Winston Marshall is the banjo and lead guitar player for the band Mumford and Sons’. He caused a great deal of controversy on social media last week when he praised Andy Ngo and Ngo’s book “Unmasked:Inside Antifa’s Radical Plan to Destroy Democracy”. Ngo is a conservative journalist who has had run-ins with antifa, especially with Rose City Antifa. In 2019, Ngo was covering a protest by the Proud Boys in Portland, OR when he claims he was attacked by antifa members and beaten. Ngo claims that he was seriously assaulted and produced, through his attorney, a copy of an emergency room medical report indicating that he suffered a brain injury from the beating he endured. Ngo is suing Rose City Antifa. Antifa, of course, is denying Ngo’s claims and challenging his credibility as an honest and reliable reporter. Suffice it to say there are no amorous feelings shared between antifa and Ngo.

Marshall’s crime was reading Ngo’s book and praising it. Marshall tweeted compliments to Ngo, saying, “Finally had the time to read your important book. You’re a brave man.” Well, that did it! The reaction was swift and uncompromising. Marshall faced fierce criticism from the woke crowd, so much so that he very quickly deleted all his past tweets and put up an apology that sounds as if it had been written for him by a Stalinist apparatchik.

“Over the past few days,” Marshall wrote, “I have come to better understand the pain caused by the book I endorsed. I have offended not only a lot of people I don’t know, but also those closest to me, including my bandmates and for that I am truly sorry. As a result of my actions I am taking time away from the band to examine my blindspots. For now, please know that I realise how my endorsements have the potential to be viewed as approvals of hateful, divisive behavior. I apologise, as this was not at all my intention.”

Wow. Just … wow. Consider that this is written by a guy who read and liked a book written by a guy who was put in the hospital by the people whose movement he is criticizing in the book. And the guy who ended up in the hospital with a brain injury is the one being accused of “hateful, divisive behavior”.

Antifa is a loose organization whose members have proven themselves to be very comfortable employing violence and threats of violence against their opponents. Antifa stands for “anti-fascists” but, in reality, it is their tactics that more resemble fascism. Regardless of what anyone thinks about Ngo’s credibility, antifa is a terrorist movement intent on changing the political and social foundations of the country by violent protest and intimidation. That their standard “uniform” is an all black costume that hides their identities is proof that they are also cowards. Let’s not forget that the two flags in the antifa logo, one black and the other red, represent anarchism and communism. So, by their own admission, Ngo’s claim that antifa wants to destroy democracy in the U. S. isn’t exactly a stretch.

In any case, it’s a dismal day when someone can have their livelihood threatened by simply tweeting a compliment to an admittedly controversial author. The message is clear: agree with us or we will destroy you! Marshall’s quick capitulation to these social media thugs says far more about him and his lack of courage, integrity, and dedication to free thought than it does about Ngo and his book.

Be Christ for all. Bring Christ to all. See Christ in all.