Thoughts on How to Respond to Nazis
Michael Dewitz is Nazi. And we should not ignore him nor call for a dialogue.
I purposely choose not to use “Neo-Nazi” because Nazis and fascism are not new nor are they relegated to the past. They are a constant. A constant we must constantly and consistently fight against. How do we know this man is truly a Nazi? There is the obvious marker, a red armband with the swastika attached to his left arm. But we need not guess, he told us in an interview on Wednesday, January 25 with Crystal Bailey of TV20 News.
According to Mr. Dewitz, “Nazi’s [sic] are an extremely organized, focused, distinguished organization that saved the world.” Certainly a statement of admiration, even if not entirely accurate. He goes on to claim that his is partially a social experiment. Perhaps that is true. I ask, however, then what is the other part? A coming out? An expression of personal admiration? A testing of the waters? Or perhaps, its partly just for fun? Any of these options are intolerable.
It often is a good tactic to ignore someone or something we simply do not want to give credence to, or we find slightly annoying. It is a tactic often used for children throwing a tantrum, a bee buzzing in our vicinity, or even a grown person ogling our bodies. In the face of this tactic, children get bored, bees continue on their search for pollen, and oglers get hungry, thirsty, or finally have somewhere else to be or something else to do.
But what of fascism? What of the Nazi? What of Mr. Dewitz? Mr. Dewitz finished his interview with TV20 by complaining that he was verbally assaulted and saying that he most likely wouldn’t do it again. But upon a good night’s rest (a revitalization?) we saw that Mr. Dewitz was back at it again this morning on the University of Florida Campus. Turns out Mr. Dewitz is not a bee, nor a child, nor does he seem to have much else to do. He is here for a purpose and that purpose to spread fear, hate, and intimidation. So perhaps it is safe to assume that he will not simply finish his tantrum nor buzz off back to his hive.
We must note that fascism is an ideology that has serious real world ramifications. It is not simply words. And those words it does have are violent words. Fascism, specifically Nazism, calls for the eradication and extermination of Jews, LBGTQ+, people of color, and the disabled. Eradication does not mean to move to a different place or to segregate, it means genocide. It is an ideology based on purposeful misinterpretations of Christianity and fabricated ideas of race and genetics. It is not based in fact, observed or inherent, nor is it based in science. It is a program of violence and oppression with very specific, organized goals of murder and mayhem. Mr. Dewitz’s words and symbols should be taken at face value and given the grave meaning he intends. As Nobel Prize Laureate Toni Morrison said, “Oppressive language does more than represent violence; it is violence; does more than represent the limits of knowledge, it limits knowledge” (Nobel Lecture, 1993). And so to simply ignore it is not only severely inadequate, it is morally irresponsible and reprehensible.
A man who espouses such violence is not a man interested in dialogue. He is calling for your or your neighbor’s extermination. How do you negotiate or converse with someone who believes that your life has no value and is the scourge of the earth. What will be your opening line, “I understand where you’re coming from, but I believe you’re a little misguided?” To tell us, who feel unsafe, violated, and angry, to temper our reactions and simply ignore this man, you do us more harm than good. You give him the platform to spread violence and oppression. In the mid-late 1930s, when the world attempted to dialogue with Hitler and his administration, they were building ovens for people.
That leaves us, finally, with confrontation. But what does that mean, confrontation? A common phrase being thrown around these days is, “When they go low, we go high.” Wise words that have often saved me from embarrassing myself and from causing an inappropriate scene in certain places in the company of certain people. However, this sentiment should not be treated as an absolute to turn the other cheek. What does it mean to go high in the case of Mr. Dewitz? He must be confronted and made to leave our presence. And we saw a most excellent direct action this morning in Turlington Square. Students, teachers, and other community members overwhelming turned out to protest his presence. They chanted, gathered close to him, yelled and screamed at him. This did not phase him for some time, but finally made him uncomfortable enough and forced the hand of UFPD to remove him. Perhaps he will return tomorrow, but hopefully that means so will our citizenry who stand against Mr. Dewitz’s violence. Fascism does not blush at our shaming, it is an ideology set on acquiring power and eliminating all those opposed. So prepare yourself, defend yourself and your brothers and sisters. Confront and remove evil from our community. And if you have to #punchanazi, I have your back, and believe many others do as well.
