This profile was last edited on January 8th, 2022. We need to edit this page into the plain language format.
Jonathan Mitchell in his own words (some tweets have been lightly edited for grammar and spelling):
Billionaire @georgesoros should not be spending money on #neurodiversity either.
[Y]ou want defenseless children to be crippled and sick who will never get a doctorate degree and a girlfriend as you have.
This person apparently has not heard of ASAN [Autistic Self Advocacy Network], Ari Ne’eman’s connections to the Israeli and American governments, George Soros funding, and Steve Silberman who was promoted by NPR, New York Times, etc.
Though there are no easy answers to the problem of [involuntary] celibacy, I know it causes pain for myself as well as other men on the autistic spectrum. Perhaps it’s time for the media to bring attention to this. (Male Autistic Incels: The Unspoken Truth)
INSAR’s list of autism researchers. Seems to be made up largely of #neurodiversity proponents. They seem more interested in black lives matter movement than in helping autistics.
If, according to #neurodiversity proponents, an ASD or ID should never be denied a ventilator then who are they saying SHOULD be denied a ventilator as someone else would have to be denied one? I won’t hold my breath waiting for an answer to that question.
Jonathan Mitchell is a
- misogynist incel
- proponent of antisemitic conspiracy theories about George Soros
- anti-neurodiversity blogger
- opponent of basic public health measures to combat COVID-19
Mitchell has been an anti-neurodiversity activist for a little over 20 years. He first started on early autistic web forums. Autistic people who knew Mitchell at the time have been in contact with Autism Against Fascism and said that he was misogynist, ableist, and racist during those years.
Mitchell frequently questions whether his ideological opponents are autistic and engages in targeted harassment of autistic people online, particularly women, LGBTQ people, and people of color.
In recent years, Mitchell’s rhetoric has drifted from focusing on opposing the neurodiversity movement. He has branched out to other reactionary and/or far-right beliefs. Since the summer of 2020, he expressed anti- Black Lives Matter sentiment on Twitter.
For the past several years, Mitchell has promoted antisemitic conspiracy theories about the relationship between George Soros’ Open Societies Foundation and the neurodiversity movement. The Open Societies Foundation has a commitment to supporting human rights. They have given relatively small amounts of money to the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (established decades after the neurodiversity movement) and some I/DD self advocacy organizations in Europe.
Like Tom Clements (profile), his expressed views are somewhat eclectic but they are mostly far-right. Mitchell’s most concerning tie to modern fascist movements is his support for the misogynist incel movement. Mitchell identifies with the label of incel or “involuntary celibate.” Another significant tie is his anti-mandate politics. Ideologically, Mitchell has drifted much further to the right since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and the protests for racial justice over the summer of 2020.
Newsweek profiled Mitchell in 2015. Since his profile in a mainstream news outlet, he has inspired a few dozen so-called “neuro-realists,” including autistic white nationalist Tom Clements. The attention given to him and his brand of anti-neurodiversity activism since this profile has led to publication of some writing in right-wing publications, such as the British magazine The Spectator. Mitchell’s writing was also featured on the personal blog of Dr. Manuel Casanova, an autism researcher who uses trans-cranial magnetic stimulation as a proposed autism cure. Mitchell’s writing has also appeared in the National Council for Severe Autism’s (NCSA) blog.
Jonathan Mitchell is relatively unimportant. He is not a significant political leader or organizer. What makes him relevant to Autism Against Fascism is that his writing is read by more influential and politically savvy people on the far-right of the autism community. We have considered removing this profile because of his increasing lack of influence in the autism community. However, we feel that his influence on the now defunct “neuro-realism” movement and his continued relationship with NCSA is important for readers to understand.
Autism Against Fascism 