Who We Are
We are concerned Arizona citizens who are fed up with the authoritarian creep overtaking our country. We watch as the guardrails of democracy are tested, bent, and broken — and we refuse to sit quietly while it happens.
Arizonans Against Fascism is dedicated to non-violent action, raising awareness of fascism in all its forms, and exposing the elected leaders in Arizona who actively work to undermine our democracy. We believe sunlight is the best disinfectant, and that an informed citizenry is the strongest defense against tyranny.
We are not an organization with membership dues, a board of directors, or a PAC. We are your neighbors, your coworkers, your family members — everyday people who decided that doing nothing is no longer an option.
Antifa
Let's address this directly.
We consider ourselves anti-fascists — because we are opposed to fascism. That's what the word means. If you are against fascism, congratulations: you are anti-fascist too. Your grandparents who fought in World War II were anti-fascist. It's not complicated.
That said, we are not aligned with any political organization. One could describe us as "Antifa" due to our beliefs, but we do not identify with that label as a movement or group. We are not a chapter of anything. We don't have a secret handshake.
We are frustrated citizens who want our government to work for the people — not for the corporations and oligarchs who have purchased it. If that makes us radical, then the bar for radicalism has gotten embarrassingly low.
Our Beliefs
Transparency in Government
We believe the people have a right to know what their government is doing and why. Backdoor deals, secret donors, and closed-door policy-making are the tools of authoritarians — not public servants.
Get Money Out of Politics
Our government has been captured by corporate money. Citizens United opened the floodgates, and our democracy has been drowning ever since. We believe Citizens United must be overturned and that elections should be decided by voters — not billionaires.
Basic Human Dignity
We believe that everyone in our society should be treated with kindness and respect. No one should go to bed hungry. No one should sleep without shelter. No one should lack access to clean water, healthcare, or the basic necessities of a dignified life. This is not a radical position — it is the bare minimum of a civilized society.
Separation of Church and State
We believe that religion has no place in government. Full stop. Freedom of religion means freedom from religion in our laws and policies. You are free to practice your faith — you are not free to legislate it onto others.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
We value diversity, equity, and inclusion — not as buzzwords, but as foundational American principles. Our nation was built by two core groups: immigrants and Indigenous peoples. Both groups should be embraced and celebrated for their immeasurable contributions to the country we all share.
Beyond Party Lines
We are not Democrats. We are not Republicans. We don't care about the letter next to your name — we care about your actions. Our goal is to call out and expose fascist lawmakers and the laws they write and support, regardless of party affiliation. Fascism doesn't wear a jersey. Neither do we.
Responding to Critics
This site will attract criticism. Some of it will be legitimate — and we welcome that. If we get something wrong, tell us. Send evidence. We'll correct it.
But much of the criticism won't be substantive. Instead, it will rely on logical fallacies — flawed reasoning designed to discredit without actually addressing the content. Here's a field guide to the most common ones you'll see, so you can recognize them when they show up in your comment sections, family group chats, and town halls.
Don't take our word for anything on this site. Read the bills yourself. Check our sources. And if someone tells you we're wrong — ask them to prove it with evidence, not insults.
Ad Hominem (Attack the Messenger)
What It Is
Attacking the person making the argument instead of the argument itself. If you can't debunk the message, go after the messenger.
Everyday Example
"You failed math in high school, so your budget spreadsheet must be wrong." — Whether you failed math has nothing to do with whether the spreadsheet adds up. Check the numbers.
How It Applies to This Site
"The people who run this site are just Marxists/communists/woke leftists." — Even if every person behind this site were card-carrying Marxists (we're not), that wouldn't change whether HB2001 strips your voting rights. The bills are public record. Read them.
Genetic Fallacy (Dismiss the Source)
What It Is
Rejecting information purely because of where it comes from, without evaluating whether the information itself is accurate.
Everyday Example
"That health advice came from a blog, not a doctor, so it's worthless." — The source matters for credibility, but the advice could still be correct. Check the claim, not just the letterhead.
How It Applies to This Site
"This is just some random website — why would I trust it?" — You shouldn't trust us blindly. That's the whole point. Every bill we list links to the official Arizona Legislature website. Every vote is public record. We're not asking you to trust us — we're asking you to verify.
Hasty Generalization (One Wrong = All Wrong)
What It Is
Finding one error and using it to dismiss everything else. Also called the "fallacy of composition" — assuming what's true of one part is true of the whole.
Everyday Example
"This restaurant gave me a cold steak once, so every dish they make must be terrible." — One mistake doesn't invalidate an entire menu. Judge each dish on its own.
How It Applies to This Site
"You got the sponsor wrong on one bill, so your whole site is unreliable." — If we make a mistake, point it out and we'll fix it. But one error in a database of dozens of bills doesn't invalidate the other entries. Each bill stands on its own merits — and each one links to its official source so you can check it yourself.
Strawman (Misrepresent, Then Attack)
What It Is
Distorting someone's actual position into something easier to attack, then arguing against the distortion instead of the real thing.
Everyday Example
"You think we should have more public parks? So you want to turn the whole city into a forest and destroy all the businesses?" — That's not what was said. Respond to the actual proposal.
How It Applies to This Site
"This site wants to label everyone they disagree with as a fascist!" — No. We label specific bills that meet established academic criteria for authoritarianism. We link to the actual bill text so you can read it yourself. Disagreement is healthy. Stripping constitutional rights through legislation is not just a disagreement.
Whataboutism (Tu Quoque)
What It Is
Deflecting criticism by pointing to someone else's wrongdoing instead of addressing the original point. "What about...?" is the classic tell.
Everyday Example
"You're speeding!" — "Well, you ran a red light last week!" — That doesn't make the speeding okay. Both things can be wrong. Address the issue at hand.
How It Applies to This Site
"What about Democrats who do bad things? Why don't you go after them?" — We do. Our About page says it plainly: we don't care about the letter next to your name. If a Democrat sponsors an authoritarian bill, it'll end up on this site. Pointing to the other party's flaws doesn't make the bill in question any less harmful.
Appeal to Authority (Trust the Leader)
What It Is
Claiming something is true because an authority figure said so, rather than because evidence supports it. Authorities can be wrong — and they can lie.
Everyday Example
"My doctor says supplements don't work, so they definitely don't." — Your doctor is probably right, but the reason to believe them is the evidence behind their claim, not the white coat.
How It Applies to This Site
"My representative says this bill protects freedom, so it must." — Read the bill. Does it expand your rights or restrict them? Does it add oversight or remove it? Politicians name bills misleading things on purpose. The "Freedom to Breathe Act" might have nothing to do with freedom. Check the text.
Red Herring (Change the Subject)
What It Is
Introducing an irrelevant topic to divert attention from the actual issue being discussed. If you can't win the argument, change the argument.
Everyday Example
"We need to talk about the plumbing leak." — "Why are you always so negative? Let's talk about the new paint colors." — The pipe is still leaking. Changing the subject doesn't fix it.
How It Applies to This Site
"Why are you worried about state bills when the border is the real problem?" — State legislation affects your daily life in measurable ways — your kids' schools, your water, your healthcare, your rights. Those issues don't stop existing because other issues also exist. We can care about more than one thing at a time.