Christopher Ketcham introduces us to a nightmare landscape that is
peculiarly American. Alt Righters. Neo-nazis. Boogaloo Bois. White
nationalists. Western chauvinists. These creatures roam the streets,
often indistinguishable from their wider kin, the Trumpenvolk. These
motley groups come together occasionally to threaten, bully, and
assault others, seeking “safe space” for their hate. They are
pathetic. And our photos show it.
Jeff
Schwilk has been fighting hate in the Pacific Northwest for decades,
most recently by capturing these goons as they terrorize the people
of Portland, Oregon, and beyond. The essays and images in these pages
expose these soldiers of intolerance, while reminding the rest of us
that love, solidarity, and mutual aid are the weapons that will
defeat them. The material in this book powerfully reminds us that
communities of compassion must work vigilantly to unite against
intimidation and hate.
Over
thirty of Jeff Schwilk’s color photos are accompanied by essays
contextualizing the subject matter. Together, they investigate the
rise of American fascism and authoritarianism in our current era.
They also measure the shrinking distance between full-blown fascists
and regular, rage-fueled white Americans animated by a petty,
imagined victimhood. The contributors shine a light on these bigots,
who crawled out from under their rocks lured by the dog whistles of
racist politicians and Alt Right provocateurs—the better to send
them back into the darkness where they belong.
