The United States government is considering naming left-wing extremist group, Antifa, a terrorist group in the face of increasing violence from its members.
“Consideration is being given to declaring ANTIFA, the gutless Radical Left Wack Jobs who go around hitting (only non-fighters) people over the heads with baseball bats, a major Organization of Terror (along with MS-13 & others). Would make it easier for police to do their job!” President Donald Trump tweeted on last week.
Antifa (abbreviation for “anti-fascist action”) is a loose coalition of left-wing groups originally from Germany. While originally dedicated to fighting Fascism, the group in recent years has increased attacks on those who do not hold far-left, extreme views.
The group is known for wearing black and hiding their faces during their attacks.
Antifa violence was once again widely reported recently when journalist Andy Ngo was assaulted by masked Antifa members while he was reporting on a protest in Portland, Oregan.
Antifa has been widely criticized in the United States, with both the President and left-wing politicians like Speaker Nancy Pelosi condemning the organization.
“Our democracy has no room for inciting violence or endangering the public, no matter the ideology of those who commit such acts,” Pelosi once said.
The situation in Canada, however, remains very different.
None of the major political parties in Canada has condemned Antifa, with taxpayer dollars even going to an Antifa-friendly CBC radio broadcast.
The episode saw the CBC try to glorify the history of the far-left group as fascist-fighting superheroes while remaining quiet on the group’s record of unprovoked violence in Canada and abroad.
Just a few months ago Antifa members in masks and hoods attacked Yellow Vest protestors who were peacefully demonstrating in Hamilton.
One Antifa member was charged with assault, allegedly for attacking a Yellow Vest demonstrator with a piece of wood.
While politicians across the spectrum in the United States reject Antifa’s violent tendencies, Canadian politicians remain silent.
With a long record of violent extremism, it’s unclear how far Antifa will go before Canada will take the group as seriously as our American counterparts do.
