Representative Greg Steube (R-FL) and Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) have introduced a bicameral bill designating ANTIFA as a domestic terrorist organization.
What the Bill Does
In addition to designating ANTIFA as a domestic terrorist organization, Rep. Steube and Sen. Scott's Stop ANTIFA Act codifies executive orders issued by President Donald Trump to crack down on the group and directs federal agencies to carry this out.
Trump previously designated ANTIFA as a domestic terrorist organization in September via an executive order, describing the group as "a militarist, anarchist enterprise that explicitly calls for the overthrow of the United States Government, law enforcement authorities, and our system of law."
Steube and Scott's Comments
"ANTIFA has spent years terrorizing communities, attacking law enforcement officers, and targeting ICE agents," Rep. Steube said in a press release. "These are not peaceful protesters. They are organized extremists who use violence and intimidation to advance a radical political agenda."
Sen. Scott echoed his remarks, adding, "Antifa has gotten away with its evils and terrorized cities across our country for far too long."
"Violence against our brave law enforcement officers and ICE agents will not be tolerated," the Florida Senator continued, "especially when it's domestic terrorists like Antifa wreaking havoc on our communities."
Scott further explained that Trump was right to "fearlessly call them out as the domestic terrorists they are and to take action to stop their evils around the nation and uncover the funding behind it."
Luna Did It First
Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) previously reintroduced legislation in September also designating ANTIFA as a terrorist organization, telling conservative podcaster Benny Johnson that "there needs to be massive punitive action against these people. There needs to be capital punishment, zero tolerance for people that are committing acts of murder and violence against people based on their civil liberties, the right to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness."
