Mike Belcher, an online commentator, posted a series of tweets on September 19, 2025, raising questions about the connections between academic figures and Antifa, as well as the organization’s legal status.
In his first tweet at 13:13 UTC, Belcher wrote: “Casual reminder that the Antifa handbook was written by a Dartmouth professor. I wonder how the law might pertain to employing a member of a soon-to-be-named terrorist organization.”
Later that day at 16:37 UTC, he continued: “One might wonder if this isn’t an explicit endorsement of a named terrorist organization by a sitting NH lawmaker. (And Bray is still listed as an affiliate and visiting professor of Dartmouth).”
In his third tweet at 19:06 UTC, Belcher stated simply: “We need to talk about Antifa.”
Belcher’s posts refer to Mark Bray, a historian and lecturer affiliated with Dartmouth College who authored “Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook.” Bray has publicly discussed anti-fascist movements and their tactics in both academic and media settings.
The classification of Antifa as a terrorist organization has been debated in U.S. political discourse but has not resulted in official federal designation. Academic freedom issues often arise when faculty members engage with controversial topics or movements; universities like Dartmouth have previously affirmed support for free inquiry while navigating public scrutiny.
