`If others have rifles, we´ll have rifles´: why leftist groups are taking up arms
(The Guardian United States)

Armed antifascists groups say they want to protect events from other malicious and potentially armed groups - a phenomenon that is becoming more and more commonThe van lumbered down one of Seattle´s many steep hills. A half dozen people packed inside but despite the heat, most wore long pants and boots, and several sported black hoodies. The atmosphere was subdued, except for the occasional joke. It wasn´t so much tension as seriousness - there was work to be done.The people in the van are members of the Puget Sound John Brown Gun Club (PSJBGC). Their stated aim is to fight white supremacy and build community defense in America´s Pacific Northwest, and their presence has become a fixture of protests in the Seattle and Tacoma areas, where the group is often invited to provide security against rightwing aggression. Continue reading...