ANTIFASCISTS VS. DAVID IRVING (ROUND 3)

Southside Chicago Anti-Racist Action provides us with a history of opposition to events held by British Holocaust denier David Irving, who on May 3 begins a 30+ city, two-month tour of the US.

Southside Chicago Anti-Racist Action

The worlds most infamous holocaust denier, anti-semite, and Nazi sympathizer, David Irving, is at it again, attempting another 30 day US tour . “He intends to do a presentation glorifying Heinrich Himmler, the head of the SS, the second most powerful man in Nazi Germany behind Adolf Hitler and the man who coordinated the Holocaust.”  We’re calling upon militant antifascists to confront his tour at every stop possible, and send a clear message that holocaust revisionism and fascist organizing will not be taken lightly.

A look back at 2009:

In New Jersey, dozens of anti-fascists filled the Pompton Plains hotel, chanting and struggling with attendees.  They were so effective in disrupting the event that police had to escort attendees out. The same happened a day later in NYC, where the event was not only disrupted, but both Irving’s tour manager Jaenelle Antas and neo-Nazi friend Alex Carmichael were pepper-sprayed. Faced with humiliation and defeat, Irving was forced to cancel his next few scheduled appearances, but the chaos did not end there. Days later his Chicago event was shut down when dozens of masked anti-fascists stormed into the Edelweiss restaurant turning over tables, destroying his merchandise, and assaulting attendees, while Irving and Antas locked themselves in a supply closet in a magnificent display of cowardice.

Right in the middle of his failed east coast appearances, his websites were also attacked by anti-fascist hackers who released his private emails and databases to WikiLeaks. The emails gave hilarious details of the frustrations caused by Irving’s infatuation with his much younger assistant Jaenelle, and also eventually caused his landlord to kick Irving out of his Winsdor home. More importantly, this leak revealed private speaking locations as well as names and addresses of dozens of racist Nazi sympathizers who purchased tickets – a warning to those who would consider purchasing a ticket to Irving’s gatherings.

The conflicts that populated Irving’s 2009 tour exemplify the danger that venues are sure to face should they host his events. Irving, fearing confrontations during his 2009 tour, had hired “Tip of the Spear,” a group which advertises private security for white power events. At the 2009 Palm Beach function, the very people he hired for security had initiated a knife fight amongst warring neo-Nazi attendees Christopher Nachtman and John Kopko. The event was booked under Focal Point Productions and the Ritz-Carlton had no idea who Irving was. Additionally, one person attending the 2009 Chicago function, John Gisselbrech, was hospitalized during the antifa disruption, hurt so badly that he has hired the prominent Deratany Firm to file a lawsuit against David Irving, his publishing company Focal Point Productions, and Edelweiss Restaurant (who hosted Irving for the second year in a row) for failing to make adequate security precautions. The million dollars at stake may shut down these businesses down–yet another warning of what might happen to spaces that host fascist speaking events. Further, they give warning to the puerile few considering attending, as to just what might happen if they do attend. They will be confronted, exposed, shut down, and humiliated.

Increased Paranoia in 2011:

It was 2011 and Irving announced he was coming back again. The attacks on Irvings 2009 stops now had him jumping through hoops in order to keep his events safe; implementing massive screening processes and very expensive ticket prices in cities where Irving suspected he would be most challenged. This only made his turnouts about 1/3 the size of his 2009 tour, a victory in itself for us antifa.

Even with the obstacles, Irving’s 2011 tour did not go unchallenged. His Indiana date was shut down twice. The first which was to take place at the MCL cafeteria in Carmel was brought to an immediate halt when some antifa tossed bricks containing anti-Irving messages through the window. In St. Louis, the hosting hotel was attacked and in Chicago a massive phone jam was implemented on the Drake hotel, followed by an alleged bomb threat.

Interestingly, David Irving’s tour manager and personal assistant for the third year in a row is Jaenelle Antas (7823 Ella Dobbs Ln, Indianapolis, IN 46227 317-379-8871 / 305 923 9400). Despite the unforgettable troubles stemming from the 2009 tour (the pepper-spray and Irving’s elderly sexual advances) Jaenelle is giving him another chance and is handling all booking and ticket sales for his tour. The former Assistant to the Chair of the Indiana Libertarian Party, Jaenelle is also involved in her local white supremacist scene in Indianapolis, belonging to the hate group “Hoosier Nation” which is organizing to support Indiana’s anti-immigrant bill SB590.

David Irving, much like Chicago-based holocaust denier (and Northwestern University professor) Arthur Butz (2214 Central St, Apt 3 Evanston, IL 60201) and all other proponents of holocaust denial, have a very specific agenda that, upon further examination, has less to do with spreading their distorted fantasies, and more about Nazi sympathy, scapegoating Jews, and legitimizing racism. Holocaust deniers are attempting to lift the taboo off the holocaust in order to make Nazism a more accepted mass political ideology; in other words, they deny the holocaust so that it can happen again.

It’s 2012 and the bastard is at it again. All out against Irving!!!