What strikes me about this moment is how too many people, including those who claim to oppose Trump, have not internalized that the Trump administration and the Congressional Republicans are fascist (if you want to call it sparkling authoritarianism or caudilloismo with U.S. characteristics, knock yourself out. I’m going with fascism). Sometimes, when I think about how we should approach Republicans, which is to say fascists, I think of the anti-fascist 43 Group.

I’ve written about the 43 Group before, but I’ll summarize briefly here. After World War II, when British Jewish soldiers returned to the UK, they encountered rampant antisemitism, promulgated by a resurgent fascist movement. The fascists vandalized Jewish shops and cemeteries, harassed Jews openly, and attempted to intimidate homeowners and business owners by painting “PJ”, for “Perish Judah” on their homes and stores. All of this less than a year after the world learned about Auschwitz. The UK authorities did virtually nothing to stop the fascists either.

In response, in 1946, 43 former British service members, including highly decorated soldiers (one had received the Victoria Cross), decided, as one of the leaders put it, “to outfascist the fascists.” They began a brutal, violent campaign to defeat the fascists. While they drew the line at murder, they were willing–and did–maim and cripple fascists. After a successful four year campaign, the fascists stopped harassing Jews. (weird historical aside: one of the original members of the 43 Group was a former serviceman turned hairdresser by the name of Vidal Sassoon. Yes, that Vidal Sassoon).

My point is not to argue for a violent anti-fascist campaign (I address that issue here), but for people to understand what it takes to defeat fascism–and, of course, the 43 Group members, having fought Nazi Germany, fascist Italy, and the Empire of Japan for years knew the cost.

If we get out of this with the only sacrifices having been made* are professional Democrats** foregoing collegiality with Republicans, some harsh invective towards Trump and Republicans, some minor non-violent lawbreaking (i.e., “good trouble”), and some ridiculous gerrymandering, then we should realize how lucky we are.

And the Trump administration and the overwhelming majority of Congressional Republicans are fascists. There will be prices to be paid to stop them, but hopefully those costs will be small and few in number.

*I’m talking about costs by the people stopping the fascism, not the victims caught up in it, such as immigrants.

**And rank-and-filers, but they/we more often than not seem to understand the moment.