A former Antifa protester shares why he got out

WASHINGTON (SBG) A former Antifa member is sharing his story about why he got out as a warning to others, especially in light of a viral video where conservative journalist Andy Ngo got assaulted by protestors believed to be associated with the leftwing group in Portland late last month.

I thought I was doing good by trying to fight what I thought was fascism. Today, I realize that Antifa is just a violent organization filled with a bunch of thugs that need to be put in jail,” said leftist-turned-conservative activist Gabriel Nadales in an interview with Sinclair Broadcast Group. He recently wrote an op-ed on Fox News Channel describing his experiences with Antifa and why he chose to leave.

Nadales told Sinclair Broadcast Group he first ran into the radical group at a protest he attended as a teenager and was involved with their anti-right wing activism for almost two years before he turned 18. Nadales wrote in his opinion piece that though he never hurt anyone, he’s ashamed of his past behavior that included yelling obscenities and destroying property. He became increasingly troubled, he said, by what he believed was an escalation in violence by some of his fellow protestors.

“One of the worst things that I saw was when somebody punched a cop,” at an anti-Neo-Nazi rally, said Nadales. He described witnessing an incident where two Antifa members saw someone getting arrested; one of them pushed and the other punched the officer before disappearing into the crowd. Nadales said whenever he would question some of the violent tactics he said were being used by his fellow Antifa activists, he would get shut down.

I left Antifa because I felt like I couldn’t have an original opinion. Anytime I would question some of the members about some of the things that we did, they would tell me to shut up or get out. So I did,” said Nadales.

Even in the few years since he left, he told Sinclair Broadcast Group that Antifa has taken “their activism, their violence to another level,” pointing to reported harassment efforts including throwing raw eggs, milkshakes that may be laced with chemicals and quick drying cement at people at the Portland rally. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Tex., has demanded a federal inquiry into the incident.

After becoming disillusioned with left, Nadales said he was introduced to conservatism in college through the Leadership Institute. He currently works for the activist organization by traveling to California campuses to help support student groups, a role he said has its own hazards as political discourse in higher education continues to devolve.

Nadales said he has taken extra precautions including wearing a visible bodycam after someone threw a punch at him at the University of California-Los Angeles. He said he was able to block the assailant, who was arrested and is facing charges of battery. But Nadales emphasized he is not the only one facing threats or actual violence for participating in political activity that doesn't reflect the views of the majority on campus.

“Being on campus there is definitely concern that you will be attacked. Unfortunately, we’ve seen throughout the country that students and activists have been attacked by violent activists,” said Nadales, who also pointed to the high-profile sucker punch attack on his colleague Hayden Williams that occurred a few weeks later at the University of California-Berkley and gained the attention of President Donald Trump. Nadales was invited to the White House to attend the signing of the president’s controversial executive order intended to protect free speech on college campuses.

“My job today is to fight against Antifa by empowering conservative students with the skills to hold [violent activists] accountable,” said Nadeles. He said he is going on a nationwide campus speaking tour called ‘Behind the Black Mask” to share “my story and all the ways we can fight Antifa.”