
Image by Vlad Tchompalov.
We find ourselves in a precarious situation. Yet another moment in human history when capitalism paves the way for fascism. Yet another moment when minoritized populations find themselves as pawns of fascist strength signaling through erasure–whether it is through executive orders that argue trans people just are not real; or through physical erasure through ICE deportations; or erasure of vast swaths of information regarding the health and well being of everyday Americans that do not fit the fascist agenda; or by suggesting a genocide should be seen to its full completion by “cleaning out” Palestinians. This administration is showcasing the full extent to which the US has been built on antagonism towards people–a government of the bourgeoisie, by the bourgeoisie, for the bourgeoisie.
While this is nothing new, the extent to which this hostility is causing harm and dismantling whatever little social structure people rely on requires an appropriate response. The only appropriate response for a crisis of this magnitude is a United Front. Since its first emergence in China almost exactly 100 years ago, the United Front has been one of the most reliable ways by which people have stood up against urgent and existential threats. From the anti-fascist Popular Fronts of 1930s Europe to the coalitions that fought apartheid in South Africa, history has shown us that unity across ideological lines is not only possible but necessary to defeat the forces of oppression.
Today, we face a similar moment. The rising tide of fascism in the United States in the last decade—marked by white supremacist violence, attacks on reproductive rights, the criminalization of dissent, and the normalization of authoritarianism—demands a response that is as bold as it is inclusive. A broad-based coalition built on flexible and pragmatic alliances that bring together all those who stand against fascism–workers, students, activists, organizers–needs to do all it can to raise class consciousness, identify the root of the problem as capitalism, convince as many people as possible–across ideological and class lines–to join the front, and unite to create a government that does not see people as resources to be extracted and discarded.
While the United States in this decade has different material, social, and cultural conditions than, say, 1930s Europe, there are still lessons we can draw from history to guide what building a united front might look like. Because a United Front is not a single organization or party—it is a strategic alliance of diverse groups and individuals united by a common goal. At its core, it is a recognition that no single movement or ideology can defeat fascism alone. Instead, it requires the collective power of all those who stand against oppression, regardless of their differences. The United Front is not about erasing those differences or demanding ideological purity. It is about finding common ground and working together to achieve concrete objectives: defending civil liberties, protecting marginalized communities, and dismantling the structures of fascism. It is a flexible, adaptable strategy that has been used successfully in countless struggles throughout history.
In the context of the United States today, a United Front would mean bringing together labor unions fighting for workers’ rights, racial justice organizations combating white supremacy, LGBTQ+ activists defending bodily autonomy, environmentalists fighting for a livable planet, and progressive liberals committed to defending democracy. It would mean centering the voices of those most targeted by fascism—Black, Indigenous, and people of color; immigrants; women; and queer and trans folks—while building a movement powerful enough to protect us all.
It is important to keep in mind that waiting for existing political parties or leaders to build a United Front does not make sense. Democratic Party itself is part of the symptom of this societal failure to stop the rise of fascism. Instead, the work starts with recognizing that the help we seek starts with reaching out to a neighbor, a friend, or an organization.
A good starting point is to catch up on and connect with international as well as local organizations that also stand up against fascism and stand with workers and minoritized peoples. These might range from Socialist International to World Federation of Democratic Youth to Progressive International globally. Locally, picking a group and joining with their mission can help us focus on building grassroots power and local coalitions in our own communities. Organizing study groups, protests, or mutual aid efforts can align with our vision of a United Front.
Another important pointer is to organize around concrete goals and objectives instead of spending a lot of time talking about how things would or could or should have been. Building a social movement and working towards an emergent United Front is a matter of practice and needs to address practical concerns of everyday Americans–healthcare, food insecurity, housing, and how the accumulation of historical injustices affects minority groups even more when it comes to such basic essential aspects of life. This is where the current political system fails us because it is based on extracting from the people, instead of providing them with life. Therefore that is the point where efforts must concentrate.
Last but not least, it is of utmost importance for us to locate ourselves in history. This means, to an extent, being able to see clearly, how the economic systems as well as the development of law, society, and political systems brought us to this point. The value of this knowledge is twofold. First, if we can see ourselves and this moment as a product of history, we can also understand that forces of oppression did not emerge out of the blue. They have a beginning and, as such, they will have an end. Locating this moment in history, and ourselves in it, can help us clarify these moments. Second, only with this kind of knowledge we can rouse class consciousness within these flexible alliances. Otherwise, most of our efforts will be about concepts in abstraction. What is, after all, an understanding of justice that is stripped away from an understanding of the conditions that created injustice?