Protests in the United States: Who are the “radical leftists” targeted by Trump?

Text by: RFI Follow

Demonstrations have taken place in dozens of American cities to demand justice for George Floyd, the African American who was killed during his arrest by the police. The steps have degenerated in places. Donald Trump denounced the actions of "radical leftists", the "antifas". 

Publicity

The American marches to demand justice for George Floyd and more broadly to denounce racism have degenerated in places. Burned buildings, looting ... A curfew was imposed in Los Angeles, Houston and Washington, where the police dispersed demonstrators near the White House.

Donald Trump has promised to "  stop collective violence  " and denounced the actions of "  radical leftists  ", in particular "  antifas  " whom he said he wanted to place on the list of terrorist organizations.

►Read also: United States: four Minneapolis police officers dismissed after the death of a black man

Who are these antifas? There is no organization structured around anti-fascists , the abbreviation of "  anti-fascist  ". No leader, no headquarters either. In recent years, the term has designated a group of groups on the fringes of the radical left. Some dress in black from head to toe, some have their storefront, organize meetings, others do not.

New boom in antifas

Many make the fight against racism their spearhead, faced with the resurgence of neo-Nazi groups and the ultra-right on American soil. Others are closer to the anti-capitalist and alter-globalist movement.

Since the election of Donald Trump, the antifa movement has experienced a new growth, with rather young members, and it has gained visibility by sometimes violently confronting rallies of white supremacists. Difficult to know how many are actually found in the demonstrations of recent days.

In his tweets in any case, the American president designates them as responsible for the violence, in cities where the elected democrats are qualified as lax or even accomplices of their acts.

The United States of America will be designating ANTIFA as a Terrorist Organization.

Contrary to what Donald Trump maintains, it is impossible to place these antifas on the list of terrorist organizations, reserved for foreign groups. But the Minister of Justice promises that this violence is indeed an act of internal terrorism and that it will be treated as such by the FBI.

Newsletter Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

Follow all international news by downloading the RFI application

• United States
• Donald trump

On the same subject

Death of George Floyd: several American states appeal to the National Guard

Death of George Floyd: violent protests continue despite curfew

Death of George Floyd in Minneapolis: anger spreads to the United States