Democratic Rep. Debra Haaland of New Mexico referred to antifa as a group of “peaceful protesters” who are simply trying to “safeguard their city” during a Saturday evening interview on CNN.
Haaland’s comments came the same day that antifa and far-right protesters clashed in Portland, Oregon. The fighting led to 13 arrests in what was just the most recent incidents of violence between the two groups. Earlier on Saturday, President Trump tweeted that he is giving “major consideration” to designating antifa as an “organization of terror.”
Cabrera began by reading Trump’s tweet, and then asked, “I do want to note, the U.S. does not have a domestic terrorism law. No government agency designates domestic groups as being domestic terrorism organizations. What’s your reaction to that tweet?”
“This is on par with what the president does. He sides with the white supremacists, he sides with the white nationalists, with the domestic terrorists in our country,” Haaland said. “He’s incited violence against people of color. Portland is a progressive city. They want to ensure that they keep their city moving forward.”
“It’s not surprising that Trump would side away from the folks who are the peaceful protesters working to safeguard their city from domestic terrorism. Just not surprised at all that the president sides with the white nationalists,” she continued. “That’s been his mode of operation since before he was elected president.”
In June, journalist Andy Ngo was assaulted in the city while he covering an antifa rally. The incident, which left Ngo hospitalized with a brain hemorrhage, led Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz to request Attorney General William Barr and FBI Director Christopher Wray conduct an investigation into the group.
