Dear Editor:

In his edict of Sept. 22, 2025, Trump continues his assault on our first amendment rights declaring “antifa” to be a domestic terrorist organization. What makes this assault on American freedoms so dangerous is that antifa is a nebulous group of people with no headquarters, no one carrying membership cards (that I know of), nor do they adhere to any specific ideology except to stand in opposition to authoritarianism. At least this is what I gleaned from various articles about it.

It’s the amorphous nature of this definition that is of great concern to freedom loving Americans. Since there is no “official” organization nor any creed or doctrine, it is given to the DOJ to determine who might be an antifa activist.

Further clouding the issue is that many who might be labeled “antifa,” including myself for writing letters to the editor denouncing our government’s authoritarian actions, believe and act in a manner consistent with our constitutionally guaranteed freedoms.

The revolution that produced our America created a system of government where we could vote for a government without resorting to violence. We have a new revolution with every election when we go to the polls. We had the freedom to speak our mind about our elected officials without fear of retribution.

But Trump is using the assasination of Charlie Kirk to further fan the flames of hate and anger against any who might stand in opposition to his authoritarian rule, however law-abiding and peaceful they might be.

Although English historian Ian Kershaw once said “trying to define fascism is like trying to nail jelly to the wall," there is general agreement among political scholars that, distilled to its essence, fascism is about blood and soil. This describes the direction Trump is leading the GOP.

Our fight against fascism did not end with the defeat of Germany in World War II. It is still being waged as a battle of thought and ideas. Where the fascists rely upon fear, we must have the courage to speak out.

In the heart of every American patriot is an anti-fascist. Our watchword is 'never again.'

Fred W. Nehring

Boothbay