[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 279 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 279
Calling for the designation of Antifa as a domestic terrorist
organization.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 18, 2019
Mr. Cassidy (for himself and Mr. Cruz) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Calling for the designation of Antifa as a domestic terrorist
organization.
Whereas members of Antifa, because they believe that free speech is equivalent
to violence, have used threats of violence in the pursuit of suppressing
opposing political ideologies;
Whereas Antifa represents opposition to the democratic ideals of peaceful
assembly and free speech for all;
Whereas members of Antifa have physically assaulted journalists and other
individuals during protests and riots in Berkeley, California;
Whereas in February of 2018, journalist Andy Ngo was intimidated and threatened
with violence by protestors affiliated with Antifa;
Whereas, on June 29, 2019, while covering demonstrations in Portland, Oregon,
journalist Andy Ngo was physically attacked by protestors affiliated
with Antifa;
Whereas employees of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (referred to
in this preamble as ``ICE'') were subjected to doxxing and violent
threats after their social media profiles, phone numbers, and home
addresses were posted on the internet by left wing activists;
Whereas according to the Wall Street Journal, an ICE officer was followed by
left wing activists and ``confronted when he went to pick up his
daughter from summer camp'', and another ``had his name and photo
plastered on flyers outside his home accusing him of being part of the
`Gestapo''';
Whereas the ICE office in southwest Portland, Oregon, was shut down for days due
to threats and occupation by Antifa members;
Whereas Rose City Antifa, an Antifa group founded in 2007 in Portland, Oregon,
explicitly rejects the authority of law enforcement officers in the
United States, and Federal, State, and local governments, to protect
free speech and stop acts of violence;
Whereas Rose City Antifa rejects the civil treatment of individuals the group
labels as fascists, stating: ``We can't just argue against them; we have
to prevent them from organizing by any means necessary.''; and
Whereas there is no place for violence in the discourse between people in the
United States, or in any civil society, because the United States is a
place where there is a diversity of ideas and opinions: Now, therefore,
be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) calls for the groups and organizations across the
country who act under the banner of Antifa to be designated as
domestic terrorist organizations;
(2) unequivocally condemns the violent actions of Antifa
groups as unacceptable acts for anyone in the United States;
(3) expresses the need for the peaceful communication of
varied ideas in the United States;
(4) urges any group or organizations in the United States
to voice its opinions without using violence or threatening the
health, safety, or well-being of any other persons, groups, or
law enforcement officers in the United States; and
(5) calls upon the Federal Government to redouble its
efforts, using all available and appropriate tools, to combat
the spread of all forms of domestic terrorism, including White
supremacist terrorism.
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