Senators introduce legislation to codify Antifa terror designation

Spread the love

More than a month after President Donald Trump designated Antifa a domestic terror organization, a group of senators is proposing legislation to codify the president’s executive order.

The Stop ANTIFA Act has been introduced by U.s. Sens. Ashley Moody, R-Fla., Rick Scott, R-Fla., and Mike Lee, R-Utah, which would direct the National Joint Terrorism Task Force to investigate Antifa.

The president’s executive order designating Antifa a domestic terror organization came a week after The Center Square posed the question to Trump in the Oval Office, following a rise in left-wing violence, including the assassination of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk.

The president’s executive order describes the group as a “militarist, anarchist enterprise,” which calls for the overthrow of the federal government, especially targeting law enforcement.

Antifa “uses illegal means to organize and execute a campaign of violence and terrorism nationwide to accomplish these goals. This campaign involves coordinated efforts to obstruct enforcement of Federal laws through armed standoffs with law enforcement, 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,” according to the executive order.

The president’s order says the group targets young Americans as part of its recruiting efforts, while radicalizing and training them to engage in “violence and suppression of political activities.”

Antifa “employs elaborate means and mechanisms to shield the identities of its operatives, conceal its funding sources and operations in an effort to frustrate law enforcement, and recruit additional members. Individuals associated with and acting on behalf of Antifa further coordinate with other organizations and entities for the purpose of spreading, fomenting, and advancing political violence and suppressing lawful political speech. This organized effort designed to achieve policy objectives by coercion and intimidation is domestic terrorism,” the executive order added.

Moody echoed the president’s executive order, underscoring the group’s continual targeting of law enforcement.

“Violent extremists who target our law enforcement officers and destroy our communities must be held accountable. It’s far past time to designate Antifa a terrorist organization. The Stop ANTIFA Act makes it clear that organized violence has no place in America,” Moody said in a news release.

During an Antifa round table with independent journalists at the White House on Oct. 8, The Center Square asked the president if he would go a step further and designate the group a foreign terror organization, with the president responding, “let’s get it done.”

While the president directed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to “take care of it,” the group has yet to be officially designated a foreign terror organization.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Illinois quick hits: Report shows rate of businesses leaving state

Illinois quick hits: Report shows rate of businesses leaving state

By The Center SquareThe Center Square Report shows rate of businesses leaving state Illinois businesses are moving to other states at triple the rate they did before the pandemic, according...
Report: New York No. 2 in nation for inbound tobacco smuggling

Report: New York No. 2 in nation for inbound tobacco smuggling

By Chris WadeThe Center Square New York remains one of the top states for inbound tobacco smuggling, according to a new report, which attributes the robust underground market to the...
Lake Land College.5

Lake Land College Hires Philadelphia Firm for $100,000 Digital Marketing Campaign

In an effort to boost enrollment, Lake Land College will partner with Hybrid Media USA, LLC, a Philadelphia-based firm, for a comprehensive digital marketing campaign in the upcoming fiscal year....
Trump delays China tariffs by 90 days

Trump delays China tariffs by 90 days

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The deadline to enact further reciprocal tariffs against China will be extended by 90 days, President Donald Trump announced Monday night. “[China] continues to take...
Kennedy visits Atlanta's CDC

Kennedy visits Atlanta’s CDC

By Kim JarrettThe Center Square U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visited Atlanta's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention days after a police officer died in...
DCFS denies claim that agency uses uncertified interns to investigate families

DCFS denies claim that agency uses uncertified interns to investigate families

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A state lawmaker says he has documentation to show that the Illinois Department of Children and Family...
Trump declares 'Liberation Day' in D.C., calls in National Guard

Trump declares ‘Liberation Day’ in D.C., calls in National Guard

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square “Liberation Day” arrived Monday in Washington, D.C., as declared by President Donald Trump. The president declared a crime emergency in the district and said the...
Illinois quick hits: State-based health insurance marketplace approved

Illinois quick hits: State-based health insurance marketplace approved

By The Center SquareThe Center Square State-based health insurance marketplace approved Beginning Nov. 1, Get Covered Illinois will officially become Illinois’ health insurance marketplace. The U.S. Centers for Medicare and...
Judge denies Trump DOJ request to unseal Ghislaine Maxwell grand jury records

Judge denies Trump DOJ request to unseal Ghislaine Maxwell grand jury records

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The Trump administration is facing another setback in attempting to curb backlash over its chameleonic handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, with another federal judge...
FAA partners with college to train next generation air traffic controllers

FAA partners with college to train next generation air traffic controllers

By Ashley Olds |The Center Square To expand specialized training under the Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative, the U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on Monday that the...
Judge denies Madigan’s motion to remain free pending appeal

Judge denies Madigan’s motion to remain free pending appeal

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – U.S. District Court Judge John Robert Blakey has denied former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s request to...
The U.S. Department of Education launches nationwide tour

The U.S. Department of Education launches nationwide tour

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square The Department of Education launched a national tour this month in its continuing efforts to dismantle the agency and revert power back to the states....
Trump takes aim at Chicago crime, no-cash bail while singling out Pritzker

Trump takes aim at Chicago crime, no-cash bail while singling out Pritzker

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – President Donald Trump says Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is incompetent, that he may send the national guard...
Burrows: Only thing standing in the way of disaster relief are missing Democrats

Burrows: Only thing standing in the way of disaster relief are missing Democrats

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square (The Center Square ) – Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, gaveled in the Texas House on Monday, and again, no quorum was reached. Only...
Trump confirms Nvidia chip agreement

Trump confirms Nvidia chip agreement

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Nvidia will pay the United States 15% of the money it makes from selling artificial intelligence chips to China, President Donald Trump said in a...