Trump says the US will designate Antifa as a terrorist organization


Trump says the US will designate Antifa as a terrorist organization

President Trump has announced that the United States will designate Antifa as a terrorist organization, according to a tweet he sent Sunday.

Antifa, short for anti-fascists, describes a broad group of people whose political beliefs lean toward the left — often the far left — but do not conform with the Democratic Party platform.

Antifa positions can be hard to define, but many members support oppressed populations and protest the amassing of wealth by corporations and elites. Some employ radical or militant tactics to get their message across.

Some context: This designation comes as Trump and Attorney General Bill Barr have pointed to far left groups as responsible for many of the violent protests across the country.

Federal law enforcement officials told CNN they are aware of outside groups who are behind some of the property destruction and violence, using the cover of the legitimate protests in Minneapolis and elsewhere.

Those domestic extremist groups include anarchists, white supremacists and far left extremists, some of whom have overlapping affiliations.

Read Trump’s tweet:

Donald J. Trump

@realDonaldTrump

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

Atlanta mayor extends curfew to Sunday

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms signed an executive order “extending curfew in the entire territorial jurisdiction of the City of Atlanta,” according to a tweet from the city.

Curfew will begin at 9 p.m. ET and will end at sunrise June 1, making this the second night in a row the city has been under curfew following protests.

Read the city’s tweet:

New York governor calls on protesters to demand change and to vote out lawmakers who don’t

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during a media briefing on May 30.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during a media briefing on May 30. Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket/Getty Images

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo called on protesters to demand change, but to be “smart” and “directed,” not violent.

He said people need to “demand that the federal government and every state government” pass legislation that says reports of abuse by law enforcement cannot be investigated by local prosecutors because “self policing does not work, period.”

“Demand that change and if government leaders won’t do it, or can’t do it, or don’t know how to do it then you vote them out,” Cuomo said.

“Don’t lose the passion, don’t lose the outrage. Be frustrated, but be smart and be directed,” he said.

Cuomo did not answer directly when asked if NYPD response was appropriate.

He said these situations are “very very difficult” and “everybody is under stress.”

“Police are in an impossible situation in many ways. But their behavior is everything,” the governor said.

“And I’ve seen those videos and those videos are truly disturbing,” he said.

Cuomo said he has spoken with Mayor Bill de Blasio and the NYPD commissioner and they “understand the situation.”

“I am telling them that if that review looks at those videos and finds that there was improper police conduct there will be ramifications,” the governor said. “This is a moment of reform.”

Cuomo added: “I’m not going to judge it on just what I saw on the video right, as I said from what I saw on the video, I think it’s inexplicable but maybe there is an explanation and lets there’s always two sides.”

New York attorney general to review protests Saturday night

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he will ask Attorney General Letitia James to review the demonstrations seen Saturday night, as well as any upcoming demonstrations tonight.

“Last night was a long and ugly night all across this nation as we know,” Cuomo said. “We’ve seen a lot of disturbing video about the protests, and .. I’ve asked the attorney general to review the NYC protests and the actions and procedures that were used.”

The state had a significant state police presence across New York and the National Guard on standby.

“We expect additional protests tonight, and we’re preparing for such,” Cuomo said.

There will be 200 additional state police in Rochester tonight after officials asked for more assistance, the governor said.

US Customs and Border Protection to deploy assets across the nation in response to protests

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is deploying officers, agents and aviation assets nationwide at the request of federal, state and local partners “confronting the lawless actions of rioters,” the agency told CNN in a statement.

“CBP carries out its mission nationwide, not just at the border, consistent with federal laws and policies,” the agency added.

Some context: CBP is charged with enforcing the nation’s borders, but regularly assists law enforcement, like after Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita, according to a CBP official.

A cyberattack was carried out against Minnesota state computers, governor says

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz says state computers were attacked on Saturday.

“Before our operation kicked off last night, a very sophisticated denial of service attack on all state computers was executed,” Walz said this morning during a news briefing.

“That’s not somebody sitting in their basement,” Walz said.

According to Walz, the cyberattack was sophisticated but it’s not clear who was responsible at this time.( CNN / IM )

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