Why Labeling Antifa a Terrorist Org Terrifies Me

The day was January 20, 2017. Donald Trump was being inaugurated and already his war against the Left had begun. Thousands of protesters had taken to the street to express their displeasure at the man who was becoming President.

Part way through the day about 200 attendees (protestors and journalists) were caught in a kettle and arrested. At this point the protest had still been peaceful. It wasn't until later in the day and blocks away that some trash cans were destroyed and a limo was lit on fire.

Despite the fact that these ~200 US citizens were already in police custody when the "riot" started the DOJ charged all of them, including the journalists that were simply reporting on the events, with conspiracy to riot. A charge that potentially carries a 70+ year sentence.

In the course of the investigation the DOJ served a warrant to DreamHost, the company responsible for hosting the DisruptJ20 website. The warrant demanded that DreamHost turn over all the data stored on their servers. This included over 1.3 million IP addresses and the contact information, email content, and photos of thousands of people.

In December 2017 the first six defendants went to trial. They were found not guilty as the DOJ was unable to provide any evidence that these six people took part in planning a riot. The DOJ stated that they should be convicted anyway.

Around the time the second round of cases were set to go to the trial, the defense team discovered something strange the DOJ's key piece of evidence, a video of a DisruptJ20 meeting recorded by Project Veritas. They discovered that the DOJ had withheld dozens of recordings and made edits to the video they presented, all of which contained exculpatory evidence for the charged protestors.

Ultimately all the remaining cases were thrown out, but were left with a disturbing picture. One of the very first actions of this administration was to attempt to put 200 citizens in jail for the rest of their lives (even though they were already in custody when the crimes they were charged with were committed) and get the personal information of over a million more all because they didn't like Trump.

Now he has made labeled Antifa as a terrorist organization. The only problem is that Antifa has no central structure, no leadership, no membership rolls. It is a nebulous term that refers to a philosophy more than anything else.

This administration has already used unconstitutional tactics in an effort to send Leftists away for life. Now it has pretty much given itself carte blanche to label anyone on the Left a terrorist.

Do so many of you not actually see how this can go wrong or do you simply not care because your side is "winning?"

a reply to: Xcalibur254

No one cared when Obama went around dismantling militia's.

So,,,,,nah, doesn't concern me.

Also under Obama the DHS coming out against veterans and preppers as dangerous.

It's hard to take any groups who advocate Communism while hiding behind the Constitution they are actively trying to destroy as "poor helpless advocates just trying to support freedom".

originally posted by: Xcalibur254
Do so many of you not actually see how this can go wrong or do you simply not care because your side is "winning?"

They will care when its a leftist president who does the same thing against radical right ideology...until then, it will be just cheerleading.

You are right in this concern though. Calling a mindset a terrorist organization means anyone who expresses displeasure in the administration can be investigated and potentially have their civil rights violated...again, something the right pretends to care about on principle...but in practice..well, not soo much.

a reply to: Xcalibur254

In December 2017 the first six defendants went to trial. They were found not guilty as the DOJ was unable to provide any evidence that these six people took part in planning a riot. The DOJ stated that they should be convicted anyway.

“Convicted anyway”

Seems there’s not a lot of justice left in that statement, from the Department of Justice 😕

Why Labeling Antifa a Terrorist Org Terrifies Me

Are you Antifa ?
No ?
You haven't got nothing to worry about there.

Denying Ignorance.
Why ?
Some have been around a while and continue unashamedly to project it.

originally posted by: seeker1963
a reply to: Xcalibur254

No one cared when Obama went around dismantling militia's.

So,,,,,nah, doesn't concern me.

certain specific militias have issues (see Tim McVeign). Militias are also an organized group. If a church decides human sacrifice is cool, that church should be taken down...not the entire network of all churches, just that church.

Antifa isn't a group..there is no leaders, etc...you can call yourself antifa tomorrow and you are it like magic.

Its a mindset.

you dont think big government deciding to call a mindset illegal is a concerning thing?

a reply to: Xcalibur254

in addition to your correct comment: organized antifascists are the ones who always stand against nazis face to face while everyone else expresses their outrage on the internet.

a reply to: Gothmog

Were those J20 protesters rioting?

No but that didn't stop this administration from trying to get them put away for 70 years and using fabricated evidence to do it.

If Trump had been able to label them terrorists they probably wouldn't have even gotten a trial. They'd just be shipped off never to be seen again.

originally posted by: SaturnFX
you can call yourself antifa tomorrow and you are it like magic.

Its a mindset.

you dont think big government deciding to call a mindset illegal is a concerning thing?

Nah... you mean the mindset of a terrorist.

If someone claims them-self as Antifa, they are now a terrorist.... it's no different than claiming as a terrorist.

A group/movement that is anti-facist, anti-racist, anti-sexist, ect..is a labeled as terrorism by the right?

It is clear there has been an effort to demonize the ANTIFA movement, infiltrate them to break laws and incite violance, and when that does not work pose as them to call for more violence and looting.

It says a lot about the current state of the executive branch when the ANTIFA movement is being called terrorism.

a reply to: Xcalibur254

I mean...'birthers' were declared a hate group by the SPLC. The FBI recently declared 'conspiracy theorists' a domestic terrorist threat.

Do I care if Antifa is labeled a domestic terrorist group? No.

I am way beyond caring.

a reply to: Xcalibur254

Now he has made labeled Antifa as a terrorist organization. The only problem is that Antifa has no central structure, no leadership, no membership rolls. It is a nebulous term that refers to a philosophy more than anything else.

Exactly , Antifa becomes a term for anyone who stands up to disagree with the status quo and by designating them it's a way to try and silence criticism , if you disagree with the government you're an enemy of the state.

It's a dangerous road Trump is taking you down , a slippy at that.

Have you seen the project veritas videos?

These are people who promised to burn down American city’s, force people into “re-education camps”, and arm themselves and kill police officers and politicians, all because their 80 year old messiah didn’t win the nomination.

And they are keeping those promises right now.

So yeah I’m fine with people like that being labeled as terrorists.

originally posted by: jrod
A group/movement that is anti-facist, anti-racist, anti-sexist, ect..is a labeled as terrorism by the right?

It is clear there has been an effort to demonize the ANTIFA movement, infiltrate them to break laws and incite violance, and when that does not work pose as them to call for more violence and looting.

It says a lot about the current state of the executive branch when the ANTIFA movement is being called terrorism.

I don't believe any of them have a clue what they 'are' or why they are being generously bailed out for their lawlessness at otherwise peaceful protests.

Democrats also claim to be those things you mentioned, yet they can be pro-fascist, pro-sexist, pro-racist when politically expedient.

The U.S. is too individualistic for me to believe ANYONE who claims to be *for* the greater good. I don't buy it because I don't *feel* it and I see no evidence of it. None.

a reply to: Xcalibur254

Many terrorist organisations are cell-based and unstructured - by design. That way they can maintain resilience and relevance in the event they would suffer losses.

So, the argument that Antifa having no central leadership would not make it terrorist organisation, does not resonate.

Terrorist organisations - even those without any organisation - are terrorists due to their mode of operation. Terror.

And this is exactly why Antifa is a terrorist organisation.

originally posted by: CraftyArrow

originally posted by: SaturnFX
you can call yourself antifa tomorrow and you are it like magic.

Its a mindset.

you dont think big government deciding to call a mindset illegal is a concerning thing?

Nah... you mean the mindset of a terrorist.

If someone claims them-self as Antifa, they are now a terrorist.... it's no different than claiming as a terrorist.

Some people genuinely believe antifa is against encroaching fascism and for them to put it in the spotlight

Make sure to paint with the same brush when this goes against right wing organizations. If bad apples will ruin the bunch, then religious people are terrorists because some religious people did terrorism. Tim McVeign represents all militia, etc.

I have no love for antifa...its garbage, but here in the US, we have a right to speak and identify as we wish. Its when there are organized plans for crime is when its a problem, and as its been pointed out many times, there is no organization in Antifa...some people like to claim they are important...they aren't. Anyone who can afford a black shirt and scarf is equal in antifa

a reply to: SaturnFX

you can call yourself antifa tomorrow and you are it like magic.

You know what else seems magical?
How Antifa flies and buses in to hot spots very quickly in numbers that matter.... with absolutely no organization.

Americans used to be anti-fascist.

Most of us still are.

However, there’s a significant number of us who are, despite trying to hide under the Constitution when their political agendas aren’t being satisfied, authoritarians and supporters of police state terrorism, aka fascism.

There’s no other way to say it anymore. The President of the United States in dereliction of Federal law has threatened to use the US Military on American soil to attack, or, as he phrases it, to DOMINATE American citizens.

I’m a great believer in many shades of political beliefs. However, when any group intends to trample the Constitution and support state terrorism I do feel that has to be opposed by any means necessary.

a reply to: deckdel

Give an example of ANTIFA causing terror!

(Be sure to fact check to not include a radical group posing as ANTIFA)

originally posted by: MotherMayEye

originally posted by: jrod
A group/movement that is anti-facist, anti-racist, anti-sexist, ect..is a labeled as terrorism by the right?

It is clear there has been an effort to demonize the ANTIFA movement, infiltrate them to break laws and incite violance, and when that does not work pose as them to call for more violence and looting.

It says a lot about the current state of the executive branch when the ANTIFA movement is being called terrorism.

I don't believe any of them have a clue what they 'are' or why they are being generously bailed out for their lawlessness at otherwise peaceful protests.

Democrats also claim to be those things you mentioned, yet they can be pro-fascist, pro-sexist, pro-racist when politically expedient.

The U.S. is too individualistic for me to believe ANYONE who claims to be *for* the greater good. I don't buy it because I don't *feel* it and I see no evidence of it. None.

You accidentally and no doubt unintentionally made a good point

Antifa are comprised of radical leftists...I would venture to say the vast majority are Democrats.
So...why wouldn't Trump and co just determine that Democrats are a terrorist organization and ban/arrest anyone identifying as such?

I know many here would be all on board with that. This question isn't for you. its for the ATS members with a bit of free thinking left.