Mark Bray, a Rutgers University professor known as ‘Dr. Antifa,’ has fled to Spain with his wife, Yesenia Barragan, following President Donald Trump’s announcement of a crackdown on Antifa and its financiers. The move comes after Bray reportedly faced threats and had his address doxxed by conservative groups. A fundraiser launched by Bray and Barragan has raised over $42,000, with significant support from fellow academics.
Rutgers professors, including Jamie Pietruska, Jack Bouchard, Aldo Lauria, and Jochen Hellbeck, have contributed to the fundraiser. Additionally, professors from other universities such as Vanderbilt and the University of Connecticut have also chipped in. The fundraiser, hosted on the Freefunder platform by a friend named Dray Bal, seeks to provide financial support for Bray and Barragan as they seek safety abroad.
Bray, author of ‘Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook,’ has been a target of criticism for his militant anti-fascist views. The book advocates for ‘militant anti-fascism’ and supports the International Anti-Fascist Defense Fund. Trump has labeled Antifa a domestic terror organization and has called for an investigation into its funding. The situation has sparked a broader debate on free speech, campus activism, and the role of academic institutions in political movements.