Antifa, short for "anti-fascist," is a decentralized left-wing political movement primarily in the United States, composed of autonomous groups and individuals who oppose fascism, racism, white supremacy, and far-right extremism. Participants often identify with a range of left-wing ideologies including anarchism, communism, socialism, and sometimes social democracy, but they generally hold anti-authoritarian, anti-capitalist, and anti-state views. Antifa activists use a variety of tactics to combat far-right groups, including nonviolent actions like protests, speeches, and community organizing, as well as direct actions that may involve property damage, physical confrontations, and digital activism like doxing. The movement opposes both conservative and liberal mainstream politics and favors direct action over electoral politics. While some of its methods are controversial and have involved violence, the core mission is to prevent the spread and influence of fascist and white supremacist groups. The name and some symbolism come from the historical German Antifa movement that resisted Nazism in the 1930s.