A bill to designate Antifa members as "domestic terrorists" has been proposed by Republican senators, but two activist groups, the American Civil Liberties Union and Anti-Defamation League, are opposed, The Washington Post reported.
"It is dangerous and overly broad to use labels that are disconnected [from] actual individual conduct," ACLU National Security Project Director Hina Shamsi told the Post. "And as we've seen how 'terrorism' has been used already in this country, any such scheme raises significant due process, equal protection, and First Amendment constitutional concerns."
The ADL warns the GOP bill might permit law enforcement to label all counterprotesters of white supremacists as Antifa and taken advantage of expanded investigative authority under domestic terrorism law.
Also, as the ADL points out, according to the report, far-right extremists have killed hundreds in the U.S., while there are no yet reported Antifa killings.
"The Antifa reject racism but use unacceptable tactics," an ADL statement read. "White supremacists use even more extreme violence to spread their ideologies of hate, to intimidate ethnic minorities, and undermine democratic norms."
After Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., sent a letter to Attorney General William Barr on the designation of Antifa as "domestic terrorists" Wednesday, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, introduced the legislation, citing protest violence and the "doxing" of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.
"Antifa are terrorists, violent masked bullies who 'fight fascism' with actual fascism, protected by Liberal privilege," Sen. Cassidy wrote in a statement. "Bullies get their way until someone says no. Elected officials must have courage, not cowardice, to prevent terror."
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