How the International Far Right is Getting on Board With Trump's Antifa Terrorist Designation

[Celerity]

https://globalextremism.org/post/far-right-is-getting-on-board-with-trumps-antifa-terrorist-designation/



On September 22, President Donald Trump issued an executive order (EO) designating “Antifa” as a domestic terrorist organization. The EO lays out a broad range of actions targeting something that is not an organization but rather a decentralized movement. The White House described Antifa as a “militarist, anarchist enterprise that explicitly calls for the overthrow of the United States Government.” Other accusations against the movement include using “illegal means” to unleash a “campaign of violence and terrorism nationwide.”

According to the administration, this includes efforts to obstruct law enforcement with “armed standoffs” as well as “organized riots, violent assaults on Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other law enforcement officers, and routine doxing of and other threats against political figures and activists.” Without offering proof or examples of these claims, the EO signed by the president reads “I hereby designate Antifa as a ‘domestic terrorist organization.’” “All relevant executive departments and agencies shall utilize all applicable authorities to investigate, disrupt, and dismantle any and all illegal operations — especially those involving terrorist actions — conducted by Antifa or any person claiming to act on behalf of Antifa.”

This move’s full impact is so far unknown. The order appears more aimed at energizing Trump’s supporters and allies who have built a mountain of wild and unsubstantiated rhetoric around the supposed dangers of “Antifa.” Research in Europe and the US has repeatedly shown far-right inspired attacks to be deadlier. Research in 2020 found that one individual who self-identified as an antifascist had been linked to one homicide, while far-right extremists have been responsible for dozens in recent years. Far from a simple public relations win, the broadside against Antifa is really part of a push by the president and Republicans to cast their political opposition on the left as anti-American and violent.

The US designation is questionable, as the country does not have specific laws against domestic terrorism and does not maintain a list of domestic terrorist organizations. That means the designation can’t have the impact in the same way as individuals or groups designated as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO). A group given the FTO designation can have its US assets frozen, have non-citizen members barred from the country, and individuals and businesses can be prosecuted for providing “material support.” The FTO is a tool to cut off terrorist organizations financially, and it has largely been used against Islamic extremists (the designation has long been criticized for its lack of oversight, constitutionally shaky application, and the risk of misuse). It also requires an organization be domiciled abroad, not in the US.

snip