What is Antifa? Description of the anti-fascist movement
Antifa is a leaderless far-left movement that emerged after the 2017 Charlottesville massacre.
FBI officials have described Antifa as the greatest domestic terrorism threat facing the United States, but could not provide basic details about the movement and its structure.
Michael Glasheen, a longtime FBI agent and director of operations for the National Security Agency, called the move the agency’s “greatest concern right now” during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing.
President Donald Trump announced in September that he would “designate” Antifa as a major terrorist organization after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed while speaking at Utah Valley University.
Glasheen said the FBI shares the same concerns as the president regarding the anti-fascist movement known as Antifa.
“If you look at the data right now, you see the domestic terrorism threat that we face right now. From my perspective, this is the most pressing violent threat that we face domestically,” he said.
But when Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Mississippi), ranking chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, asked if the group had a headquarters or how many members it had, Glasheen did not respond.
“We are currently building the infrastructure,” Glasheen said.
“So what does that mean?” Thompson replied. “We’re trying to get information. You said Antifa is a terrorist organization. As a committee, I want you to tell me how you came to that. How many members do you have in the United States right now?”
Glasheen said its numbers are “very fluid” and that investigations into the movement and its members are ongoing, comparing it to al-Qaeda and ISIS.
According to the Congressional Research Service, Antifa is described as a group that “sees itself as part of a tradition of protest that dates back to pre-World War II Nazi Germany and fascist Italian insurgencies.” The movement is “decentralized and made up of independent, radical, and like-minded groups and individuals,” CRS said.
Glasheen testified alongside Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who has been pursued by lawmakers over the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration.
Mr. Thompson continued to press Mr. Glasheen for more information about the structure of the movement, saying he did not want to know the names but just how many people were identified as members of Antifa.
“Well, there’s an active investigation,” Glasheen answered, pausing for a moment before pausing.
Thompson shook his head.
“Sir, you’re not supposed to come before this committee and say something you can’t prove. I know you wouldn’t do that. But you did,” the congressman said, ending the exchange.
