On Saturday, February 8th, CT DSA was made aware that an out-of-town fascist organization, believed to be the New Jersey-based “Atlantic Nationalist Club,” was present in New Haven and intended to threaten the collectively-owned and operated bookstore and community space Never Ending Books.
CT DSA members, alongside other socialist organizations and community members, responded quickly and mobilized to defend the bookstore. When the neo-Nazi group clad in their balaclava-and-khaki-pants uniforms arrived at Never Ending Books, they found themselves outnumbered by antifascists, who stood together in defense of the storefront.
The neo-Nazis made the Nazi salute and chanted numerous slogans meant to instigate conflict, including “commies off our streets”, but they eventually dispersed after police arrived, with no damage done to the bookstore and no injuries. Various neighbors and community members came out to express their concern and solidarity.
This attempted attack on a beloved community institution coincides with nationwide efforts by neo-Nazi organizations to incite violence in diverse communities like New Haven. On February 7th in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio, a similar neo-Nazi mob hung Swastika flags and banners with racist slogans on a highway overpass before being driven out by the local residents.
Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida, who received criticism during his 2024 presidential primary campaign for a campaign ad produced by a staffer which included the black sun (a common neo-Nazi symbol), spoke at Yale University’s Federalist Society earlier that Saturday. Although we can’t speculate on if the two incidents are related, we do know that the racist fear-mongering of Republican leaders like DeSantis fuels the violent bigotry of groups like the Atlantic Nationalist Club and other neo-Nazi formations.
CT DSA is proud to have stood in solidarity with the people of New Haven, whose presence made it clear that fascists are not welcome in our city. We look forward to strengthening our community’s response to any further attempted disruptions by neo-Nazis who feel emboldened by president Trump’s rhetoric against immigrants, socialists, and all others who are targeted by hate.
“The people in this world
Are getting organized
You’re bound to lose
You fascists bound to lose” – Woody Guthrie
Solidarity Forever.
