Antifa scare tatics

An NPR review of court documents for 51 individuals who are facing federal charges related to the demonstrations found no alleged connections to the anti-fascist movement.

The lack of alleged links seemingly contradicts comments by Attorney General William Barr and President Trump singling out of anti-fascists for inciting violence during the protests.

Out of the 51 cases brought to the department so far, 20 involve allegations relating to arson, typically of government property or buildings, 16 involve allegations relating to illegal possession of a firearm, usually by a felon, and eight involve allegedly inciting a riot or civil disorder, according to NPR.

The only mention of an extremist group in court documents is in a case against three Nevada men who allegedly belong to the right-wing "Boogaloo" movement, which aims to incite a civil war. These three were charged with plotting violence in the demonstrations in Las Vegas.

Former federal prosecutors told NPR that if the government had a sign that individuals had alleged ties or an interest in an extremist movement, it would be included in the charging documents used during a bail hearing.

[...]

Barr has vowed to prosecute the “extremist agitators” involved in the recent protests, pointing specifically at those connected with antifa.

Trump has also blamed antifa activists for the violence that erupted within the demonstrations, saying on May 31 that he would designate antifa as a terrorist organization.

But experts say the antifa movement is not a solidified group and is more a liquid movement of people opposing fascism without central leadership.

When asked about the alleged lack of leadership, Barr said "there are people who could be characterized as leaders in any given situation."

  The Hill

Jesus that asshat is a weasel.

Also, thanks to the Trumpalos...

Antifa, short for anti-fascist, is not an actual organization controlling protesters and inciting to violence. But you may have heard that’s the case from social media in the wake of the protests against racism and police brutality that have swept the United States.

[...]

You also may have heard that “Antifa buses” are heading to your city to wreak havoc with their violence, but it’s nothing more than a hoax that went viral on social media.

[...]

Antifa chatter spiked online, with false rumors spreading with the help of fake social media accounts. In one such case, a Twitter account was created by a white nationalist group to spread fear, per NBC News.

The new Antifa bus hoaxes are tailored to specific regions to spread panic and misinformation locally, even though they’ve already been confirmed to be fake news. A family riding in a bus while camping was even harassed on Friday as people thought they were members of Antifa, via PeninsulaDailyNews:

Later that day in Forks, a multi-racial family of four from Spokane was followed by at least four vehicles — some with people with guns, they told deputies — as they left Forks Outfitters in a full-sized school bus. The family was trapped when they tried to leave their campsite after trees were felled to block the road, Clallam County Sheriff’s deputies said.

They were able to leave after four high school students cut the trees with chainsaws, said Sgt. Ed Anderson in a press release issued late Thursday.

[...]

Even a bus fleet owner in the region had to reach out on Facebook, inviting people to flag posts that may contain false information about his busses. “If anyone sees a post about my bus. Please flag it and get it taken down,” the person said, adding that a driver “was driving home from work, and someone posted it saying it’s full of Antifa.” His post was shared 38 times, but a far more popular post warned people to prepare for an imminent Antifa attack in the region.

[...]

Some police officers fell for the Antifa hoax, such as Curry County Sheriff John Ward, who posted a warning on a Facebook page he manages. “I don’t know if the rumors are true or not just yet, but I got information about 3 (busloads) of ANTIFA protestors (who) are making their way from Douglas County headed for Coquille then to Coos Bay,” the post read on the now-deleted Facebook page. Ward told KTVL that the information was forwarded to him by the county attorney, who got it from a “kind of” private attorney.

  BGR

Might be expected that a sheriff would validate a rumor like that before spreading it. But not this one:

“Without asking, I am sure we have a lot of local boys too with guns that will protect our citizens and their property,” the message read.

That's why they get called pigs.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.