NTF issue paper: cong170.doc. 10-19.
NEBRASKA TAXPAYERS FOR FREEDOM ISSUE PAPER:
ANTIFA POSES THREAT TO TAXPAYER CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.
BACKGROUND. Many taxpaying conservatives already are too shy or embarrassed to publicly take a stand against high taxes, profligate spending, and burdensome government regulations. Heightening this reluctance is the newer threat of physical assault against taxpayers who wish to avail themselves of our constitutional right to publicly express our 1st Amendment privileges by holding public demonstrations or meetings. Increasingly, leftwing thugs called Antifa threaten, harass, and assault taxpayers and other conservatives attempting to exercise our constitutional rights of free speech and assembly. Antifa members are self-proclaimed anarchists/communists who have adopted violent tactics to attack anyone disagreeing with their political agenda, which is to subvert and overthrow the government and substitute radical socialism. They are anti-capitalists, anti-religion (particularly Christianity) but also very organized in many states, including Nebraska. These hateful, intolerant radicals pursue an extreme leftist agenda through aggressive violence. Their main objective means to inflict harm on those whose views differ from theirs and suppress opposing political ideology. Like other terrorist groups, they pursue their political agenda through violence, fear, and intimidation. Their behavior represents positions anathema to our democratic ideals of peaceful assembly and free speech for everyone.
REMEDIAL LEGISLATION. Conservative Sen. Bill Cassidy (LA.) has sponsored S. Res. 279, a resolution to designate Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization. Co-sponsored by Conservative Sen. Ted Cruz (TX.), this resolution condemns the violent acts promulgated by Antifa, violent masked bullies who resemble Nazi Brown Shirts who violently clashed with peaceful German demonstrators in the 1930s. The resolution states there is no place for violence in political discourse in civil society. It condemns the violent Antifa actions as unacceptable among political opinions in the country. S Res. 279 requests the federal government to redouble efforts, using all available and appropriate law enforcement tools, to combat fascist Antifa domestic terrorism. The designation would permit law officers to examine Antifa associations and affiliations. S Res. 279 would allow law enforcement to investigate not only a suspect in a crime but the suspect link to a domestic terrorist organization. This resolution urges all groups in the nation to voice their opinions without using violence or threats to the health, safety, or well-being of others and law enforcement officers. “They are masked bigots, attacking others b/c they don’t agree with their ideas. The time to stop Antifa is NOW!” Sen. Cassidy said. “Antifa are terrorists, violent masked bullies who ‘fight fascism’ with actual fascism, protected by Liberal privilege,” he declared. “Bullies get their way until someone says no. Elected officials must have courage, not cowardice, to prevent terror,” he continued. “Antifa is a group of hateful, intolerant radicals who pursue their unhinged agenda through aggressive violence,” Sen. Cruz said. “Time and time again their actions have demonstrated that their only purpose is to inflict harm on those who oppose their views. The hate and violence they spread must be stopped, and I am proud to introduce this resolution with Senator Cassidy to properly identify what Antifa are: domestic terrorists. This group has been allowed to make threats online and provoke violence with little to no repercussions and it’s time to recognize them as the threat they truly are. ” Cruz sent a letter to Attorney -General William Barr, Deputy Attorney- General Jeffrey Rosen, and FBI Director Christopher Wray, calling for a probe into Antifa under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), also an investigation into Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, who he claims refused to stop Antifa violence in that city, equating his refusal to halt left-wing protests to officials implicitly accepting violence by the KKK. When liberal government leaders voice that the behavior we have seen in Portland is acceptable, young people will believe it an acceptable way to express political views. In the letter, Cruz asked the Department of Justice and FBI to “open an organized crime investigation” into the “left-wing anarchist terrorist organization that routinely relies on violence to intimidate and punish its political opponents.” Cruz added that federal law provides for the prosecution of criminal groups that rely on anonymity, such as Antifa and the KKK. Passing this resolution will guarantee Antifa treated as other terrorist groups and subject to prosecution under the Patriot Act.
HOUSE BILL. The House now has a resolution with identical wording, H Res. 525, introduced by Conservative Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA.). This bill is in the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
STARK EXAMPLES. At President Trump’s inauguration, masked Antifa protesters destroyed property, scuffled with police, and set a limousine on fire. Antifa has attacked Trump supporters and other conservatives since the 2016 presidential election. Antifa masked, helmeted goons carry shields and weapons. Hiding behind black masks and sunglasses, they violently massed in Portland, OR. and seriously injured conservative marchers and a conservative journalist. Antifa members stole his camera equipment and left him bloody and beaten. He suffered a brain hemorrhage from the violent beating. One video that surfaced shows Antifa thugs trying to pull people out of a bus to beat them. Antifa snatched a hammer used by the people inside the bus for self-defense and smashed the bus windows. Antifa threw rocks at other buses and broke several windows while driving away. They believe in using any means necessary to achieve their goal of an anarcho-communist state, even if that means direct violent confrontation. Antifa pepper sprayed and physically assaulted Berkeley, CA. rally goers. Communist agitator Bill Ayers helped lead the Antifa Berkeley protests and is actively involved in numerous actions against the Trump Administration. Ayers is partnering with Antifa to spread militant violence against pro-America demonstrators. Leftists have historically turned Ayers into a folklore hero who they cherish and respect despite his violent past. Employees of the Immigration Service (ICE) suffered violent threats, after Antifa published their phone numbers and addresses on the Internet. The ICE office in Portland shut down for days because of Antifa threats and physical occupation by its members. Their manifesto referenced ICE holding facilities as “concentration camps,” reflecting the sentiment of Socialist Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. A 69-year-old Antifa member launched a firebomb attack against an ICE office in Tacoma, Washington. He fired on police with an AR-15. Police returned fire and killed the attacker as he was trying to blow up a propane tank. The attacker left behind a manifesto in which he proudly claimed, “I am Antifa.” Antifa from around the country on social media praised the attacker, calling him a martyr. Antifa rejects the authority of federal, state, and local law officers to protect free speech and stop violence. Their central aim is to silence all moderate and conservative politics or ideologies. It has gained notoriety as its members dress in black helmets and padded clothing to violently confront conservative activists. The group wants to prevent conservative political expression by any means necessary. They use makeshift bombs, brute force, bricks, chains, and other weapons to silence speech or ideology with which they disagree. The mass shooter in Dayton, Ohio, who killed 10 and injured 27, expressed admiration for Antifa causes and individuals on social media. On Twitter he declared, “Kill every fascist.” He also called his fallen comrade in Tacoma a “martyr.” Masked Antifa members also assault news media reporters covering their rampages. In a Boston incidence of mayhem, Antifa threw bottles of urine and other harmful projectiles at police. The 36 arrests and 4 police injured during this Straight Pride Parade in Boston is another episode highlighting why Antifa deserves designation as a terror organization. Antifa thug Eric Clanton, a philosophy professor at an obscure college, clobbered a man on the head with a bike lock during an Antifa mob attack at a free-speech rally in Berkeley, CA. Police believe he attacked at least 3 people. Antifa celebrates their victory of “deplatforming” people with whom they disagree. Such conduct drove the leftist mayor of Berkeley to call Antifa a criminal gang. Antifa members connect with and operate much like terrorist cells. In August, Antifa thugs attacked police in Charlottesville, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Another attack on 2 Marines in Philadelphia last November. Police in the City of Brotherly Love collared 2 Antifa thugs for that crime. A participant in that attack is a top Antifa leader in Washington, D.C., who advocated violence and murder on Twitter. That individual connects to top Democrats on Capitol Hill through his work with a “progressive” outfit that opposes payday lending. Antifa thugs recently hounded Fox journalist Tucker Carlson and 2 other conservative journalists last November and surrounded his house and terrorized his wife. Politico reports that several Antifa terrorists traveled to Turkey to train with kindred organizations. They may be sharpening their skills for political intimidation at voting precincts in 2020.
ITS FINANCING. Antifa gleans most of its funding from the United for Equality & Affirmative Action Legal Defense Fund, a 501©3 group. The militant SEIU union and AFL-CIO fund this group. Donors include George Soros, the Kellogg Foundation, and the Ford Foundation. Boycott Frosted Flakes and other Kellogg products.
TRUMP SUPPORT. President Trump seriously is considering labeling Antifa a terrorist group together with the criminal Latino gang MS 13. He declared, “These antifa guys were showing up with weapons, shields and bike helmets and just beating the shit out of people … they’re using Molotov cocktails, they’re starting fires, they’re throwing bombs and smashing windows.” There is a petition to urge President Trump to designate Antifa as a domestic terrorist group. See this petition at https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/demand-president-trump-label-antifa-domestic-terrorist-organization. It compares Antifa to the Islamic State . In less than a week, 250,000 Americans signed this petition , which accuses Antifa of violence at demonstrations and incitement to kill police. The count now is over 350,000. A Trump designation would assist police in handling these thugs.
ANTIFA SUPPORTERS. Naturally, the ACLU wholeheartedly supports Antifa and condemns the resolution as denial of due process, equal protections, and 1st Amendment rights. Never mind Antifa violation of conservative constitutional rights. Democrat Rep. Debra Haaland (N.M.) claims Antifa represents “peaceful protesters.” Socialist Democrats depend on groups like Antifa to loudly strong-arm and neutralize conservative groups, as Gestapo goon squads did in Germany.
RESOLUTION SUPPORT. Fox News contributor Laura Ingraham called for Antifa designation as a terrorist organization in an interview on “Fox & Friends.” Her suggestion followed, after a mob of more than 100 Antifa goons dressed in black attacked several people at a rally in Berkeley. Several supporters of President Trump suffered injuries in the clashes, according to local media, leading to 14 arrests.” This group [antifa] is actively trying to intimidate, suppress free speech, and violently attack people with whom they disagree,” she continued. Ingraham also suggested filing a Justice Dept. RICO statute action. Labeling Antifa a domestic terrorist organization also would help alarmed colleges and universities seeking help take action when Antifa strikes. Incoming freshmen have incurred threats by Antifa groups for joining conservative groups. These institutions cannot accept these kinds of threats and attacks but, without the designation, it is difficult for universities to effectively respond. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) called Antifa activities “domestic terrorist violence” in a 2016 warning to state and local law enforcement. A confidential intelligence report by the DHS and the FBI accused Antifa of attacks on police, government and political institutions, along with other symbols of our “capitalist system” or alleged displays of racism, social injustice, or fascism. In July, 2017, DHS in New Jersey officially listed Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization after a series of violent attacks by the group targeting supporters of President Trump. Law enforcement officials and experts argue that domestic extremists should fall subject to the same scrutiny as supporters of international terrorist groups. Conservative Rep. Jim Banks complained that Antifa employs violence to coerce Americans into silence. As a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, he is intimately familiar with the tactics of terrorist groups and how they employ fear and violence to silence political enemies. To his great surprise, he is witnessing similar tactics here in our country. “The FBI must take this threat seriously,” he declared.
TAKE ACTION NOW. The time has come to stop this radical bunch, which has rioted, attacked police and journalists, and terrorized celebrities and Trump supporters. Under the 2001 Patriot Act, groups commit domestic terrorism by engaging in violent acts that “intimidate or coerce a civilian population … to influence the policy of a government.” Our elected officials must show courage, not cowardice, to prevent terror. A domestic terror designation will help us combat Antifa by giving resources to our law enforcement to actively track and halt Antifa activities instead of merely respond to events. Antifa has earned a terrorist title because of its violent actions in multiple cities and its influence in the killings of multiple police officers throughout the U.S. It is time for the Trump Administration to show consistency in its actions. As it rightfully declared ISIS a terror group, it must declare Antifa a terror group on the grounds of principle, integrity, morality, and safety. It will also stop Antifa from growing. Tell your senator to work to repeal the nonprofit status of the Antifa funding group. Anyone contributing to this group would become guilty of funding a terrorist group. Removing its nonprofit status would evaporate its ability to pay its legal expenses and transport demonstrators. Contact your senators and representative to vote to support S. Res. 279 and H Res. 525, so that we can continue to enjoy our 1st Amendment rights to assemble and speak without fear of physical harm. Email netaxpayers@gmail.com for congressional contact information and to join the NTF Congress Watch Project.
Research, documentation, and analysis for this issue paper done by Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom. This material copyrighted by Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom, with express prior permission granted for its use by other groups in the NE Conservative Coalition Network. 10-19. C