CNN star Chris Cuomo has officially thrown his support behind the domestic terror organization known as “Antifa” — a far-left group known for their mob violence and intimidation practices.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) internal memo labeled the group an “anarchist extremist” organization in 2016. U.S. security officials have warned that the “domestic terror” organization attacks the police, political displays and protesters they don’t agree with, and more.
On Monday, Cuomo defended the group and said the angry mob violence they encourage is for “a good cause” — to the horror of his fellow CNN hosts, who quickly disagreed.
Authorities have been monitoring the far-left extremist group’s rise for years.
“It was in that period [during Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign] that we really became aware of them,” a senior law enforcement official warned The Independent in 2017. “These Antifa guys were showing up with weapons, shields and bike helmets and just beating the s**t out of people … using Molotov cocktails, they’re starting fires, they’re throwing bombs and smashing windows.”
Cuomo says he’s seen them in action — and it’s inspiring because they’re not racist neo-Nazis.
“You can talk about Antifa, I’ve watched them in streets protesting in different situations, OK?” Cuomo said. “There are certain aspects of them that are true to a cause, that is a good cause. They want social justice, they want whatever they want in that context.”
His co-hosts pushed back, saying that simply fighting people they disagree with does not make a group good. One CNN host even pointed out they used the same tactics as the Nazis they claim to be fighting.
“Not Antifa,” CNN’s Rob Astorino responded. “Antifa’s anarchists!”
“Chris, Antifa is not a good cause!” CNN’s Steve Cortes replied.
“Antifa does not have good aims,” Cortes continued. “Antifa wants power — they want political power — taken through force. That’s what Antifa is all about. They are the inheritors of Nazis and brown shirt’s tactics.”
Cuomo then went on a rant, saying that the group was a response to Trump — and that justifies their violent tactics.
CNN’s Chris Cuomo says Antifa is “a good cause” pic.twitter.com/mCMgoyPszQ
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) April 30, 2019
The Horn editorial team