AG Barr: Antifa Violence Is Domestic Terrorism and ‘Will Be Treated Accordingly’

Attorney General William Barr on Sunday released a statement on the violent riots breaking out across the country and declared that violence “instigated and carried out by Antifa and other similar groups in connection with the rioting is domestic terrorism and will be treated accordingly.”

Barr addressed the violent riots wreaking havoc on several cities across the country as authorities gear up for another night of mayhem. Many, including President Donald Trump, have pointed out that the protests-turned-riots are organized by outside agitators looking to fan the flames and heighten civil unrest.

“With the rioting that is occurring in many of our cities around the country, the voices of peaceful and legitimate protest have been hijacked by violent radical elements,” Barr said in a statement on Sunday, stressing that these groups of “outside radicals and agitators are exploiting the situation to pursue their own separate, violent, and extremist agenda.”

These violent groups seek to divide, Barr continued, warning that federal law enforcement actions will be “directed at apprehending and charging the violent radical agitators who have hijacked peaceful protest and are engaged in violations of federal law.” Additionally, Barr classified the violence carried out by Antifa “and other similar groups” as domestic terrorism and vowed that it will be “treated accordingly.”

Full statement:

With the rioting that is occurring in many of our cities around the country, the voices of peaceful and legitimate protests have been hijacked by violent radical elements. Groups of outside radicals and agitators are exploiting the situation to pursue their own separate, violent, and extremist agenda.

It is time to stop watching the violence and to confront and stop it. The continued violence and destruction of property endangers the lives and livelihoods of others, and interferes with the rights of peaceful protestors, as well as all other citizens.

It also undercuts the urgent work that needs to be done – through constructive engagement between affected communities and law enforcement leaders – to address legitimate grievances. Preventing reconciliation and driving us apart is the goal of these radical groups, and we cannot let them succeed.

It is the responsibility of state and local leaders to ensure that adequate law enforcement resources, including the National Guard where necessary, are deployed on the streets to reestablish law and order. We saw this finally happen in Minneapolis last night, and it worked.

Federal law enforcement actions will be directed at apprehending and charging the violent radical agitators who have hijacked peaceful protest and are engaged in violations of federal law.

To identify criminal organizers and instigators, and to coordinate federal resources with our state and local partners, federal law enforcement is using our existing network of 56 regional FBI Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTF).

The violence instigated and carried out by Antifa and other similar groups in connection with the rioting is domestic terrorism and will be treated accordingly.”

Barr’s statement comes as authorities brace for another night of violent chaos, as days of violence, looting, and vandalism overshadow the initial calls for justice for George Floyd.

President Trump on Sunday also announced that the U.S. will be designating Antifa as a terrorist organization:

Barr noted on Saturday that the violence appears “planned, organized, and driven by anarchic and leftist extremist groups, far-left extremist groups using Antifa-like tactics, many of whom traveled outside the state to promote the violence”: