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The Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration & Immigrant Rights, and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary, commonly shortened to By Any Means Necessary (BAMN), is a militant, American far-left group[1][2][3] that participates in protests and litigation to achieve its aims. It is a front organization for the Revolutionary Workers League.[4][5][6][7][8]

Key Information

Origins

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BAMN was formed in 1995 to oppose the July 20, 1995, decision by Regents of the University of California to ban affirmative action as The Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action By Any Means Necessary. It ran a slate of candidates in the April 1996 Associated Students of the University of California election on a platform of defeating California Proposition 209.[9] The proposition passed in November, prohibiting state governmental institutions from considering race, sex, or ethnicity for employment, contracting, and education.

In 1997, BAMN expanded to Michigan, where it organized student support for the affirmative action policy of the University of Michigan Law School at Ann Arbor (UMLS) as a result of a challenge to that policy via Grutter v. Bollinger.

Campaigns

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A protester at a September 2017 demonstration in Berkeley holds a BAMN sign reading "Full Citizenship Rights For All! Pass the Federal Dream Act Now!"

In December 2005, BAMN disrupted a meeting of the Michigan State Board of Canvassers in which the Board voted to put a measure that would prohibit race-based preferential treatment in higher education on the November 2006 ballot. They did so by shouting down officials and overturning chairs and tables.[10]

In December 2014, BAMN helped to organize a week of anti-police and Black Lives Matter protest in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area. One of these protests shut down a part of Interstate 80 and led to the mass arrest of 210 people. Ronald Cruz, an attorney and organizer for BAMN, said that BAMN demanded that all of the charges against the protesters be dropped.[11] Another protest the same week resulted in violence and property damage.[12][13] Cruz claimed the police were the aggressors.[12]

Attention by national law enforcement

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In 2005, the American Civil Liberties Union reported that in 2002 the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) identified BAMN as "thought to be involved in terrorist activities."[14][15] According to the FBI, the group's protests were discussed in a meeting about alleged links to terrorist organizations.[14][15]

In February 2019, the FBI opened an investigation into "domestic terrorism" against a California civil rights group whose members it called "extremists" after its 2016 alt-right protests, according to new documents to which some journalist has had access.[16] The documents included in-person surveillance. The agency considered activism against "rape and sexual violence", and "policial brutality". The investigation started after a brawl that resulted in multiple people stabbed and beaten in a brawl in the city of Sacramento, considering it sufficient grounds to open a terrorism investigation, creating controversy about the criminalization of the civilian movements.[17][18]

Sacramento riot and recent activities

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Main article: 2016 Sacramento riot

In June 2016, BAMN led a counter-protest against a rally held by the Traditionalist Worker Party, a white nationalist group, outside of the California State Capitol in Sacramento. Violence at the protests resulted in nine people being hospitalized, seven with stab wounds.[19] Yvette Felarca, a BAMN spokeswoman, said their protest successfully "chased away the neo-Nazis and kept them from recruiting new members."[20]

In July 2017, a year after the riot, authorities arrested Felarca and charged her with "inciting and participating in a riot and assault likely to cause great bodily injury."[21] Felarca and her lawyer, BAMN's national chair Shanta Driver, say the white nationalists were the aggressors and BAMN members had the right to defend themselves. Felarca told The Guardian that she was stabbed in the arm and struck in the head which resulted in her getting stitches.[22]

In December 2018 the group were present during the Central American migrant caravans of 2018. Various militants were present during riots and demonstrations against the security forces, in the city of Tijuana, holding back the eviction migrants in some parts of the city. Some civilian organizations distanced themselves from the group, for their violent protests and history of riots in the United States.[23][24]

See also

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References

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BAMN

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The Coalition to Defend , Integration and Immigrant Rights and Fight for Equality (BAMN) is a , Trotskyist-influenced activist founded in 1995 in , to oppose the University of California Regents' decision to ban and advocate for racial quotas, integration, and immigrant rights through and legal challenges. BAMN emerged from efforts by attorney Shanta Driver and associates linked to the Revolutionary Internationalist League, a small Trotskyist group, positioning itself as a for a "new " that prioritizes revolutionary tactics over incremental reform. BAMN's ideology emphasizes "fighting for equality by any means necessary," drawing from Malcolm X's phrase but adapted to Trotskyist principles of , opposing what it terms fascist threats like restrictions and supporting causes such as Palestinian and anti-Trump . The group has pursued legal interventions, including a case challenging Michigan's Proposition 2 ban on preferences, though its broader strategy relies on mass s and campus disruptions to enforce its vision of enforced integration and opposition to perceived . While BAMN claims to build democratic, youth-led structures for civil rights, its tactics have drawn criticism for authoritarian internal dynamics and endorsement of confrontational protests that prioritize ideological purity over broad coalitions, often alienating potential allies in debates. The organization's small size belies its outsized role in catalyzing radical responses to shifts, yet empirical assessments of its impact reveal limited success in reversing affirmative action rollbacks, attributable to causal factors like judicial precedents favoring color-blind approaches over quota systems.

Origins and Early History

Founding in 1995

By Any Means Necessary (BAMN) was established in , in 1995 by civil rights attorney Shanta Driver and activist Luke Massie as a militant response to the Regents' decision on July 20, 1995, to phase out in admissions and hiring across the UC system. This vote, which affected policies at institutions like UC Berkeley, prompted Driver—who was affiliated with the Trotskyist Revolutionary Workers League—to organize student and youth activists into a coalition emphasizing direct confrontation and legal challenges to preserve race-based preferences. The founding aligned with broader opposition to California's Proposition 209, a 1996 ballot measure that sought to constitutionally prohibit such programs statewide, framing BAMN's inception as a defense against what its founders viewed as institutional rollback of civil rights gains. Initially structured as the Coalition to Defend , the group prioritized mobilizing protests on university campuses, including physical disruptions of Regents meetings, while offering legal support for participants facing trespassing or charges. Driver's role was central, drawing on her experience in radical labor and anti-discrimination litigation to blend street-level activism with courtroom strategies, a tactic rooted in the group's adoption of Malcolm X's "" slogan to justify aggressive tactics. BAMN quickly positioned itself as a national formation, recruiting from diverse populations at UC Berkeley and beyond, with an emphasis on interracial unity under proletarian leadership principles influenced by Driver's Trotskyist background. The organization's early framework rejected reformist approaches, advocating instead for mass action capable of overriding institutional barriers, as evidenced by its commitment to building a "new " through integrated, democratic structures that prioritized youth and workers over established civil rights bureaucracies. This founding ethos, while effective in galvanizing small-scale defenses of , drew from sectarian leftist traditions, with Driver's RWL ties providing ideological continuity from earlier Trotskyist efforts to intervene in struggles. By late 1995, BAMN had begun coordinating actions against the impending Proposition 209 campaign, setting the stage for its expansion into litigation and protests that defined its first decade.

Initial Ties to Trotskyist Groups

BAMN originated in 1995 in , as the Coalition to Defend By Any Means Necessary, formed in opposition to Proposition 209, a state ballot measure that banned race-based affirmative action in public institutions. The group's early leadership included activists like Luke Massie and attorney Shanta Driver, who served as national spokeswoman. From its inception, BAMN maintained close connections to the Revolutionary Workers League (RWL), a small Trotskyist organization headquartered in that advocated for the construction of a revolutionary vanguard party based on Leon Trotsky's theory of and opposition to bureaucratic within the workers' movement. Luke Massie, an RWL member and BAMN participant, explicitly acknowledged this link in a 2001 interview, stating, "BAMN was partially initiated by the RWL" and affirming, "The Revolutionary Workers League is a Trotskyist organization of which I’m a member […] We [RWL] are proud to be part of a whole lot of struggles and to have played a role in the founding of BAMN." These ties positioned BAMN as an extraparliamentary front for RWL's broader goal of mobilizing mass actions to advance socialist objectives under the guise of civil rights defense. Critics, including former associates, have described BAMN as a sectarian front group controlled by RWL cadre, who used it to recruit and radicalize participants toward Trotskyist ends rather than purely reformist advocacy. The RWL's influence manifested in BAMN's emphasis on "" tactics and rejection of liberal coalitions, aligning with Trotskyist critiques of as insufficient for systemic change. Over time, these origins contributed to perceptions of BAMN as ideologically driven by —Trotskyist strategy of infiltrating broader movements to steer them toward revolution—rather than independent .

Ideology and Organizational Principles

Core Political Beliefs

BAMN holds that structural and necessitate policies, including race- and gender-based preferences in and , as the primary means to realize America's founding principle that "." The organization argues these measures are indispensable for integration and equality, asserting that race-neutral alternatives perpetuate segregation and undermine . Central to BAMN's ideology is the construction of a mass, integrated civil rights movement drawing from abolitionist and historical struggles, aimed at uprooting oppression through independent action outside the Democratic and Republican parties. It views U.S. democracy as illusory without affirmative action to address poverty, racism, and sexism, committing to mass organizing and "by any means necessary" methods to enforce egalitarian outcomes. With roots in Trotskyism via the Revolutionary Workers League, BAMN extends its platform to immigrant rights, demanding full citizenship for undocumented individuals, open borders, and inclusion in unions to frame as racist oppression. The group opposes educational , standardized testing, charter schools, and tuition increases, advocating public job creation and militant unionism as vehicles for broader social equality.

Advocacy for Militant Tactics

BAMN explicitly promotes the integration of militant direct actions with legal strategies as indispensable for overcoming institutional barriers to civil rights goals, arguing that reliance on courts or non-confrontational methods alone permits opponents to entrench power unchallenged. The 's name, derived from Malcolm X's declaration of "," underscores a that justifies aggressive tactics, including physical disruptions and counter-protests, to defend , immigrant rights, and integration against perceived fascist or reactionary threats. BAMN leaders, such as organizer , have articulated this approach: "When we say ',' we mean everything from doing legal cases to organizing more militant actions," emphasizing a spectrum of methods calibrated to the intensity of opposition. In practice, BAMN's advocacy manifests in calls for mass militant protests designed to physically halt events or policies it opposes, framing such interventions as proactive defenses rather than initiations of violence. For instance, in 2017, BAMN distributed flyers urging supporters to "shut down" conservative speaker Milo Yiannopoulos at the University of California, Berkeley, through "mass militant protest action," which resulted in the event's cancellation amid clashes that caused property damage estimated at $100,000. Similarly, during the 2020 protests against Donald Trump, BAMN materials declared "TRUMP MUST GO BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY! NO BUSINESS AS USUAL UNTIL TRUMP IS DEFEATED," advocating sustained disruptions to public institutions like universities until political demands were met. These statements reflect BAMN's rejection of passive advocacy, positing that militant tactics mobilize the masses and expose adversaries' vulnerabilities more effectively than petitions or dialogue. BAMN distinguishes its militancy from indiscriminate violence by tying it to organized, goal-oriented actions aimed at protecting marginalized groups, yet critics from and security analyses contend that this framework often escalates confrontations, as evidenced by federal scrutiny of BAMN's in events leading to injuries and arrests. The group maintains that such tactics are historically validated by successes like the defense of campaigns, where direct actions complemented litigation to sway public and , though empirical outcomes show mixed results, with legal victories rare without broader mobilizations. BAMN's official principles further codify this dual-track method, committing to a "mass civil rights movement" that employs "aggressive legal strategy" alongside street-level enforcement to enforce equality.

Key Campaigns and Activities

Defense of Affirmative Action (1990s–2000s)

BAMN, formally the Coalition to Defend , Integration and Immigrant Rights, and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary, originated in 1995 in , explicitly to oppose efforts to dismantle programs, particularly in response to the impending California Proposition 209 ballot initiative. The group framed as essential for combating systemic racial and class inequalities in education and employment, organizing initial rallies and student mobilizations at campuses to rally opposition before the November 1996 vote, which passed with 54.6% approval and banned state consideration of race, sex, or ethnicity in public admissions and hiring. Following Proposition 209's enactment, BAMN pursued legal challenges, including class-action lawsuits alleging the measure discriminated against low-income minority students by restricting pathways to inflate academic credentials through . In November 1996, BAMN members encouraged high school students to walk out of classes in protest, leading to disruptions at Berkeley High School where participants chanted against the ban and clashed with authorities attempting to maintain order. These actions underscored BAMN's advocacy for "" direct , drawing from Malcolm X's phrase "" to justify confrontational tactics aimed at overturning the policy through courts and street protests. By the early 2000s, BAMN shifted significant resources to amid challenges to the University of Michigan's race-conscious admissions policies in Gratz v. Bollinger and Grutter v. Bollinger. On April 1, 2003, the group coordinated a protest march to the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., where demonstrators demanded upholding as a civil rights imperative, coinciding with oral arguments in the cases that ultimately affirmed limited use of race in law school admissions while striking down undergraduate point systems. BAMN positioned itself as a vanguard for integrated education, filing amicus briefs and mobilizing student coalitions at UMich to argue that bans perpetuated segregation under a meritocracy myth favoring privileged applicants. The passage of Michigan's Proposal 2 on November 7, 2006, which amended the state constitution to prohibit racial preferences in admissions by a 58% majority, prompted BAMN to lead the Coalition to Defend the following day by filing Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action v. Granholm in federal court. The lawsuit contended that Proposal 2 unconstitutionally burdened minorities' political participation by requiring amendments to the state constitution for policy reversals, a claim that advanced through appeals, including a 2012 Sixth Circuit ruling in BAMN's favor declaring the ban violated equal protection. Throughout the decade, BAMN orchestrated campus rallies, regents disruptions, and "super marches" at UMich, emphasizing class-based arguments that benefited working-class students of all races against elite gatekeeping. These efforts, while sustaining litigation into the , highlighted BAMN's fusion of legal strategy with disruptive activism to preserve race-conscious policies amid declining public support.

Immigrant Rights and Anti-Racism Protests

BAMN, formally the Coalition to Defend , Integration, and Immigrant Rights and Fight for Equality , has organized and participated in protests advocating for expanded immigrant protections, including opposition to policies and efforts to end what the group describes as second-class treatment of immigrants. The organization adopted a formal declaration on immigrant rights at its Ninth National Conference on May 26, 2006, emphasizing mass action to secure legal status for undocumented immigrants and linking immigrant struggles to broader civil rights goals. In response to immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, BAMN led a march in , on February 3, 2025, protesting executive actions on border security and deportations; participants marched along International Boulevard and 35th Avenue to highlight economic impacts of immigrant labor. The following day, February 4, 2025, BAMN-affiliated attorney Ronald Cruz participated in Bay Area "A Day Without Immigrants" demonstrations, arguing that such actions demonstrated the essential role of immigrants in the economy amid heightened enforcement. BAMN has also filed amicus briefs in federal cases, such as one submitted to the on April 29, 2025, supporting respondents in challenges to immigration restrictions, positioning itself as a youth-led advocate for undocumented rights. On , BAMN has mobilized against events perceived as promoting white supremacist or fascist ideologies, often through counter-protests employing direct confrontation. In , BAMN organizers, including Yvette Felarca, coordinated counter-demonstrations against right-wing speakers and rallies in 2017, such as efforts to shut down appearances and clashes during a March 4 pro-Trump event, framing these as defenses against rising . On September 26, 2017, BAMN members engaged in physical confrontations near Sproul Plaza with groups like during protests tied to activities. Following the August 12, 2017, Charlottesville rally, BAMN joined solidarity actions on August 13, 2017, in and , aligning with counter-protests against and calling for mass mobilization to combat perceived fascist threats. In 2020, amid nationwide unrest over police conduct, BAMN co-organized rallies on August 29 in San Jose and , emphasizing opposition to systemic racism and police violence while urging sustained street action over reliance on electoral politics. The group's June 8, 2020, program outlined demands for a new , including public disclosure of police records and removal of officers with histories of racial bias, tying these to broader efforts. BAMN's approach consistently advocates "mass action" over institutional reform, viewing protests as essential to dismantling racial hierarchies. BAMN has employed litigation as a complementary strategy to its direct-action tactics, primarily targeting laws and ballot initiatives that eliminate race-based preferences in public institutions. The group's most prominent legal effort centered on challenging Michigan's Proposal 2, a 2006 voter-approved prohibiting in state university admissions, public employment, and contracting. Immediately after its passage on November 7, 2006, BAMN, as the Coalition to Defend , Integration and Immigrant Rights and Fight for Equality , filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of against Governor and other officials, arguing that the amendment violated the of the Fourteenth Amendment by restructuring the political process to disadvantage racial minorities seeking through university boards rather than statewide votes. The district court dismissed the case in 2008, with Judge David Lawson rejecting BAMN's claims that Proposal 2 imposed a racial classification or burdened minority political participation unequally, emphasizing that the amendment applied neutrally to all groups and that equal protection does not mandate favorable political outcomes for specific policies. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed in 2012, finding a plausible equal protection violation under the political restructuring doctrine derived from cases like Hunter v. Erickson (1969), which scrutinized laws making it harder for minorities to enact race-conscious measures via local processes. However, the U.S. granted and, in Schuette v. Coalition to Defend (572 U.S. 291, 2014), reversed the Sixth Circuit in a plurality opinion, holding that Proposal 2 did not deny equal protection because it neither classified individuals by race nor improperly interfered with of university admissions; Kennedy's opinion stressed that the political process must remain open to all without judicial imposition of racial preferences. BAMN's legal approach in this and related affirmative action defenses typically invokes the political process theory, positing that bans on race-conscious policies erect barriers akin to those struck down in precedents involving housing , though courts have consistently distinguished such measures as neutral prohibitions on use of race rather than targeted . The often litigates pro se or with minimal external counsel, integrating court filings with street protests to amplify pressure on defendants like universities, which BAMN has noted are frequent targets in its suits despite occasional alliances. Beyond affirmative action, BAMN has pursued narrower claims tied to integration and immigrant rights, such as challenging school segregation policies, but these have yielded limited documented successes and remain secondary to its core anti-ban campaigns. Overall, BAMN's litigation record reflects an aggressive use of federal courts to contest democratic enactments, yet it has faced repeated defeats, underscoring the judiciary's reluctance to override voter-approved restrictions on racial classifications in public decision-making.

Incidents of Violence and Confrontations

Sacramento Riot of 2016

On June 26, 2016, a permitted rally by the white nationalist and affiliated neo-Nazi activists at the in Sacramento was met with violent opposition from counter-protesters, including members of (BAMN). Approximately 25 to 30 rally participants arrived intending to demonstrate, but hundreds of counter-protesters, organized by groups such as Antifa Sacramento and BAMN, outnumbered and physically assaulted them upon arrival, using fists, feet, and improvised weapons like flagpoles wielded as clubs. BAMN played a prominent role in mobilizing and advocating for the disruption, issuing pre-event statements declaring that the fascist rally "must be stopped " through a "mass, militant demonstration" to deny them a platform and . Videos from the scene captured BAMN national organizer Felarca punching a rally participant in the head and body during the , consistent with the group's endorsement of physical confrontation to suppress opposing views. The assaults prevented the rally from proceeding beyond its initial stages, as counter-protesters swarmed the group before they could assemble fully. In response to the attacks, several rally participants drew knives, resulting in stabbings primarily among the counter-protesters. Ten individuals were hospitalized with injuries including stab wounds, lacerations, and ; reports specified seven to ten stabbings, with nine men and one woman treated for such wounds alongside cuts and bruises, and at least one initially in critical condition. officers present made no arrests during the incident and faced subsequent criticism for a delayed response, allowing the to escalate unchecked for several minutes. Legal consequences focused heavily on counter-protester actions, with Sacramento Schubert charging BAMN figures including Felarca, Mike Williams, and Porfirio Paz with felonies such as with a , participating in a , and inciting a based on video evidence of their involvement in the assaults. In 2019, the three BAMN members entered no-contest pleas to reduced misdemeanor charges of , avoiding convictions, while one charged white nationalist, William Planer, was sentenced to on charges. The incident drew federal scrutiny, contributing to an FBI assessment of BAMN as a threat due to its promotion of violence against perceived fascists.

Other Physical Clashes and Disruptions

In , BAMN organized and participated in counter-protests against pro-Trump and right-wing rallies in , which frequently escalated into physical confrontations between opposing groups. On March 4, , BAMN members confronted attendees at a "March 4 Trump" demonstration in Berkeley's Civic Center Park, contributing to clashes that involved mutual assaults amid heightened tensions. A more significant incident occurred on April 15, 2017, during another pro-Trump rally in the same location, where BAMN organizer Yvette Felarca directly engaged with protesters, leading to her on charges of inciting a riot after video evidence showed her encouraging a physical altercation with a pro-Trump demonstrator. devolved into violence, including assaults and stabbings among participants from both sides, resulting in multiple injuries and arrests. During UC Berkeley's on September 24, 2017, BAMN joined other anti-fascist groups in protesting the event's conservative speakers, heightening the risk of disruption amid prior violent precedents at the university. Although the main events were canceled due to security concerns, the gatherings contributed to ongoing physical tensions and in the area, with BAMN advocating for militant resistance against perceived fascist threats. BAMN's tactics in these clashes often involved direct physical intervention to disrupt events, justified by the group as necessary defense against , though critics highlighted the resulting chaos and legal repercussions, including charges against members that were later contested in .

Law Enforcement Scrutiny

FBI Investigations and Terrorism Labels

The (FBI) first documented concerns regarding (BAMN) in a 2005 internal report, which classified the group alongside anti-war organizations as involved in "terrorist activities" during monitoring of Michigan-based activism focused on and peace protests. This assessment stemmed from BAMN's disruptive tactics, including street protests and legal challenges, though no charges resulted and the labeling drew criticism from advocates for conflating advocacy with violence. FBI scrutiny intensified in 2016 following BAMN's role in counter-protests against a white nationalist rally in , on June 26, where clashes injured at least 10 people and led to multiple arrests. In response, the FBI initiated a investigation into BAMN, conducting on its members' movements, communications, and activities under guidelines for assessing threats of politically motivated violence. Documents obtained via Act requests revealed that the probe treated BAMN as a potential "black identity extremist" or anarchist , prioritizing risks over protected speech, amid broader post-Charlottesville concerns about left-wing . No formal designation of BAMN as a terrorist has occurred under U.S. , which reserves such labels for groups like foreign state sponsors or those meeting strict criteria for systematic violence against civilians. However, the investigations aligned BAMN with predicates, enabling tools like undercover operations and data analysis, as outlined in FBI domestic terrorism reference guides that emphasize preventing ideologically driven attacks. Congressional testimony in 2019 highlighted how such probes into BAMN exemplified expansive FBI use of terrorism standards, potentially risking First Amendment overreach when applied to groups employing confrontational but non-lethal tactics. BAMN contested these efforts as politically motivated suppression, arguing in public statements that the targeted legitimate anti-racist organizing rather than credible threats. Subsequent FBI monitoring extended to BAMN-linked disruptions, such as the 2017 UC Berkeley riots against a planned conservative speaker event, where the group claimed organizing involvement and federal agents probed participant identities for potential ties. These actions reflected causal links between BAMN's advocacy of "militant action" and real-world confrontations, justifying scrutiny under empirical threat assessments, though outcomes remained limited to intelligence gathering without designations or widespread prosecutions.

Prosecutions of Members

In June 2016, during counter-protests against a planned neo-Nazi rally at the in Sacramento, violence erupted involving participants from the group (BAMN), resulting in multiple injuries including stab wounds. Yvette Felarca, a national organizer for BAMN and Berkeley Unified School District teacher, was identified as actively participating in the clashes. Felarca faced felony charges of by means likely to produce great bodily injury, along with misdemeanor charges of inciting a and participating in a , filed by the Sacramento Attorney's office in July 2017. Two associates, Michael Williams and Porfirio Paz—whom BAMN defended alongside Felarca—were similarly charged with with a and participation. Prosecutors alleged the defendants contributed to the melee that hospitalized at least nine people, but defense arguments included claims of favoring right-wing participants. In November 2019, Felarca, Williams, and Paz entered pleas to reduced misdemeanor charges of , agreeing to community service and other conditions; the original and charges were subsequently dismissed by the Sacramento DA upon completion of terms. No convictions resulted from these cases, with the DA describing the resolution as "fair and just" given evidentiary challenges. Other instances of legal action against BAMN members have been limited and typically resolved without felony convictions. For example, in 2015, a BAMN staffer was arrested at the for violating a no-trespass order during protests, but details on outcomes remain minor and non-violent in nature. Federal scrutiny, including FBI designations of BAMN as a threat in some contexts, has not yielded public prosecutions of members for violent acts as of 2025.

Criticisms, Impact, and Effectiveness

Allegations of Incitement and Extremism

BAMN's core , "Fight for equality ," derives from Malcolm X's advocacy of against , but critics interpret it as endorsing violence and to achieve political goals. The group's full name, Coalition to Defend , Integration and Immigrant Rights and Fight for Equality , explicitly incorporates this phrase, signaling a rejection of non-violent restraint in confrontations with perceived opponents. Law enforcement in has attributed of violence to BAMN during counter-s against conservative rallies, citing their organized disruptions that escalated into physical altercations. In Berkeley protests against speakers like , BAMN mobilized participants, including public school students recruited by affiliated teachers, leading to riots involving vandalism, assaults, and property damage estimated at over $100,000. BAMN organizer Yvette Felarca described these events as a "resounding success," defending the use of force to shut down events deemed fascist. Critics, including congressional figures, have labeled BAMN's tactics as domestic , linking them to broader Antifa-aligned that prioritizes ideological enforcement over democratic discourse. BAMN's alignment with Antifa and participation in counter-demonstrations, such as the 2017 rally, have drawn accusations of premeditated incitement, with the group vowing to confront "white supremacists" aggressively. Following events like the 2017 shooting of Rep. , commentators highlighted BAMN's "" ethos as emblematic of left-wing that justifies against conservatives. Despite BAMN's claims of defensive action against , federal scrutiny has treated their methods as indicative of organized rather than mere protest.

Failures in Policy Goals and Backlash

BAMN's campaign to preserve in failed decisively when voters approved Proposal 2 on November 7, 2006, with 58% support, amending the state constitution to ban the consideration of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in admissions, hiring, and contracting. Despite BAMN's organization of mass protests and disruptions, including a 2006 incursion at the Michigan Board of Canvassers meeting where activists shouted obscenities and halted proceedings, the initiative was certified and implemented, reducing minority enrollment at institutions like the . The U.S. affirmed the ban's constitutionality in Schuette v. to Defend (April 22, 2014), ruling 6-2 against BAMN's claim that the political restructuring process violated equal protection, thereby entrenching the policy loss despite years of litigation. Similar setbacks occurred in , where BAMN's legal challenges to Proposition 209—a 1996 voter-approved measure prohibiting racial preferences in public education, employment, and contracting—were rejected by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, upholding the ban and limiting avenues for race-based remedies. These defeats highlighted the inefficacy of BAMN's confrontational strategies in swaying electoral or judicial outcomes, as aggressive tactics like courtroom disruptions and street mobilizations failed to counter broader public opposition to quotas, evidenced by repeated voter mandates. BAMN's militant approach provoked significant backlash, alienating potential allies and reinforcing perceptions of extremism. Teacher unions, segments of the left-wing activist community, and even partner s like campus chapters criticized the group's "rough-and-ready" methods for perpetuating negative of minority youth and prioritizing disruption over persuasion. Incidents such as the 2020 school protests, where BAMN blockades prevented hundreds of low-income students from attending in-person summer classes amid restrictions, drew condemnation for undermining educational access in communities the group purported to champion, resulting in attendance drops from 2,000 to fewer than 1,500 students. Federal scrutiny intensified, with a 2002 FBI assessment labeling BAMN a potential threat due to patterns of violence and , further eroding credibility and inviting prosecutions that diverted resources from policy advocacy. This backlash contributed to policy entrenchment, as public and institutional aversion to BAMN's tactics bolstered support for race-neutral alternatives, hampering broader goals like immigrant rights and integration.

Alternative Viewpoints on Achievements

In specific instances, participants and observers have credited BAMN's direct-action tactics with tangible policy concessions. During the 2023 occupation of UC Berkeley's Anthropology Library, BAMN joined student protesters in sustaining an 85-day demonstration against proposed closures and mergers, which pressured administrators to retain dedicated staff and operations for the facility, albeit in a restructured format rather than full independence. This outcome contrasted with administrative plans for consolidation, illustrating how militant occupations could extract compromises in resource preservation disputes. Proponents of BAMN's approach, including group organizers, contend that confrontational protests against perceived fascist gatherings have disrupted recruitment and platforming of extremists. For example, following counter-demonstrations during UC Berkeley events involving far-right figures, BAMN representatives asserted that such actions effectively repelled neo-Nazi participants and curtailed their organizing efforts on campus. These viewpoints frame disruptions not as mere backlash generators but as causal interventions that limited the spread of ideologies deemed threats to integration and equality, drawing on historical precedents like Malcolm X's advocacy for uncompromising resistance. ![Berkeley Free Speech Week protest][float-right] In litigation, alternative analyses suggest BAMN's challenges to affirmative action bans, such as the 2012 Sixth Circuit ruling in their favor on procedural grounds in , temporarily advanced civil rights framing by linking ballot initiatives to discriminatory barriers, even if ultimately overturned by the in 2014. Supporters argue this reframed the debate from critiques to equal protection imperatives, fostering broader mobilization among youth and minorities despite the net policy losses. Such perspectives emphasize long-term ideological gains over immediate electoral defeats, positing that sustained militancy builds organizational capacity for future egalitarian struggles.

References

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  2. https://capitalresearch.org/article/bamn-by-any-means-necessary-how-radicals-use-race-preferences-and-immigration-to-change-the-debate/
  3. https://www.bamn.com/about-bamn/
  4. https://www.bamn.com/about-bamn-2/bamn-principles/
  5. https://www.bamn.com/
  6. https://fedsoc.org/fedsoc-review/the-parade-of-horribles-lives-schuette-v-coalition-to-defend-affirmative-action-integration-and-immigrant-rights-and-fight-for-equality-by-any-means-necessary
  7. https://www.michigandaily.com/uncategorized/group-out-destroy-bamn/
  8. https://www.discoverthenetworks.org/organizations/by-any-means-necessary-bamn/
  9. https://keywiki.org/BAMN
  10. https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/midaily/mdp.39015071755065/360
  11. https://goodspeedupdate.com/2004/908
  12. https://www.michigandaily.com/uncategorized/letters-editor-659/
  13. https://socialistcurrents.org/?p=4897
  14. http://web.archive.org/web/20110916155344/http://www.bamn.com/1/principles.asp
  15. https://www.bamn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Shut-Down-Milo-9.20.2017.pdf
  16. https://www.bamn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/DAAP-2020-flyer5p6.pdf
  17. https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2021/06/14/behind-the-black-bloc/
  18. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-11-05-me-61541-story.html
  19. https://www.courthousenews.com/class-challenges-affirmative-action-ban/
  20. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/du-bois-review-social-science-research-on-race/article/making-a-civil-rights-claim-for-affirmative-action/634BB91CDCE8C20933BF60AA346F1A25
  21. https://www.bamn.com/defendingaffirmativeaction/
  22. https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/michigan/miedce/2:2006cv15024/216015/279/
  23. https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/12-682
  24. https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-6th-circuit/1573110.html
  25. https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/handle/2027.42/194337
  26. https://www.bamn.com/by-any-means-necessary/campaigns/
  27. https://www.bamn.com/yearningtobreathefree/
  28. https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/east-bay/oakland-day-without-immigrants-rally/3780785/
  29. https://www.kqed.org/news/12025395/across-bay-area-day-without-immigrants-meets-trump-crackdown-protests
  30. https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24/24A884/357755/20250429185937403_24A884%252024A885%252024A886%2520Amicus%2520Brief.pdf
  31. https://www.bamn.com/2017/03/01/confront-and-defeat-the-trump-movement-counter-protest-the-pro-trump-berkeley-rally/
  32. https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2017/8/14/trumps-america-where-activists-face-felony-charges
  33. https://www.bamn.com/defendtheberkeley5/
  34. https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2017/08/13/detroit-ann-arbor-rally-deadly-charlottesville-virginia-protest/563631001/
  35. https://www.ktvu.com/news/social-justice-rallies-friday-night-in-san-jose-oakland
  36. https://www.bamn.com/programofaction/
  37. https://cir-usa.org/cases/schuette-v-bamn/
  38. https://cir-usa.org/2008/04/3103/
  39. https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-6th-circuit/1615824.html
  40. https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/572/291/
  41. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2012/04/03/appeals-court-rejects-suit-seeking-end-ban-affirmative-action
  42. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/six-stabbed-during-white-supremacy-rally-california-n599281
  43. https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-neo-nazi-stabbed-20160626-snap-htmlstory.html
  44. http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article86248757.html
  45. https://www.bamn.com/2016/06/26/no-free-speech-for-fascists/
  46. https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/berkeley-teacher-charged-in-connection-with-riot-at-2016-sacramento-rally/
  47. https://www.capradio.org/articles/2017/07/19/anti-fascist-leader-arrested-after-california-capitol-brawl/
  48. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jun/26/white-nationalist-rally-stabbings-california
  49. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-36637376
  50. https://www.newschannel5.com/news/national/california-police-facing-criticism-after-stabbings-during-white-nationalist-rally
  51. http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article210523909.html
  52. https://www.kcra.com/article/2-arrested-in-connection-with-violent-2016-riot-outside-california-capitol/10326781
  53. https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/state-capitol-melee-protesters-agree-to-lesser-charges/
  54. https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article232270347.html
  55. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/feb/01/sacramento-rally-fbi-kkk-domestic-terrorism-california
  56. https://www.berkeleyside.org/2017/07/19/berkeley-middle-school-teacher-yvette-felarca-arrested-charges-inciting-riot
  57. https://www.berkeleyside.org/2018/05/08/judge-says-no-proof-of-witch-hunt-against-berkeley-teacher-facing-felony-charge
  58. https://www.dailycal.org/archives/bamn-activist-draws-supportive-picketers-outside-courthouse-during-hearing/article_1c91e543-5c42-5653-8628-02802947ef7b.html
  59. https://abc7news.com/post/uc-berkeley-prepares-for-possibly-violent-free-speech-week/2445239/
  60. https://www.newsweek.com/alt-rights-worst-nightmare-antifa-middle-school-teacher-669946
  61. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPrRLyFTzSU
  62. https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/fbi-document-labels-michigan-affirmative-action-and-peace-groups-terrorists
  63. https://www.aclumich.org/en/press-releases/fbi-labeling-peaceful-michigan-organizations-terrorists-new-documents-reveal
  64. https://www.congress.gov/118/meeting/house/115294/documents/HHRG-118-FD00-20230209-SD036.pdf
  65. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/apr/01/intelligence-law-enforcement-report-leftwing-terrorists-charlottesville
  66. https://www.state.gov/state-sponsors-of-terrorism
  67. https://www.brennancenter.org/sites/default/files/2019-08/Report_Far_Right_Violence.pdf
  68. https://www.bamn.com/2019/02/03/bamns-response-to-released-fbi-investigation-report-on-bamn/
  69. https://www.berkeleyside.org/2017/02/07/fbi-investigating-identities-black-clad-uc-berkeley-rioters
  70. https://www.rightsanddissent.org/ahead-of-hearing-defending-rights-dissent-urges-homeland-security-committee-to-address-law-enforcement-abuses-of-counterterrorism-authorities/
  71. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jul/25/yvette-felarca-trump-protest-charges-activism
  72. https://www.bamn.com/2018/12/07/defendyvettefelarca/
  73. https://apnews.com/general-news-919cef83c45f4d74846dc7d57c3cce30
  74. https://www.berkeleyside.org/2019/11/14/berkeley-teacher-felarca-gets-community-service-in-sacramento-assault-case
  75. https://publicaffairs.vpcomm.umich.edu/key-issues/bamn-protests/
  76. https://www.foxnews.com/us/san-fran-park-braces-for-patriot-prayer-rally-amid-fears-of-challenges-from-all-sides
  77. https://dailycaller.com/2017/09/01/public-school-teachers-behind-violent-antifa-group/
  78. https://www.foxnews.com/us/after-scalise-shooting-alt-left-violence-becoming-harder-to-ignore
  79. https://www.berkeleyside.org/2023/07/20/after-85-day-protest-uc-berkeley-will-keep-its-anthropology-library-kind-of
  80. https://www.bamn.com/victory-for-the-uc-berkeley-anthropology-library-occupation-july-29-2023/
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