Republican Sens. Bill Cassidy and Ted Cruz filed a resolution on Thursday to categorize antifa, a militant left-wing group known to assault political opponents and journalists, as a domestic terrorist organization.
“Antifa is a terrorist organization composed of hateful, intolerant radicals who pursue their extreme agenda through aggressive violence. Time and time again their actions have demonstrated that their central purpose is to inflict harm on those who oppose their views,” Cruz tweeted. “Like any terrorist organization they choose to pursue their political ends through violence, fear & intimidation. They must be stopped. I’m proud to introduce this resolution w @SenBillCassidy to properly identify what Antifa are: domestic terrorists.”
Like any terrorist organization they choose to pursue their political ends through violence, fear & intimidation. They must be stopped. I’m proud to introduce this resolution w @SenBillCassidy to properly identify what Antifa are: domestic terrorists. —> https://t.co/3qDDun7Tp3
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) July 18, 2019
“Antifa are terrorists, violent masked bullies who ‘fight fascism’ with actual fascism, protected by Liberal privilege,” said Senator Cassidy on Twitter two weeks before filing the resolution. “Bullies get their way until someone says no. Elected officials must have courage, not cowardice, to prevent terror.”
Antifa are terrorists, violent masked bullies who “fight fascism” with actual fascism, protected by Liberal-privilege. With bullies, they get their way til someone says no. There must be courage, not cowardice, from the elected officials who allow violence against the innocent.
— U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (@SenBillCassidy) July 1, 2019
The resolution says the group diametrically opposes first amendment values of peaceful assembly and free speech. It also cites the physical assault on journalist Andy Ngo in Portland, Oregon in late June and the threats antifa members have issued towards employees of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The document ends by calling on the federal government to deploy “all available and appropriate tools” to combat the spread and growth of domestic terrorism in the U.S., grouping antifa in with white supremacist terrorism.
