The Homeland Security Secretary Compares Anti-Fascist Activists to MS-13, the Palestinian Militant Group, Hezbollah and Islamic State
At a White House policy meeting, Kristi Noem this week likened antifa to the notorious gang, the Gaza-based organization, the Iran-backed group and ISIS, calling the loosely affiliated protesters “just as dangerous” as officially recognized terror groups.
“They operate with the same complexity as MS-13, as the Tren de Aragua, as the Islamic State, as Hezbollah, as Hamas, as all of them, they are just as dangerous,” the secretary said. “Their goal is to dismantle our society, similar to other extremist groups we have confronted for decades.”
The roundtable included conservative online reporters such as Andy Ngo, Nick Sortor, Katie Daviscourt among others who report on anti-fascist demonstrations.
Some of the groups mentioned by the secretary – Hamas, Hezbollah and Isis – are officially classified as terror groups that hold land, run armed branches, have hierarchical leadership and have executed mass casualty attacks such as explosions, kidnappings and targeted killings.
Extremism experts have frequently characterized antifa, in comparison, as lacking a central command, official membership or organizational structure, and it has generally been described by national authorities as a loose network of activists who engage in protest activity, portions of which involve property destruction and street violence.
This meeting comes after an executive order issued last month classifying antifa as a “homegrown terror group”.
Shortly prior to the declaration, Joe Biggs previously convicted and later pardoned for his actions during the Capitol events wrote on social media: “Who’s ready to go ANTIFA hunting? Since I am acquainted with several individuals.”
