Leading counter-extremism expert unpacks the administration's claimed designation of "Antifa Groups"

On Nov. 13, the State Department added four European entities to the U.S. government’s list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs), claiming that they are affiliated with “Antifa.” All four – Antifa Ost, the Informal Anarchist Federation/International Revolutionary Front (FAI/FRI), Armed Proletarian Justice, and Revolutionary Class Self-Defense – will be designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) on Nov. 20.

The Trump administration has been hyping the threat posed by Antifa for months. “Antifa is an existential threat to our nation,” Attorney General Pam Bondi claimed. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has argued that the “network of Antifa is just as sophisticated as” ISIS and Hezbollah, two international terrorist organizations that have murdered tens of thousands of civilians and combatants in attacks and guerilla warfare around the globe.

The new designations do not support the administration’s case that Antifa presents an “existential” threat to Americans. Indeed, the move appears to do little, or nothing, to protect Americans either at home or abroad. If anything, the State Department’s announcement shows that the administration is unsuccessfully laboring to portray “Antifa” – an amorphous “anti-fascist” movement with no clear leadership or hierarchy – as a significant terrorist threat. And it could be used to undermine the civil liberties of U.S. citizens.

  • Basic Glitch@sh.itjust.worksOP
    71·
    4 days ago

    When Trump first announced his intent to designate “Antifa” as a foreign terrorist organization in mid-September, Hungary’s Orban quickly cheered. Orban’s enthusiasm was telling, as he has used the power of the state to hollow out opposition to his autocratic regime, which he has described as an “illiberal democracy.” Some hard-right politicians in different parts of Europe followed Trump’s statement by announcing their own interest in designating “Antifa” a terrorist organization. On Sept. 26, Hungary declared Antifa Ost a terrorist organization and then “added the group to its national anti-terrorism list.” It was conspicuous that Orban did not take a similar action against any of the neo-Nazi groups that march in Budapest every February. After all, they do not protest his rule. Meanwhile, the policy actions taken by the Trump administration to address domestic terrorism thus far, including NSPM-7, fail to address the threat posed by far-right extremists in the United States.

    I wonder if Viktor’s homophobic ass was quick to cheer when he heard about the picture of Trump and Bubba?

    • Kirp123@lemmy.world
      11·
      4 days ago

      One of Orban’s party members, which was an EU MP, was caught by police in Brussels while escaping from a 20 man gay orgy. The police was called because the “party” was during covid and breaking lockdown. When the police arrived he was going down a drainage pipe trying to escape and he was naked.

      Like all conservatives Orban and his party are just a bunch of hypocrites.