The IMC, by mantaining an open publishing policy serves all segments of the community. That includes racists who post there. That's what you are doing, serving the racist community along with everyone else. Claims of infiltration are foolish. No one has to practice deception to post there.
You can't pretend to have standards you don't enforce.

infiltration may have been the wrong word to use and i understand the policy of imc. the issue isn't that they are posting, the issue is how they use the site as an organizing tool. we must understand their strategy of organizing in order to beat them at their own game.

i was hoping to be a little more constructive with this post, rather than argue semantics. i was hoping that fellow organizers would share their stories of similarity, tactics used to push back the nazi/volksfront contingent. not wax intellectual about whether or not they _can_ post.

that unfortunately, is not the issue.

I have also beeen following the trail of postings by the volksfront. You are right barb, there seems to be a strategy behind their intervention on Portland IMC. From what I can see they are trying to paint a picture of themselves as a "peaceful white working-class affinity group". Of course it is all bullshit, but their muddled attempt to gain support from parts of the anti-cap movement shows that they are ATTEMPTING to become more sophisticated in how they reach out and recruit people. I suspect that a lot of the suppotive postings AND some of the responces to their postings where from the volksfront.

One thing I found very disturbing was the article Metzger got in the Willamette Week claiming that he has always considered the white supremist movement and the environmental movement to be on a similar trajectory in regards to immigration policy. There is some truth in this. For example, Nader refusing to support amnesty for undocumented workers (mostly mexican migrant workers) where the AFL-CIO did support amnesty (a big positive step for labor).

Another place where they are attempting to drive wedge is Israel/Palestine. The Volksfront claim to be in favor of a Palestinian state. Of course there motive is rabid anti-semitism - but they are probing for openings from elements on the left - hoping to suck them in and win them over on other issues. I've heard that the nazi British National Party has struck up a relationship with right-wing Hindu and Sihk groups in the UK to for an anti-islamic front. This is scary.

As far as IMC and open publishing I think we will have to wait and see. I hope others contribute to this dialogue, especially anti-nazi's in the UK who have valuable experience.

Barb, check out the Anti-Nazi League web site at www.anl.org.uk it has useful info and resources.

In Solidarity! --

Rick B. Portland, Oregon
Left Turn - PGP