President Donald Trump’s decision to designate the Anti-Fascist (AntiFA) movement a terror organization has further put the left-wing protest movement into the spotlight.
As protests resulting in riots and lootings swept across the United States, AntiFa-like methods, including violent confrontation with law enforcement agents, were rampant.
Despite the barrage of destruction, many continue to doubt the existence or potency of the movement; while those who admit its existence limit it to the United States. One member of the last group is Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, Ken Cuccinelli, who declared: “I don’t know that they’ve done anything outside the United States”.
However, the movement has been found to boast of a well-organized international network – from Berlin to Munich, London to Paris, Istanbul to Athens.
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Co-leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, Saskia Esken controversially tweeted, “58 and Antifa, without doubt”.
A member of the European Parliament, Ska Keller held up an AntiFa flag while addressing her colleagues.
Although Black Lives Matter solidarity protests in Munich have been peaceful so far, the anti-fascist movement’s Facebook page in the city carried a characteristic message for people to stand “shoulder to shoulder against Racism … No Justice, No Peace! Fight the Police!”
In similar protests in Stuttgart, AntiFa flags have also been spotted among protesters.
As the solidarity protests in London turned violent, hundreds of rioters have been arrested on Thursday with AntiFa’s support clearly visible in confrontation with law enforcement agents.
In nearby Paris, AntiFa organised protests through Facebook on June 1.
Protesters have also been marching through the streets of Vienna hoisting AntiFa and Communist flags.
AntiFa members and loyalists of the Socialist Party of the Oppressed have also clashed with police in Istanbul, Turkey.
In Athens, Greece, hundreds of protesters have been demonstrating in front of the US Embassy, with AntiFa flags spotted among mobs throwing Molotov cocktails at the embassy building.