Antifa member: Here to protect
Rob, 50, of Whitman said he’s been with the leftwing militant group antifa for a year. As counterprotesters gathered across the street from the State House yesterday, Rob told the Herald’s Antonio Planas about why he joined the group, which conservatives have labeled as violent agitators.
“I’m not expecting anyone in the group to be violent. I’m expecting the group to stand and be defensive. I expect them to defend people who are here to protest peacefully ... That’s what happened in Virginia. When you have ministers holding Bibles, leading prayers, who are being charged by the racists, the antifa stepped in and blocked them and protected them. We are here to protect the peaceful protesters.”
As he spoke, Rob pointed to a fanny pack he was wearing that contained assorted medical supplies in case anyone was injured in the hopes of highlighting how he decided to bring a firstaid kid — and not weapons. He also said he had a message for anyone who stands on the side of bigotry.
“They need to study history. They need to read. They need to educate themselves. They need to open up their hearts. Whether they do that in a church, a synagogue, standing beneath a 500-yearold tree, standing on a mountain top, standing at the ocean — none of those places hold hate. None of those places. They got to go some place like that, any place, and just let go of it.”
The horrific scene that played out at a deadly rally in Charlottesville, Va., Rob said, was added incentive to come to Boston.
“I was horrified. … There were two officers who are dead because they were there to protect people — to keep the peace — and this young lady is dead because she was there for peace.”