by Tom Neale

Many of you are no doubt unaware of a UVA Law student group called “Friends Against Fascism.” They are not an officially sponsored UVA CIO student organization. As you see in their flier, they sponsored a tailgate October 3^rd ostensibly condemning fascism in America.

The capital letters in the title spell out ANTIFA, leaving no doubt about this group’s philosophical beliefs. Although this October 3 event was not violent, it was no less abhorrent for those of us who are cognizant of the hatred ANTIFA has for our American core values. They promote discord, not civil discourse and polite debate among those with differing viewpoints, and on numerous occasions have resorted to violence during events across the nation. We don’t know if the group’s founder, Kirk Wolff, is truly an ANTIFA member or meant the reference as a facetious joke. If he did, let me tell him it’s not remotely funny.

JAG, the US military’s Judge Advocate Generals Corps located at UVA, is dedicated to legally representing our military.  You’ll see in their flier that Friends Against Fascism extended a “special invitation” for them to attend the event.

Presumably, the Friends Against Fascism assume that since our military has fought against fascist enemy regimes in past wars, JAG members would support their protest against what they believe to be the existing fascism as embodied in America by President Trump. JAG’s core mission is below, derived directly from its website:

“TJAGLCS is the preeminent legal institution in the federal government that enables successful military operations which comply with the rule of law in both peace and war. We educate, develop, and inspire trusted legal professionals,”

I come from a multi-generational military family. For all of us who do, this event was particularly repugnant. JAG is an incredible institution that is universally admired for their legal representation of our military members whose life mission is to protect our country. They are totally nonpartisan and do not support, nor should they, political protests of any sort.

Perhaps Friends Against Fascism’s most egregious action sponsoring this event was burning the American flag. Kirk Wolff and his fellow UVA Law students attend an elite law school, supposedly comprising the future “leaders” of America. Here’s a link to the X video of the organizer, UVA Law student Kirk Wolff, bragging about the event and the burning of the flag

I do not deny that their event and posted comments are protected as free speech by the First Amendment. However, they also perpetuate an unabashed anti-American hatred. For 250 years men and women have died protecting the flag these law students burned as a manifestation of their visceral disagreement with our nation’s current policies. Are these students now representative of our Law School student body?

I implore Law School Dean Kendrick, President Mahoney, and the Board of Visitors to issue statements unequivocally stating their displeasure with the Friends Against Fascism event. They are welcome to condemn any U.S. policies with which they disagree in a civil manner, but it is beyond unseemly to do so by burning our flag and alluding to ANTIFA in their promotional flier. UVA students, faculty, and alumni should agree with UVA leaders issuing a statement citing the inappropriateness of this event, regardless of their political affiliation.

Thomas M. Neale is a University of Virginia alumnus, class of 1974.