About twenty years ago, as a young and impressionable police officer who “just wanted to make a difference,” I was hit in the head with a relatively full can of beer. I was part of a squad responding to a problem bar that was regularly holding “raves.” These consisted of a small space overloaded with drunk and fighting patrons who then poured into the road. They blocked traffic, endangered themselves, and destroyed several neighboring properties in the course of their mayhem. This was a weekly problem and the violence continued until the City was able to shut the business down.
So at what point does our federal government step up and declare that organizations like ANTIFA must be shut down? Some American cities are overrun with these “antifacist” groups, and many of these fractured communities are essentially declaring themselves independent of the federal government. Some call themselves “sanctuary” cities, refusing to follow the policies of the federal government that they don’t agree with, but continuing to take advantage of the federal programs that benefit them. Unlike the US, most countries have national police forces. There are either limited or no small community governments. These national police forces are basically the equivalent of our military. America, however, is a country where individual communities are governed and policed largly by individuals who are part of those communities. ANTIFA is not just a “local” threat. ANTIFA members flock to various area from all over the country. They are cross state lines in order to commit acts of violence against local community members. We need to see this as a national problem, not just a community issue, and we need to start with law enforcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) defines terrorism is “the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.” But for many, there really is no “agreed upon” definition of terrorism. Some will argue that someone only needs to feel “terrorized” to identify an action as terrorism, but this is incredibly illogical. After all, an elderly women who comes home to a burglarized house certainly feels terrorized, but she has not been the victim of terrorism. This clouding of definitions has made it difficult to identify who the terrorists are and why their actions are so reprehensible.
Let’s talk about the loosely organized “anti-fascist” groups known as ANTIFA. In 2016 the Department of Homeland Security classified the activities of ANTIFA groups as “domestic violence terrorists.” It would be fair to argue that ANTIFA is terrorizing our citizens and the law enforcement organizations trying to protect them. They are using “force and violence to coerce a government in furtherance of their political and social objective.” While law enforcement members are brave and courageous in a way that the masked, cowards of ANTIFA will never comprehend, they are in fact being terrorized. When masked assailants throw rocks, bottles, and urine at officers who are there only to protect innocents, that is terrorism. One group is attacking another for reasons that are based on personal beliefs, no matter how misguided. Law enforcement is not attacking anyone. They are standing fast, in the face of ridiculous chaos in order to protect the rights of citizens and anyone who cannot protect themselves. ANTIFA needs to be classified as a terrorist organization. Anyone claiming association or coming acts of violence on their behalf, should be prosecuted as such. ANTIFA has declared that “America is Canceled.” That is a threat against the nation, a declaration of war against our country.
While our nation has many freedoms that are exploited by members of groups like ANTIFA, we are also failing to protect the rights of law-abiding citizens. I would suspect that most terrorists within ANTIFA have not read much beyond the 5th Amendment nor have they read the entire Constitution of the United States.
ANTIFA is declaring an INVASION by announcing that “America is Canceled.”
Here are a few bits from our Constitution that are being ignored: oft
Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution provides powers to Congress. Specifically, Section 8, item 15: Call forth the Militia
To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections, and repel Invasions.
ANTIFA is invading communities. Invading in itself is defined in the Cambridge English Dictionary as, “the act of entering a place by force, often in large numbers.”
In Minneapolis, ANTIFA members were “hitting horses with sticks” (Animal Cruelty). They were assaulting law enforcement with weapons both physical and biological (rocks, bottles, urine). These actions were all taken in furtherance of the organization’s narrative.
The idea of calling ANTIFA a terrorist organization has been floated by government officials, to include the President. It is time that our government follows through. It is time to call your representatives, write your officials, and demand that they protect YOUR rights. Remind your representatives that they swore to uphold this Constitution, ALL of it.
If you need some points to mention, remind them that the 1st Amendment may protect freedom of speech, but the following articles within our Constitution state that you, yes, you law enforcement officers have a right to protections as well.
Article IV, Section 2 of the Constitution states, “The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.”
Article IV, Section 4 of the Constitution states, “The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened), against domestic violence.”
And Article VI states, “This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.”
Many in law enforcement are familiar with the “Broken Windows Theory” introduced in 1982 by James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling. This criminological theory pointed out that the spread of visible crime (property damage, civil disorder, public drinking, trespassing) created an environment in which violence and anti-social behavior flourished. The city will become a sinking ship. As small holes are punched into the hull, little by little, left in disrepair will become massive problems that eventually destroy the entire vessel. Managing these issues can save it.
Communities like Seattle, Portland, Tucson, and Los Angeles are filled with organizations that are suing the cities for “freedoms” like squatting on private property, living in boxes on sidewalks, and creating situations where human filth and disease is allowed to breed and flourish. San Francisco just lost a huge tech convention even after spending millions to refurbish their convention center for the sole purpose of hosting that conference! The convention heads cited, “Poor street conditions and high hotel rates” as their reason. The convention has moved to Las Vegas. LAS VEGAS! “Sin City!” When are these communities going to learn? ANTIFA members flock to these communities and “hide in plain sight” amongst these transient populations. They are destroying the cities they inhabit and threaten the good men and women of law enforcement.
What happened in Baltimore is another example of society gone mad. What I do need to remind all of you going to fight the good fight each day is that there are still people who will jump in and help you. Thankfully there have been arrests, and even better that warrior cop is physically OK. He needs our support more than ever. He is an example to all of us to never quit.
It is time for ANTIFA to be shut down. They are cowards and they are terrorizing our society and its freedoms. Enough is enough. Write your representatives and let them know how many people support law enforcement and oppose the statements and actions of ANTIFA.