WASHINGTON, July 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) – US President Donald Trump said Saturday he is considering labelling far-left anti-fascist group Antifa a terror organization.
“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 tweeted.
“Would make it easier for police to do their job,” the president added.
Trump has repeatedly criticized the far-left group, recently calling them “sick, bad people” at a North Carolina rally.
Republican Senators Ted Cruz and Bill Cassidy introduced a resolution in mid-July calling for the move.
The senators characterized members of the movement as “terrorists, violent masked bullies who ‘fight fascism’ with actual fascism.”
In the resolution, they cited an assault on conservative journalist Andy Ngo during a demonstration in Portland, Oregon, late in June which saw clashes between left-wing and right-wing protesters.
According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a leading Jewish group focused on hate crimes, it is unclear how many active members the Antifa movement, which it calls a “loose collection of groups, networks and individuals,” has in the US.
The president has previously drawn outrage for saying there were “very fine people on both sides” during the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, which saw a demonstrator being killed by a man with a far-right history as ultra-nationalists and progressive counter-protesters clashed.
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