lay out the blueprint for strategies, tactics, organizing, and taking action for other ANTI-FASCIST movements that would follow in their footsteps.

"NO FASCIST USA!" is not only a historical account, but also a call to action. Moore and Tracy draw explicit connections between the JBAKC’s experiences and the current rise of far-right extremism in the United States and beyond. They emphasize the importance of learning from past struggles and applying those lessons to contemporary contexts. The book offers practical insights and strategies for activists, highlighting the need for sustained, organized resistance against fascism and white supremacy. The authors advocate for a multi-faceted approach that combines direct action with community organizing, education, and coalition-building. Moore and Tracy’s narrative is both informative and inspiring, providing a powerful testament to the courage and commitment of those who have stood up against fascism and racism. The book is meticulously researched, drawing on a wide range of primary and secondary sources, including archival materials, interviews, and contemporary reports. 

The book contains chapters with titles such as One Long Reign of Terror. Roots, Radicals, and Reagan. After Winter Comes Spring: The Anti-Klan Movement. Confrontations and Culture Wars. Small Steps on a Long Road. Ending with Lessons for Today’s Movements. 

“Policies change, and programs change, according to time. But objectives never change. You might change your method of achieving the objective, but the objective never changes. 

Our objective is complete freedom, complete justice, complete equality, by any means necessary.” -Malcolm X, 1964

On February 15, 2019, a forty-nine-year-old U.S. Coast Guard lieutenant, Marine Corps veteran, and white nationalist named Christopher Hasson was arrested for plotting to assassinate high-profile politicians, media figures, and civilians. Hasson spent hours researching killing techniques used by far-right mass murders. He was also inspired by Norwegian terrorist Anders Behring Breivik and abortion clinic bomber Eric Rudolph. Hasson was a known neo-Nazi who wrote that he preferred “focused violence” to marches and rallies. He drafted letters to friends, speculating on how to cause the maximum amount of damage to society. The purpose of Hasson’s violence was to incite a race war. 

White supremacists are not outliers living off the grid in rural areas; they are organizing all around us and serve in the military, the police departments, on prison staff, and in the offices of elected officials. White supremacists have historically existed in all branches of government but have only been tracked in the military since the 1980s. The problem is not how many white nationalists hold posts in the armed forces or what actions the Department of Defense will or will not take. Instead, we must interrogate what common historical interests remain between state authorities and right-wing vigilantism. The uptick in racialized violence isn’t an anomaly, but a recurring historical backlash to the political, social, and economic advancement of people of color. 

You don’t have to be an activist to read this book and learn from what Moore and Tracy have researched and detailed out. Whether or not you are, I highly suggest you pick this book up and educate yourself about one of the most important ongoing issues we have living in society today. Take it from me, this book is worth raving about!

You can pick up a copy of NO FASCIST USA! By Hilary Moore and James Tracy at Avantpop Bookstore or at bookshop.org/shop/avantpop