In the two weeks since an apparent misidentification between armed individuals at a No Kings march in Salt Lake City caused the death of a bystander, not all details are known, but this tragic event brings up many pressing issues which all militant leftists must contend with. I’m uniquely qualified to comment, after spending much of 2017-2020 assisting with security at political events and actions all over the Northwest, usually as part of a well trained team carrying concealed firearms. This became necessary during Trump era part I, as right wing violence took more and more lives, from Portland to Charlottesville and El Paso to Pittsburgh, etc. Ever since, fascists have never ceased feeling emboldened to threaten any perceived opposition, including even my own children, so I take this work very seriously.

1. You Gotta Be Sure

This can’t be emphasized enough. Open carry of guns is legal in Utah where No Kings security opened fire on a participant who chose to march with their rifle. You gotta be extra aware when operating in a place where open carry is not only legal but common. For example, in 2020 I was asked to assemble a security detail for a Black Lives Matter event organized by local teenagers in rural Washington. Despite this action (largely made up of kids) taking place calmly on public sidewalks, we were confronted by armed militia members. Because my crew was experienced, we correctly assessed their goal was simply intimidation. Firing on grown men carrying AR-15s to scare teenagers would have only invited disaster. 

2. Socially Educate Yourself

We don’t know enough yet, but it’s possible the Utah security officer was unaware leftist gun culture even exists. They may have assumed anyone with a rifle near the parade was a fascist preparing to cause mayhem and fired without thinking further. 

I had an experience in the opposite direction. Many of the individuals I worked with came from the Portland area where visually distinguishing between groups during actions was fairly easy. Patriot Prayer, the Proud Boys, and similar groups always stood out blocks away with their omnipresent red, white, and blue gear. Leftists might brandish black and red flags but rarely the US colors, though this is changing as more mainstream opposition to Trump forms. In 2018 an antifascist contingent I’d invited from Portland came to assist with an event out in the Dalles. They rolled into town after things were underway and several came running up, eyes full of panic. My position was surrounded by American flags and they assumed fascists had overrun the area. It’s important to recognize that leftists and antifascists in rural areas often display the stars and stripes, largely because of small town political dynamics. Unlike in urban areas, it’s not uncommon seeing groups with intergenerational members who might be Democrats, democratic socialists, anarchists and communists who share little besides contempt for Trump. Fortunately my friends didn’t overreact before I could explain that these particular flag wavers were rural antifascists.

3. You Still Gotta Be Sure

Depending on size, some actions contain multiple organizations with overlapping security goals. This may cause potentially dangerous conflicts if not carefully handled. In 2017, a group I worked with was asked to monitor the perimeter of a political gathering in Portland. A bunch of SHARPS (anti-racist skinheads) showed up and as the event grew larger than anticipated, we began sharing responsibilities with them. At one point towards the end, as evening fell, some SHARPS came running in pursuit of a couple men they claimed were fascist agitators. I followed with another member of my team, while leaving the rest in place. It quickly became apparent that the alleged fascists were possibly misidentified and at the very least, no longer a threat to the crowd. Because myself and my comrade were armed to prevent harm against the gathering and things were growing contentious, we immediately withdrew. Risking escalated conflict in a darkened urban area over questionable identification was clearly bad news. Sometimes the correct course of action is simply backing off.

4. Read the Room

Every political event is different and requires flexible tactics toward keeping people safe. Smaller actions and gatherings make this easier. Organizers decide what security they want based on danger levels and public perception concerns, then reach out to groups they feel compatible with. Sometimes the ask is different than what I might personally choose, but I always suggest exercising humility. Just because something worked once in a particular small town doesn’t mean I’m an expert on social and political dynamics everywhere. Local organizers know their community best and should be respected.

Typical requests I’ve received in the past included: 

( a ) concealed carry, fully blend with the crowd

( b ) no firearms, visible armbands or vests provided

( c ) concealed carry, wear body armor/tactical gear

In some high threat situations the ask might include long guns. Notably, in 2022, one such gathering in Portland was attacked by an armed fascist who ultimately killed two and wounded three others before several well placed shots took him down. This case of community defense was inspirational, yet worked in a very specific situation. There’s a big difference between participating in a coordinated action where organizers and security agree on what armed element is appropriate and conversely in Utah, where one lone man showed up at a large liberal protest march with no obvious insignia and a scary black rifle. 

That day, everyone failed to read the room. No Kings security should have been aware that open carrying rifles is legal in Salt Lake City and not everyone who does so is a dangerous fascist. The armed leftist should have recognized that their presence added little to march security and might set the stage for a fatal misunderstanding. 

5. You Absolutely Gotta be Sure

Much discussion in gun culture focuses around when self defense with a firearm is permitted. The short conclusion is only when a deadly threat becomes imminent. You can’t shoot someone slashing a knife at you from across the street, but inside your bedroom is much different. A person pointing a gun is clearly a threat, but not if the threatening object is really an airsoft or water pistol. This is important to consider while operating security at political events. Fascists enjoy shooting paintball guns from car windows and sometimes brandish real firearms. 

Likewise, vehicles may present a deadly threat, but at what point? If antifascists at Unite The Right in 2017 had fired on the car accelerating toward them before it drove through the crowd, they would likely be in prison for murder. Fascists know all this and rely on it. I can’t count the number of times at rallies and marches where trucks swerved towards pedestrians, breaking away at the last moment while occupants screamed epithets and pointed something at us.

Because the price of making a bad judgment call is so enormous, being sure in reality simply means that antifascists can’t afford to fire in self defense until attackers have already began taking lives. It doesn’t feel good being held to a higher standard- after all, we know that if a convoy of leftists drove through Republican strongholds in Texas while pointing real guns and shooting off paintball guns, armed citizens would mow them down with no fear of conviction. Still, if our true goal is keeping attendees at events safe, we gotta be sure every time.