Politico revealed confidential law enforcement documents in which Federal authorities have reportedly warned state and local officials Antifa has become “increasingly confrontational”.
A confidential 2016 joint intelligence assessment by DHS and the FBI concluded that Antifa were responsible for attacks on police, government institutions and what they had singled out as symbols of “the capitalist system”.
The documents show that federal authorities know that “anarchist extremists” were the main cause of violence at a number of public rallies. Recent FBI and DHS reports confirm they are actively monitoring “conduct deemed potentially suspicious and indicative of terrorist activity” by Antifa.
One senior law enforcement official reportedly said: “It was in that period [during the presidential election] that we really became aware of them. 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.”
After President Donald Trump’s election in November, Antifa targeted his supporters, especially those from white conservative groups who support vetting immigrants and Muslims and want to protect historical symbols of the Confederacy.
Leftist extremists have been using the confrontations, especially since Charlottesville, to recruit new members, raise money and threaten more confrontations, officials say.
Law enforcement officials were surprised by the meteoric rise of Antifa, and have struggled with an organised response. Officials believe Antifa members coordinate through a decentralised network of cells, Politico reported.
“Everybody is wondering, ‘What are we gonna do? How are we gonna deal with this?’” a senior state law enforcement official told Politico. “Every time they have one of these protests where both sides are bringing guns, there are sphincters tightening in my world. Emotions get high, and fingers get twitchy on the trigger.”
President Donald Trump blamed the violence that occurred in Charlottesville on “many sides,” and said the media had not focused enough on the role Antifa had played. Tucker Carlson, Fox News host noted: “They hate this country. They want to tear it down. Even if they didn’t use violence, Antifa would still be illegitimate and a threat to America.”
The National Review wrote in an article on Antifa: “Under the aegis of ‘anti-fascism,’ leftist thugs have appointed themselves adjudicators of the fates of Richard Spencer, Heather Mac Donald, the limo owner or Trump voter—anyone they ‘don’t like’—and in this lawless realm, whatever crimes antifa commit are not crimes, and their victims are not victims.”
In Austin, Texas, armed Antifa thugs attacked Trump supporters and white groups at several recent rallies, and then swarmed police in a successful effort to stop them from making arrests.
California has become another battleground, with violent confrontations in Berkeley, Sacramento and Orange County leading to numerous injuries. Often, Antifa spend weeks planning for violence and mayhem at upcoming events, according to the April 2016 DHS and FBI report entitled “Baseline Comparison of US and Foreign Anarchist Extremist Movements.”
“The rallies spill over into social media and then even more people show up at the next rally primed for violent confrontation,” said Brian Levin from the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino.
DHS studied “recent violent clashes … at lawfully organised” events including a June 2016 rally at the California Capitol in Sacramento by the Traditionalist Workers Party and its affiliate, the Golden State Skinheads.
According to police, Antifa and affiliated groups like By Any Means Necessary attacked, causing a riot after which at least 10 people had to be taken to hospital, some with stab wounds.
Some Antifa members have gone overseas to train and fight with fellow anarchist organisations, including with such groups in Turkey.
