A Rutgers University professor who taught a course on anti-fascism was not allowed to leave the United States for Spain on Wednesday evening, according to media reports, hours after Donald Trump hosted a White House roundtable highlighting the impact of far-left antifa — or “anti-fascist” — activists.
Mark Bray, a historian who published the book Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook in 2017 and who has taught courses on anti-fascism at the University of New Jersey, was attempting to board a plane at Newark Airport bound for Europe when he was informed at the gate that the reservations for him and his family had been canceled.
The professor, nicknamed “Dr Antifa” by a group of students, said he was moving to Europe after receiving death threats. Turning Point USA activists claimed he was a “financier” of the left-wing movement.
“‘Someone’ canceled my family’s flight out of the country at the last second,” Bray posted on Bluesky social media. “We got our boarding passes. We checked our bags. We went through security. Then, at our gate, our reservation ‘disappeared.’
A petition calling for his dismissal from the university was launched in the weeks following the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, and Bray’s home address was revealed on social media.
One of the threats included vowing to kill him in front of his students, according to the Washington Post. These threats led Bray to decide to move to Spain with his wife and two children and continue teaching his students remotely.
“As my family and I do not feel safe in our home at this time, we are moving to Europe for the year,” Bray said in an email to students on Sunday. “Truthfully, I’m so disappointed that I won’t be able to spend time with you all in class.”
Bray told the New York Times on Wednesday that “my role in all of this is that of a professor. I have never been part of an antifa group, and I am not currently part of one.” But he added that “there is an effort underway to portray me as someone who does the things that I have sought, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.”
Bray told the outlet the family was booked for Thursday night but didn’t know why the previous reservation was canceled. “It may sound conspiratorial, but I don’t think it’s a coincidence,” he said. “We’re in a hotel and we’re just going to try again.”
After Kirk’s assassination, right-wing influencer Jack Posobiec called Bray a “domestic terrorist professor” on
The Rutgers chapter of Turning Point USA has said it does not support harassment or doxing, but Bray is on a list of academics the group identifies as advancing left-wing propaganda in the classroom.
“Do you want to become a socialist? If so, be sure to visit this professor!!!! All jokes aside help us expose this professor who has ties to Antifa, which is now designated a domestic terrorist organization,” the Rutgers chapter posted on Instagram several days ago.
In a statement, Rutgers said it does not comment on matters related to personnel or student conduct.
“Rutgers University is committed to providing a safe environment – for learning, teaching, working and research – where all members of our community can share their opinions without fear of intimidation or harassment,” it adds.
