Toronto Against Fascism (TAF) is a radical leftist group of activists who operate across Canada.
On November 4, 2018 Toronto Against Fascism published an official document entitled “Points of Unity” that presents its ideology, goals and modus operandi. Its highlights are:
- Toronto Against Fascism was “initiated by the Revolutionary Communist Party of Canada (PCR-RCP).”
- “We support defeating fascism by any means necessary.”
- “We do not rely on or collaborate with the state.”
- “We do not cooperate with the police.”
- “We embrace the spirit of internationalism.”
- “We support the struggles of colonized peoples everywhere for national liberation and self-determination.”
- “We support and welcome refugees and disavow the enforcement of state borders.”
- “We acknowledge the role of white supremacy in the creation of islamophobia and anti-semitism.”
- “We are against so-called “men’s rights associations.”
- “We stand with LGBTQI2S people in their struggle for liberation.”
- “We are anti-capitalist. We recognize that capitalism is the system that results in, promotes and maintains fascism.”
- “We believe that capitalism must be destroyed.”
Here is the text of the document:
Points of Unity
Toronto Against Fascism, November 4, 2018
Toronto Against Fascism (TAF) is a mass-based anti-fascist organization operating in and around Toronto. We are a coalition of people from different communities and organizations united to work together against fascism. Though initiated by the Revolutionary Communist Party of Canada (PCR-RCP), TAF is non-sectarian and includes a diversity of political tendencies and traditions. Our points of unity are as follows:
We support defeating fascism by any means necessary. We uphold a “no platform” approach to fascist organizing. Fascism is to be smashed, not debated. We believe in a diversity of tactics including community outreach and education to combat this issue.
We are working-class people oriented towards the working class. Fascism preys on disaffected workers, attempting to channel their discontent into reactionary politics. We believe that the working class is the only class which has the number, power and interest to decisively stop fascism and to build a better world. We seek to engage and educate other working class people to help them fight for their own liberation.
We do not rely on or collaborate with the state. Fascism has never been stopped by the state – it has only been stopped by mass movements of the people. With this in mind, TAF will not be co-opted by parasitic politicians and NGOs who hope to use the people’s anger to further their own career goals. We also recognize that the police function as the armed wing of the state and the ruling class, and often target the same marginalized communities as fascists. With this in mind, and the fact that fascists are often found within the ranks of police forces, we do not cooperate with the police.
We condemn the Canadian government’s support for fascism abroad. We embrace the spirit of internationalism and see local anti-fascist work as part of a global fight against fascism. We recognize the best way to support the fight against fascism abroad is to defeat fascism here.
We oppose colonialism. We condemn the genocide and ongoing colonial project unleashed upon indigenous peoples here in Canada. We acknowledge the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant and understand our duty to respect and maintain the natural resources and land that we occupy. We support the struggles of colonized peoples everywhere for national liberation and self-determination. We support and welcome refugees and disavow the enforcement of state borders.
We oppose all forms of white supremacy, islamophobia, and anti-semitism. We oppose all forms of racism, including anti-Blackness and anti-Indigenous racism. We acknowledge the role of white supremacy in the creation of islamophobia and anti-semitism and recognize the additional influences of racialization and imperialism in the way islamophobia manifests.
We are against so-called “men’s rights associations.” Men’s rights groups are violently misogynistic and fascistic in nature. We prioritize the liberation and empowerment of women and gender-oppressed people in the anti-fascist effort.
We stand with LGBTQI2S people in their struggle for liberation. We recognize that the policing of gender and sexual identity is a fascistic, capitalist and colonialist device, and that the prioritization of queer and trans issues is imperative to anti-fascism. We reject trans-exclusionary radical feminism as it refuses to acknowledge the rights and identities of trans women.
We are anti-eugenicist. We recognize the eugenics of racism and ableism as a device of fascism and white supremacy. ‘Alt-right’ fascists’ combination of scientific racism and romantic nationalism obfuscate their politics via misrepresenting history and science. We disavow fallacious scientific legitimization of ableism and racism.
We are anti-capitalist. We recognize that capitalism is the system that results in, promotes and maintains fascism. We acknowledge that fascism is an unavoidable tendency within capitalism, and as part of the anti-fascist effort we believe that capitalism must be destroyed so that the people may build a society that will not allow for the presence or growth of fascism.