Where are we rallying?
We are rallying at the Convention Center on San Carlos near the “Arcadia” sign on the east side of the plaza. In other words, if you are facing the Convention Center, the rally area will be to your left, towards Market St.

Who are we protesting?
The loose collection of neo-Nazis, fascists, racists, and bigots that are part of a wide network of individuals in California and beyond and have been organizing protests across the west coast. The targets of these rallies are usually so-called “liberal strongholds,” and they are planned with the intent to intimidate and harass oppressed and marginalized people with displays of far-right power.

What’s this about 3 different right-wing rallies?
The far-right has created multiple events at the exact time and location to attract the largest number of fascists and far-right individuals to their rally. They have also done this to create confusion about their true plans: to hold a fascist rally in our city.

What’s all the talk and protest of pedophilia by the far-right about?
The far-right has consistency relied on conspiracy theories and manipulations about pedophilia to rile up their base, and that has picked up in recent years with conspiracy theories such as “Pizzagate” peddled by the likes of Alex Jones. As we have shown with posts on our event page, the far-right individuals coming to San Jose actually have documented affiliations and work with known pedophiles and child abusers, so their claims are false and manipulative.

Where do you stand on the issue of pedophilia?
We are completely and unequivocally opposed to pedophilia and all forms of child abuse.

Doesn’t protesting them mean you’re supporting pedophilia?
No. We are not protesting their manipulative and insincere message against pedophilia, we are protesting the presence of these fascists in our city. If claiming to oppose pedophilia by a political group is all it takes to brand their opponents as pro-pedophilia, then any group like ISIS can make that claim and instantly label all opponents as pro-pedophilia. This is a laughable notion and only sways the most gullible.

Is this protest affiliated or in support of Worldcon?
No. This protest and the organizing group have no affiliations with Worldcon, and we do not endorse Worldcon or their affiliates. Worldcon is merely the backdrop the far-right has chosen for their most recent rally.

Erin Smith, one of the fascist rally organizers is a trans woman, how can she be homophobic or transphobic?
Gender and sexual identities are not magic shields that allow people to dodge accountability for their for their homophobic, transphobic, or other oppressive actions. Smith has been recorded using homophobic slurs during a brutal gang beating of a non-combative person who was on the ground. She has also been recorded repeating the right-wing transphobic line that there are “two genders.” We evaluate people based on their actions, not just their identities.

There are people of color on the side of the far-right rally, how can this rally be racist?
Again, the notion that someone is not accountable for their oppressive actions and affiliations with racists based on their racial identity is nonsense. Non-white people can act in ways that support and strengthen the grip of white supremacy on this country and forward fascist politics. There are countless examples of non-white people collaborating with European colonialism throughout history; this isn’t something new. Actions speak louder than identities.

Is legal support available for those attending the protest?
The National Lawyers Guild has made their demonstration hotline available for the protest and legal observers will also be present. From the NLG site: “[Call] 415-285-1011 if you were arrested at an action the NLG is supporting and are inside a local jail. Write this number in permanent ink on your body whenever you attend a demonstration or direct action where you could be arrested. This number can ONLY be called from inside of a Bay Area jail.”

More information: https://nlgsf.org/activist-support/#demonstration

Flyers for the August 18th rally are now available for download. Please feel free to print and share these flyers with others.

Download Full-page Bilingual August 18th Flyer

4 Download 4 Per Page Bilingual August 18th Flyer