Behind the Black Mask: My Time as an Antifa Activist

by Gabriel Nadales

A rare and very timely inside account of what it is like to be an Antifa activist from a former member who has since become a conservative. As a young Mexican immigrant, Gabriel Nadales grew up feeling alienated and distant from the American Dream that brought his parents to this country seeking a better life for themselves and their family. In high school, he was attracted to a left-wing ideology and soon found himself caught up in the anarchist subculture—attending punk-rock concerts, dressing up in garish outfits, and making t-shirts, flags, and zines to fund his activism. He learned about anarchist history and got involved in “direct actions,” including destructive acts of mayhem. Above all, he was angry at cops, angry at Wall Street, angry at corporations that despoiled the environment, angry at America itself. It was only after being exposed to works by classical liberal economists—such as Milton Friedman and Thomas Sowell—that Nadales began to reconsider his assumptions about capitalism and American society. Eventually he left Antifa and became a conservative activist, advising youth groups on campuses around the country on how to deal with left-wing students, radical faculty, and openly hostile administrators.

Genres: Politics

151 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 6, 2020

Reviews

[Angela Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of good information that more people really need to know about! Scary times are ahead due to people looking the other way and letting ANTIFA grow... Hopefully this snowball can still be stopped!

[Atlas Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nadales does an excellent and personable job of explaining what Antifa is, what they're all about, and why they aren't truly about fighting true fascism. He explains his personal involvement in the movement and how he went from radical Antifa leftist to moderate leftist to conservative activist. And through it all, he maintained his fight against tyranny but moved from fighting those who were never tyrants to begin with to condemning tyrannical behavior regardless of which side it comes from. He provides a clear, rational argument both for free speech on both sides and for conservatives refusing to take liberal assaults on campuses across the country. His book lays out leftist tactics to suppress free speech, specifically on college campuses, and uses events and stories he has experienced or heard to expose the bias, but he advocates conservative resistance through peaceful means, legal channels, and forming connections with others across the aisle. His main message is a reminder that if we truly wish to fight hate of any sort, we have to see people first as fellow human beings we can have connections with and as political opponents second or we risk dehumanizing others and making ourselves no better than radicals like Antifa who hate and dehumanize anyone who disagrees with them or challenges them. Considering the rise of Antifa and similar movements on both sides, this is a message and a warning that every student should hear before they end up on a college campus where they will run into all kinds of viewpoints and people, hostile and friendly alike. Both sides regardless of their politics can learn something useful from the book.

[nat · Rating 1 out of 5]

This guy is MY AGE and was in a libertarian group in 2014. When the fuck would he have even been involved in contemporary antifascist actions? He wasn't old enough for Occupy and the Ferguson Uprising wasn't until 2014. What opportunity would he have had to actually do anything?

This is just The Satan Seller 2.0

It is a total scam.

[Ariel Paiement · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nadales does an excellent and personable job of explaining what Antifa is, what they're all about, and why they aren't truly about fighting true fascism. He explains his personal involvement in the movement and how he went from radical Antifa leftist to moderate leftist to conservative activist. And through it all, he maintained his fight against tyranny but moved from fighting those who were never tyrants to begin with to condemning tyrannical behavior regardless of which side it comes from. He provides a clear, rational argument both for free speech on both sides and for conservatives refusing to take liberal assaults on campuses across the country. His book lays out leftist tactics to suppress free speech, specifically on college campuses, and uses events and stories he has experienced or heard to expose the bias, but he advocates conservative resistance through peaceful means, legal channels, and forming connections with others across the aisle. His main message is a reminder that if we truly wish to fight hate of any sort, we have to see people first as fellow human beings we can have connections with and as political opponents second or we risk dehumanizing others and making ourselves no better than radicals like Antifa who hate and dehumanize anyone who disagrees with them or challenges them. Considering the rise of Antifa and similar movements on both sides, this is a message and a warning that every student should hear before they end up on a college campus where they will run into all kinds of viewpoints and people, hostile and friendly alike. Both sides regardless of their politics can learn something useful from the book.

[Yibbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m not sure why, but this book felt disjointed or scattered. It was interesting, but something is missing. Maybe for a reader more familiar with the author’s work outside of this book, it would flow better. It’s certainly heartening to see he him growing in maturity and political understanding.
It does seem that the author strives for unlimited personal freedom. I shouldn’t be too surprised by that from a Libertarian, but all he seems to see is the oppression that the left brings, not the evil that they support. That could be a mistaken impression I got from not knowing more about his other works. Still, I’m grateful for everyone who stands for freedom as it gives others the chance to share the truth of ultimate freedom through Christ.

[TheAccidental Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I have read this year. Gives me hope for our youth and for the future of society. I expect big things from Nadales in the near future, as he is a most admirable young man with a fascinating past.

[Atlantis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve had this on my reading shelf for awhile and I am not sure how long I’ve been trying to read it but, I realized I probably won’t finish it. The writing is not great, but I can appreciate the effort and there are great historical points offered.

[Timothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always interesting to hear from people that have been on both sides of a divide.