What Is Antifa? Group Tagged "Terror Organisation" After Charlie Kirk Murder
US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced that he is designating the left-wing group 'Antifa' as 'a major terrorist organisation' and also warnedthat those funding it will be investigated "with the highest legal standards and practices".
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Antifa activists, typically clothed in all-black attire, demonstrate against racism and far-right ideologies.
Washington:
On Thursday, US President Donald Trump announced his decision to classify the left-wing collective 'Antifa' as "a major terrorist organisation" and stated that those providing financial support to the group will face investigation "with the highest legal standards and practices".
This declaration follows the recent assassination of Trump's close associate and conservative political activist Charlie Kirk.
What is Antifa?
Antifa represents a clandestine network of radical activists that has gained visibility in recent years. The movement operates without formal leadership. Its adherents, frequently dressed entirely in black, demonstrate against racism, extreme right-wing values and perceived fascism, and maintain that violent tactics can sometimes be justified as defensive measures.
Historical Context
Antifa participants consider themselves part of a protest lineage stretching back to resistance groups in pre-World War II Nazi Germany and fascist Italy. American antifa activism has its origins in antiracist movements from the 1980s that organized against racist skinheads, Ku Klux Klan (KKK) members, and neo-Nazi activities.
Antifa in the United States
Antifa groups in America gained notoriety following violent confrontations between white supremacists and their opponents, including antifa supporters, in Charlottesville, Virginia, on August 12, 2017.
These groups have shown increased activity in protests and rallies in recent years, particularly events involving far-right participants.
For instance, in June 2016, Antifa and other protesters clashed with a neo-Nazi rally in Sacramento, California, resulting in at least five stabbings.
During February, March, and April 2017, Antifa members attacked alt-right demonstrators at the University of California, Berkeley using various weapons including bricks, pipes, hammers, and improvised incendiary devices.
In July 2019, William Van Spronsen, a self-identified Antifa supporter, attempted to bomb the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in Tacoma, Washington, using a propane tank before being fatally shot by police.
Throughout his political career, Trump has blamed Antifa for various incidents he opposes, from violence against law enforcement to allegedly orchestrating the US Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.
Trump's former FBI director, Christopher Wray, testified in 2020 that antifa represents an ideology rather than an organisation, lacking the hierarchical structure typically required for federal terrorist group designation.