The President Intends to Label Antifa as a Primary Radical Organization
President Trump stated early on Thursday that he intends to designate antifa as a “primary extremist group”.
Understanding Is Antifa?
Antifa, short for “anti-fascists,” describes a umbrella label for radical left protest organizations. Rather than being a centralized structure, but comprises multiple collectives that oppose far-right extremists, particularly during public demonstrations.
Legal and Administrative Challenges
It is still unclear how the administration could formally designate what is largely a decentralized movement as a extremist group. Trump’s team did not immediately offer specifics earlier this week.
The movement is a US-based entity and, as such, does not qualify for the official database of foreign terror organizations. That list currently includes multiple groups, including ISIS and al-Qaida.
Currently, the US lacks a parallel registry in part because broad constitutional safeguards granted to organizations functioning inside the America. In spite of ongoing requests, particularly following violent incidents carried out by racial extremists, to create a domestic terrorism law, no specific law currently exists.
Trump’s Comments
President Trump, currently on a state visit to the Britain, issued the statement via a online message around 1:30 AM this past Thursday. He referred to antifa as a “DANGEROUS, EXTREMIST, LEFT-WING CATASTROPHE”. He also mentioned that he will be “actively pushing” that funders of antifa be investigated.
While speaking with journalists in the White House on Monday, the president said that he would pursue a homegrown extremist label for antifa on condition that such a action had the approval of the AG and others in his administration.
“This is something I will do, yeah,” Trump said. “I am committed to that 100%. This movement is dangerous.”
Legislative Responses
Late Wednesday, Bill Cassidy, applauded Trump’s decision, saying: “Antifa exploited a wave of valid concerns to advance unrest and disorder, undermining justice for all. Trump is correct to acknowledge the destructive influence of antifa by classifying them as national security threats.”
In July 2019, the senator and Senator Ted Cruz put forward a resolution in the US Senate to condemn the aggressive behaviors of antifa and to designate the movement a homegrown extremist entity.
Historical Context
During the previous year, in the midst of the George Floyd protests, the president also raised the concept of classifying antifa as a extremist group.
Trump’s previous top FBI official, Christopher Wray, testified in testimony that the antifa movement is an set of beliefs, not an organization, without the organized leadership that would normally allow it to be designated as a radical network by the federal government.
