[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 121 (Thursday, July 18, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S4954]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 279--CALLING FOR THE DESIGNATION OF ANTIFA AS A 
                    DOMESTIC TERRORIST ORGANIZATION

  Mr. CASSIDY (for himself and Mr. Cruz) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 279

       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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