Don ‘terror label’ threat as far left and right clash
President Trump threatened to designate left-wing activist group Antifa as a terrorist organization in a Saturday tweet just hours before the start of opposing demonstrations in Portland, Ore., that led to at least four arrests and multiple injuries.
“Major consideration is being given to naming ANTIFA an ‘ ORGANIZATION OF TERROR,’ ” Trump tweeted. “Portland is being watched very closely. Hopefully the Mayor will be able to properly do his job!”
It was the second time in a month Trump floated the idea of slapping a terrorist label on the group.
In July, Republican Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana introduced a nonbinding Senate resolution that would do just that.
About 400 members of rightwing groups, including the Proud Boys, marched on the liberal city to protest its inaction after an Antifa attack on conservative journalist Andy Ngo on June 29. Ngo was hospitalized with a brain hemorrhage. There have been no arrests in the case, his attorney tweeted Saturday.
The local Rose City Antifa, known for its use of violent tactics in street confrontations, organized two counterprotests.
Scores of police officers kept the rallygoers far from one another, but skirmishes erupted as the groups broke up.
In one incident, half a dozen Antifa members set upon two buses carrying opposing demonstrators, using hammers to break several windows.
More than a dozen people were arrested, Portland cops said.
“Frankly, it’s not helpful,” Mayor Ted Wheeler told CNN in response to Trump’s comments about the Antifa movement, which began in 2013. “Adding to that noise doesn’t do anything to support or help the efforts that are going on here in Portland.”
But it was music to the far-right demonstrators’ ears.
“Go look at President Trump’s Twitter,” Joe Biggs, who organized the right-wing rally, told The Oregonian. “He said he’s watching Antifa. That’s all we wanted. We wanted national attention, and we got it. Mission success.”
Domestic terrorism is defined as criminal activity under the Patriot Act, but the law lays out no federal penalties for committing it. The actions of those classified as domestic terrorists are tried in state courts.
A “domestic terror” label, which the FBI applies to offenders, merely expands investigators’ powers. On Aug. 6, for example, the FBI opened a domestic-terrorism investigation into last month’s mass shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival in California.