Trump says he is considering declaring ANTIFA a terrorist organization.

[The Romulan Republic]

Senators Ted Cruz and Bill Cassidy have also introduced a bill that would label anyone who is a member of Antifa a domestic terrorist.

https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-a ... ror-2019-7

President Donald Trump took aim at the radical left-wing movement Antifa on Twitter Saturday, writing that the organization was being considered for dedication as a terror organization.

Trump waved off the group as a collection of "gutless Radical Left Wack Jobs" who had enacted violence on "only non-fighters."

"Consideration is being given to declaring ANTIFA, the gutless Radical Left Wack Jobs who go around hitting (only non-fighters) people over the heads with baseball bats, a major Organization of Terror (along with MS-13 & others)," Trump wrote. "Would make it easier for police to do their job!"

—Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 27, 2019
Antifa, short for "anti-fascist," describes a loose, leaderless network of activists that seek to combat right-wing authoritarianism and white supremacy — sometimes through aggressive or even violent means. It has existed for decades but gained prominence after Trump's 2016 election and has been a popular target for right-wing commentators.

Trump's tweets came days after Republican Sens. Bill Cassidy and Ted Cruz introduced a resolution that would label Antifa members "domestic terrorists."

"Antifa are terrorists, violent masked bullies who 'fight fascism' with actual fascism, protected by Liberal privilege," Cassidy said in a statement. "Bullies get their way until someone says no. Elected officials must have courage, not cowardice, to prevent terror."

Read more: After conservative blogger Andy Ngo tweeted that he was 'attacked by antifa,' a GoFundMe for his recovery raised over $100,000

Conservative blogger Andy Ngo drummed up fresh criticism against the group late last month when he was assaulted by suspected Antifa members. He was ultimately one of eight people injured in clashes after dueling demonstrations between Antifa members and far-right organizations, including the Proud Boys, turned violent.

Ngo tweeted that he was "attacked by antifa," which was captured in a video taken by Oregonian reporter Jim Ryan, which has been viewed almost 8 million times on Twitter. In the video, Ngo is punched and has silly string, eggs, cups, and other unidentified liquids thrown at and sprayed on him.

Though many conservatives have condemned the group, some civil-liberties advocates have said that a formal terror label wouldn't be appropriate.

"It is dangerous and overly broad to use labels that are disconnected [from] actual individual conduct," Hina Shamsi, director of the national security project at the American Civil Liberties Union, told The Washington Post about a possible designation. "And as we've seen how 'terrorism' has been used already in this country, any such scheme raises significant due process, equal protection and First Amendment constitutional concerns."

Kat Tenbarge contributed reporting.

To be honest, some of what Antifa, or certain members of it, have done could certainly be called terrorism. I don't condone that. But I think we all know Trump's motives here have nothing to do with concern for the law, and everything to do with branding his political opponents terrorists, and potentially giving him a pretext for mass arrests of Left-wing activists. Especially since as noted in the article, ANTIFA isn't really a single organization so much as a philosophy/loose affiliation, and there are a lot of people who identify with it, or have in the past, who have not committed violent acts. If we were going to be consistent about this, we would have to likewise label anyone who has identified themselves as a member of the Alt. Right a terrorist.

I don't necessarily expect that the bill will pass the House, but there's a trap there- if the Democratic House blocks it, then the Democratic Party can be collectively branded as supporters of Left-wing terrorism going into the election.

I also wonder about the international effects. For example, if there are people living in Canada who identify themselves as Antifa members, will the Trump Regime demand their extradition as terrorists? Or (getting into some of the more radical, worst case scenarios), could he use War on Terror precedent to target them via drone strikes or extraordinary rendition?

[The Romulan Republic]

The more I think about it, the more I think this is at least partly about setting a trap for the Democrats. If they oppose it, the Republicans use that as "proof" that the Democrats support terrorism. If they support it, it enrages the far Left and plants the seeds for "Both Sides" and Bernie or Bust 2.0.

So in addition to the obvious "crack down on people we don't like" despotism, there are probably some election tactics going on here.

Edit: In fact, they can employ the false equivalencies either way. Oppose designating ANTIFA as terrorists? That means that the Democrats support Left-wing violence, so the Republicans can employ Whataboutism to defend their own violent extremists. Support it? The Democrats are siding with Trump against Left-wing activists, both sides are just as bad, yada yada yada...

[B5B7]

The Democrats should attach a rider to it declaring the Republican Party a terrorist organization.

[The Romulan Republic]

The Democrats should attach a rider to it declaring the Republican Party a terrorist organization.

Any member of Congress with the guts to do that would earn my life long admiration and respect.

[Broomstick]

Would you also contribute to their ensuing legal fees which would arise as an expected consequence of that?

[The Romulan Republic]

Would you also contribute to their ensuing legal fees which would arise as an expected consequence of that?

Sure, although I'm not sure what legal reprecussions there would be for a Congressman for such an act, unless Trump outright declares political opposition to be a crime. The more likely reprecussion is that they would need money to hire private security, and I'm on record saying that I would be willing to donate to the Democratic Party to help fund private security to guard the candidates and events.

[aerius]

I've said it before, if they're gonna classify your side as terrorists you might as well start shooting.

[The Romulan Republic]

I've said it before, if they're gonna classify your side as terrorists you might as well start shooting.

If the designation as a terrorist group goes through, and it is enforced with widespread attempts to arrest Left-wing activists, then you could probably argue a moral justification for armed resistance. I would certainly respect the right of citizens to resist an unlawful/political arrest by a fascistic regime.

Whether it would actually accomplish anything more than a brave but ultimately futile last stand is a trickier question. ANTIFA is not going to win a war with the US government. That's just a fact. If Trump decides to go all the way to mass arrests of dissidents, then the success of any resistance, violent or non-violent, will likely ultimately depend on who the military/law enforcement/intelligence community is willing to side with. That's why, in my view, any strategy should be geared towards winning as much sympathy from them, and having as strong a legal and political justification for our actions, as possible, rather than just jumping straight to "violence is the answer". And there are undoubtably people in the armed forces, law enforcement, intelligence community, and political establishment who would not be okay with rounding up or shooting dissidents, but would rightly see it as their duty to put down political violence ANTIFA was seen (rightly or wrongly) as instigating.

I want to actually defeat Trumpism, not for the Left to indulge the desire to vent its rage in ultimately futile acts of destruction before getting gunned down by the police.

This is part of why having strong turnout in the election is so important, even if Trump refuses to recognize the results. Because having a clear Democratic victory that Trump refuses to recognize, and having a Trump win or inconclusive victory, is the difference between resistance being patriots trying to liberate our country from a tyrant who the military has a constitutional duty to support, and being traitors who the military has a constitutional duty to put down.

Of course, given your usual views on these topics, I think it likely that you're just trying to egg on Left-wing violence because you want to see America collapse into political violence (ie the same reason Russia set up opposing rallies after the last election, and promotes the NRA).

[Solauren]

Quite frankly, Hells Angels is more of a terrorist organization then ANTIFA.

[The Romulan Republic]

Quite frankly, Hells Angels is more of a terrorist organization then ANTIFA.

Also, this.

Now, Trump is also floating branding some of the Mexican drug cartels terrorist organizations, but I'm pretty sure he's mostly just doing that so he can use it as cover for stepping up the crimes against Latinos and immigrants, and potentially apply "War on Terror" tactics to the southern border.

Could also be a pretext to deploy military troops in a combat role against refugees? Something he's clearly been itching to do for about a year now.

[Solauren]

Now, Trump is also floating branding some of the Mexican drug cartels terrorist organizations.

That label should be slapped on ALOT of criminal organizations.

but I'm pretty sure he's mostly just doing that so he can use it as cover for stepping up the crimes against Latinos and immigrants, and potentially apply "War on Terror" tactics to the southern border.

No doubt. Step up security on the border on that cause, and he can start shipping all refugees to Gitanamo or someplace similar.

Could also be a pretext to deploy military troops in a combat role against refugees? Something he's clearly been itching to do for about a year now.

Combat role is not accurate. Refugees would be no match for a properly equipped US military group. 'Executioner' would be more accurate.

[The Romulan Republic]

Indeed. The point is, he wants desperate, unarmed women and children treated as enemy combatants, because he's a fucking monster.

[His Divine Shadow]

They're obviously not a terrorist organization and this is just one step in the media downplaying right-wing extremism while blowing up left-wing extremism through lies and dog whistling tactics.

This is a good video on exactly this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRCLdzEB9uM

Thought Slime is an interesting channel overall.

[Zaune]

The Democrats should attach a rider to it declaring the Republican Party a terrorist organization.

Or at least American Renaissance, the KKK and any other fascist and white-supremacist group that's ever been linked to anything terrorist-adjacent?

[The Romulan Republic]

They're obviously not a terrorist organization and this is just one step in the media downplaying right-wing extremism while blowing up left-wing extremism through lies and dog whistling tactics.

This is a good video on exactly this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRCLdzEB9uM

Thought Slime is an interesting channel overall.

There are some ANTIFA members I'd probably consider terrorists- but its dubious and dangerous to apply that label to the movement as a whole, for reasons discussed above.

I don't see where you're getting this being "the media"'s fault from, though. This is pure Donald, playing to his base while tightening the autocratic noose.

[The Romulan Republic]

Germans express solidarity with ANTIFA.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/29/europe/g ... index.html

(CNN)President Donald Trump's threat to label anti-fascism protest movement Antifa a terrorist organization has prompted a backlash in Germany, where thousands of social media users have pledged solidarity with the group.

Trump tweeted on Saturday that the activist group was made up of "gutless Radical Left Wack Jobs who go around hitting (only non-fighters) people over the heads with baseball bats." He said a move was being considered to label the movement a "major Organization of Terror (along with MS-13 & others)," referring to the international criminal gang the Mara Salvatrucha.
Consideration is being given to declaring ANTIFA, the gutless Radical Left Wack Jobs who go around hitting (only non-fighters) people over the heads with baseball bats, a major Organization of Terror (along with MS-13 & others). Would make it easier for police to do their job!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 27, 2019
His tweet followed the introduction of a resolution by Republican Sens. Ted Cruz and Bill Cassidy, aiming to have the group identified as "domestic terrorists."
But the call prompted a flurry of tweets in the US and in Germany, where #IchBinAntifa -- I am Antifa -- started trending on Twitter.
Several users who used the hashtag referenced Germany's history of fascism and anti-fascist resistance during the Nazi period.
"#IchbinAntifa because my grandfather fought the fascists after they nearly wiped out our entire family," Krsto Lazarević wrote.
#IchbinAntifa, weil schon mein Großvater gegen die Faschisten kämpfte, nachdem diese fast unsere gesamte Familie ausgelöscht haben. Und weil ich mir nicht von irgendwelchen Nazienkeln sagen lasse, Antifaschismus sei etwas Schlechtes. pic.twitter.com/rD3O4ZHaA2

— Krsto Lazarević (@Krstorevic) July 28, 2019
Another user added, in a tweet that was retweeted hundreds of times: "#IchbinAntifa Because history teaches us just how fragile democracy and the rule of law are when giving right-wing extremists power."
German daily newspaper Neues Deutschland added that they were "outraged" that Trump was considering labeling the group terrorists.
Wer uns kennt, weiß, dass wir die Arbeit der #Antifa zu schätzen wissen und regelmäßig über diese berichten. Deswegen sind wir empört darüber, dass Donald #Trump überlegt, antifaschistische Aktivist*innen auf eine Terrorliste zu setzen. #IchbinAntifa https://t.co/gHO1nqvgi1

— neues deutschland (@ndaktuell) July 28, 2019
Antifa, whose name is short for "anti-fascist," have become increasingly visible since the Charlottesville protests in 2017, when white nationalists rallied against the removal of a Gen. Robert E. Lee statue, and the Antifa mounted a counter-demonstration that turned violent. Trump infamously said in the aftermath that there were "very fine people" on both sides.
The term is used to define a broad group of people whose political beliefs lean toward the left -- often the far left -- but do not conform with the Democratic Party platform.

The group doesn't have an official leader or headquarters, although groups in certain states hold regular meetings.
It is known for causing damage to property during protests, and caused controversy when conservative journalist Andy Ngo claimed he had been attacked by members of the movement.

CNN's Jessica Suerth and Leah Asmelash contributed reporting.