The left should be wary of company it keeps

“The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

Too many of us who consider ourselves liberals have unfortunately adopted this attitude when it comes to the anarchists who laughingly call themselves “Antifa.” Anti-fascists. That’s a good one. Because repeatedly we have seen these black-clad, masked thugs wade into protests not simply to provoke violence, but to beat those with whom they disagree.

Oh, and often go on a property-destroying rampage. Just for fun.

Their latest foray into protecting freedom by denying free speech occurred this past weekend, when 100 or so of them showed up at a right-wing March Against Marxism in Berkeley. As the Washington Post reported, “Shortly after, violence began to flare. A pepperspray-wielding Trump supporter was smacked to the ground with homemade shields.

“Another was attacked by five blackclad antifa members, each windmilling kicks and punches into a man desperately trying to protect himself. A conservative group leader retreated for safety behind a line of riot police as marchers chucked water bottles, shot off pepper spray and screamed, ‘Fascist go home!’”

All in the name of opposing fascism, racists, the alt-right, Trump, whomever.

And because they oppose what we oppose, we seem to be giving them a pass.

They’re the enemy of our enemy, after all.

Our indifference to this reveals our hypocrisy. We claim to be all for free speech. Yet we look the other way when Antifa does everything possible to stop some speech, speech with which we disagree.

We rightly demand that the president unequivocally denounce racism when it rears its deplorable head, so why don’t we expect the same from liberal leaders? Why shouldn’t they reject the violence of those on the left who intimidate those with whom we disagree?

We liberals need to decide whether we want to mirror Trump and some of his mindless minions, who not only tolerate but encourage violence in support of their views. We say we abhor Trump’s behavior, we say that the alt-right’s frightening tactics are designed to intimidate. Yet we are silent when the enemy of our enemy is little better.

Maybe we should take to heart what the Oakland mayor said in reaction to the weekend violence: “Fighting hate with hate does not work and only makes each side more entrenched in their ideological camps.”

Mike McClellan is a Gilbert resident and a retired Mesa teacher. Email him at mmcclellan3141@msn.com.