Dem Congressman tweets praise for Antifa handbook

Democratic Rep. Keith Ellison tweeted a photograph of himself holding the book Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook, which he thinks should “strike fear in the heart of @realDonaldTrump.”

It is unclear whether Ellison purchased the book, whose author, Dartmouth College instructor Mark Bray, has stated that he will donate half of its proceeds to an Antifa legal defense fund.

Ellison claimed in the tweet that he had “found the book that strike fear in the heart of @realDonaldTrump,” but did not specify whether he was alluding to Antifa’s often-violent tactics, or simply to the existence of an organized movement opposed to Trump.

Bray’s book, which equates President Donald Trump’s ascent with the rise of fascist dictators in early twentieth century Europe, makes the case that speech and democratic processes are insufficient to prevent fascists from taking power.

Bray, a visiting scholar at Dartmouth College, argued in a series of April 2017 interviews that Americans should “give up on the liberal notion” of “a regime of rights” in which free speech permits Nazis to state their opinions. Instead, he believes that American white supremacists are “an enemy to humanity that needs to be stopped by any means necessary.”

Although Dartmouth’s president distanced the college from Bray’s comments, and even House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has condemned Antifa violence, Ellison evidently disagrees.

Campus Reform contacted Rep. Ellison’s district office and was referred to his Washington, D.C. office, which was unavailable for comment.

Follow the author of this article on Twitter: @SFarkas48