Monthly Archives: January 2022

Florida Antifa is making trouble in numerous places, from Florida to Texas. On Thursday in Pinellas County, an Antifa member arrested on Jan 6 with live explosives in his backpack also was found to have gear associated with Antifa and a direct action checklist. A rally was held in support of a Jan 6, 2021 participant named Jeremy Brown near where he was arrested. Brown is being held in the Pinellas County jail on federal charges. It is unclear whether the Antifa member arrested was planning to attack the rally, but that would be in keeping with Antifa goals. Antifa member arrested with explosives

According to Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri at apress conference, Garrett James Smith, 22, ran away from the rally area when Pinellas County deputies saw him at around 7:30 p.m. He was arrested nearby as he was wearing all black clothing and a black backpack. Upon searching the backpack incident to his arrest, deputies found an explosive device inside. They notified the Hillsborough County bomb squad, who determined the device was active. They searched his car, which contained numerous M-80 fireworks. It is unclear what caused Smith to bolt from the rally area. The Antifa member arrested also recently went to Portland, Oregon, where large numbers of Antifa reside. Antifa member arrested with explosives.

The Sheriffs deputies then obtained a search warrant for Smiths home, where they found another pipe explosive device, nails, and several hand grenade-type devices in his bedroom.

take our poll - story continues below

Did SCOTUS make the right decision on medical mandates for large businesses?

Completing this poll grants you access to The Lid updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to this site's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

The Antifa member arrested refused to speak with deputies, which is also in keeping with Antifa practices. He is held in the Pinellas County jail on a $300,250 bond.

Smith has no criminal history, no social media accounts that we can find, and theres no prior intelligence information about Smith. Smith is what we call a sleeper, and these are the most concerning individuals because theres no opportunity to intervene and thwart their criminal activity until they actually act. Were fortunate in this situation that something caused Smith to flee before he ignited the explosive device and the deputies were able to apprehend him.

Sheriff Gualtieri

Though the Sheriff stated they had no idea what Smiths motives were or what political persuasion he was, for those who know what Antifa is and who they attack, we can assume he was there to harm the rally participants. Why did he run? Good question.

Cross-Posted with Conservative Firing Line

Continued here:

Antifa Member Arrested With Explosives in Florida - The Lid

You've heard all the gaslighting rhetoric protecting Antifa militants who do the violent, dirty work of the political left: that the black-clad goons are "an idea, not an organization" and even a "myth," despite mountains of evidence to the contrary.

Well, let's turn our attention to San Diego prosecutors, who on Monday charged multiple Antifa militants with conspiracy to commit a riot, saying they physically attacked supporters of former President Donald Trump in January, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

The kicker? A criminal complaint said the arrestees "are self-identified to be affiliated with Anti-fascists or Antifa" and began organizing themselves into San Diego- and Los Angeles-based groups a week before a pro-Trump "Patriot March" on Jan. 9, the paper said.

Pretty nifty trick for "an idea, not an organization" and a "myth."

The office of District Attorney Summer Stephan, citing video evidence, said that "overwhelmingly the violence in this incident was perpetrated by the Antifa affiliates and was not a mutual fray with both sides crossing out of lawful First Amendment expression into riot and violence, the Union-Tribune said.

Those arraigned in San Diego Superior Court were with a group arrested Thursday in raids by police officers and sheriffs deputies across Southern California, the Union-Tribune reported.

The complaint said the defendants launched their criminal conspiracy by liking and sharing a Jan. 2 social media post that called for a counterprotest against the pro-Trump rally, in essence agreeing to take part in the direct action. Others agreed by showing up in Pacific Beach on January 9th, 2021 and participating in the violence described in the complaint, the paper added, citing prosecutors.

The Antifa faithful were accused of using pepper spray, small flagpoles, sticks, and other tools to attack the pro-Trump group, the Union-Tribune said, adding that several attacks noted in the complaint appear to match incidents recorded and shared online, such as an Antifa militant pepper-spraying a dog and its owner.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

Prosecutors said the aforementioned act was carried out by Jeremy Jonathan White, 39, who remained jailed Monday in lieu of $200,000 bail, the paper said.

White faces charges of conspiracy, assault with a deadly weapon, use of tear gas not in self-defense, and animal cruelty, the Union-Tribune added.

1/9/21 ANTIFA Maces Dog Along Boardwalk - Pacific Beach, San Diego CAyoutu.be

Videographer Sean Carmitchel recorded Antifa attacking people with pepper spray, sticks, a wooden folding chair, punches, and kicks assaults prosecutors described in the complaint, the paper said.

For a bit of comic relief, here are a couple of images showing an undernourished Antifa tough guy momentarily emerging from the protection of his comrades to do what we've seen hundreds of times before targeting a victim from behind and throwing like a pansy:

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @ACatWithNews

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @ACatWithNews

Here are the videos. Content warning: rough language:

In addition to White accused of pepper-spraying the dog and owner the Union-Tribune, citing the district attorney's office, named the other arraigned individuals as Luis Francisco Mora, 30; Joseph Austin Gaskins, 21; Faraz Martin Talab, 27; Bryan Rivera, 21; Brian Lightfoot, 25; and Jesse Merel Cannon, 31.

The paper said Alexander Akridge-Jacobs, 31; Christian Martinez, 23; and Samuel Howard Ogden, 24, also face charges, according to a DA's office spokesperson.

In addition, a $250,000 arrest warrant has been issued for Erich Louis Yach, 37, the Union-Tribune reported, citing the DA's office and county Sheriffs Department records.

Read the original here:

Antifa militants arrested, charged for physically ...

Last night members of the identitarian group Patriot Front marched on the U.S. Capitol, but had apparently kept their intentions secret, leaving the Antifa members of Washington, D.C. unable to organize into black bloc mobs and repel them with force. At least one Antifa member blamed capitalism after they were unable to mount an effective response.

According to Antifa expert Andy Ngo, Twitter accounts associated with Antifa used a tactic called cyber swarming to immediately mobilize large groups of comrades to swarm (i.e., attack) a target at the national mall in D.C.

The far-right rally was not pre-announced so #antifa were unable to organize a counter direct action ahead of time, wrote Ngo. One account blames capitalism for this.

The account in question, called DC Youth Liberation Front, complained that living in DC is f**king hard because people have jobs. The apparent Antifa member complained, You forget that were just regular people trying to live under capitalism.

The target of Antifas attempt to cyber swarm was apparently the Patriot Front march that went viral last night. The organization apparently separated from another group called Vanguard America after the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

The group has been accused of holding racist beliefs, and has been associated with the definition of alt right popularized by the media.

Video shows a small number of apparent Antifa members hurling insults toward the Patriot Front marchers and the police charged with protecting them.

One man repeatedly hurled insults that seemed to be directed at the police officers rather than Patriot Front members.

F**king traitors, youre a f**king disgrace, you traitors, the man shouted as the marchers passed, escorted by police officers on bicycles. F**king traitors. Hide behind your wall you f**king traitors. F**king disgusting.

According to the Patriot Fronts self-described manifesto, its mission is a hard reset on the United States, and a return to the traditions and virtues of our forefathers.

The manifesto warns that Our national way of life faces complete annihilation as our culture and heritage are attacked from all sides, and suggests that Americans are on the threshold of becoming a conquered people.

The manifesto also includes a quote about race from 30th President Calvin Coolidge and suggests that the United States government no longer serves the interests of the descendants of its creators.

National File is committed to ensuring your voice can and will be heard. To keep your speech free, we are switching our commenting platform to Insticator. Dont worry! All you have to do is create a commenting account with Insticator. We will be transferring previous comments to our new site, and then you will be able to link your past comments to your new Insticator account. If you have any feedback or questions about your Insticator commenting account, please email them at: [emailprotected]

Read more from the original source:

DC Antifa Member Blames Capitalism After They're Unable To ...

WACO, Texas In December at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, former President Trump speaks. Outside the arena is a small group of supporters.

Some we spoke with say they believe in conspiracy theories, some believe the election was stolen and others don't trust the government.

What is QAnon?

QAnon believes that America is run by a group of pedophiles and Satan-worshippers who run a global child sex-trafficking operation. They believe former President Trump is the only person who can stop them.

The QAnon movement dates to October 2017 and supposedly comes from a 'high-ranking government official' who posted cryptic clues on 4chan and the even more unfettered site 8chan under the name "Q."

One in five Americans said they believe in the theories according to a recent poll from the Public Religion Research Institute.

"I am a proud Q patriot," said Mickey Larson Olson.

Nick Bradshaw

Olson who retired from the Air force is dressed from head to toe in red, white, and blue. She's outside a event in Dallas where Donald Trump spoke.

She believes that President Joe Biden is really not in office. Instead it's Actors James Woods and Arthur Roberts.

"I'm fighting for what God wanted for people all across the world," said Larson.

While at the event a group dressed in all black came up during our interview with Larson. A argument broke out about the COVID-19 vaccine.

"Where is Q? Where is JFK junior," one man dressed in black started demanding.

On the date that John F. Kennedy was shot and killed in Dallas. Thousands stood waiting for the presidents son to appear. John F. Kennedy Jr. died over 22 years ago. The thought was he would appear and that he would become Vice President to former President Trump.

Families arguing over Q beliefs

"My family doesn't want to see the truth, I post stuff and send them stuff and they don't want to look at it, that's on them," said Larson.

On Reddit, there is a group called QAnon Casualties.

People who are struggling with loved ones that have Q beliefs post.

AP

Story after story of families fighting because of different belief systems.

"Families not speaking to each other and not inviting them over for the holidays," said Dr. Jennifer R. Mercieca, Texas A&M professor,Department of Communication.

Dr. Mercieca studies communication when it comes to politics.

"What we have seen over the five, ten years even, with social media, we all have the ability to set the agenda," said Dr. Mercieca.

She says what's difficult about those who believe in conspiracy theories, it's not always easy to reason with them.

"Conspiracy theory is incredibility dangerous because it's a self sealing narrative and logic can not penetrate it," said Dr. Mercieca.

Once the theory is out there it's not easy to change peoples minds.

"Once it takes hold in a community it's hard to make it go away," said Dr. Mercieca.

Politicians and Q Beliefs

AP

Over 40 candidates who publicly supported QAnon beliefs are running for national office in 2022, according to a tally by the liberal advocacy group Media Matters.

Five are from Texas.

Twelve are from Florida, nine are from California,three are from New York, New Jersey, and Arizona, two each are from Nevada, Illinois, and Ohio, and there is one each from Maryland, Rhode Island, Oregon, Tennessee, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Vermont, Alaska, Georgia, and Colorado.

The politicians have been knows to use the Q hashtags, post beliefs, and Jake Armstrong has pictures of himself at the Capitol on Jan. 6.

Americans justify violence for political beliefs

A Washington Post poll was published with alarming numbers when it comes to Americans believing violence is justified when it comes to politics.

23% of Democrats believe it's justified Compared to 41% of Republicans. For those who claim to be Independent, the number is 40%.

"Yes, we should be able to fight, that's what Americans do, it's time for us to remember that," said Larson.

AP

QAnon is not the only movement and Law Enforcement Divided

FBI calls QAnon a domestic terrorist threat. ANTIFA hasn't received the title.

In 2020, FBI Director Christopher Wray argued that Antifa is more of an ideology than an organization.

Sarah Silbiger/AP

National Police Association says " ANTIFA is Terrorizing Our Nation."

AP

"So at what point does our federal government step up and declare that organizations like ANTIFA must be shut down?" said Sgt. Nancy M. Dowdy (ret.) "Some American cities are overrun with these antifacist groups, and many of these fractured communities are essentially declaring themselves independent of the federal government."

John Minchillo/AP

When protest took place in over 140 cities after the death of George Floyd, Then president Donald Trump wanted to label Antifa as a terrorist group. On May 31, 2020, he tweeted,The United States of America will be designating ANTIFA as a Terrorist Organization.

According to Center for Strategic & International Studies Antifaor anti-fascistsgo back to the period after World War I, when German and Italian leftists worked together to fight fascist gangs in Europe.

"Many Antifa sympathizers do not support violence as the onlyor even the maininstrument to oppose fascism, they do view violence as a legitimate option," According to CSIS

Group take issues into their own hands

Susan Walsh/AP

A group called 'Oath Keepers' an American far-right anti-government militia started 2009 byStewart Rhodes, 56, of Granbury, Texas.

AP

Rhodes was an Army veteran. He was in a parachuting accident and had to leave the Army. He spent time as a firearms instructor, attended Yale Law School and worked as a legal clerk for an Arizona Supreme Court justice he became a trial lawyer but was later disbarred in 2015.

Jaske Beliberg/AP

The United States Department of Justice says Rhodes along with 10 others were Indicted in Federal Court for Seditious Conspiracy and Other Offenses Related to U.S. Capitol Breach.

The United States Department of Justice

In September, an anonymous hacker released records purportedly taken from the Oath Keepers' web servers. The records show that current officers from New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago on the Oath Keepers membership roster.

AP

What to do if a love one believes in conspiracy theories or if politics damage relationships.

Karen Douglas, PhD, is a professor of social psychology at the University of Kent in the United Kingdom said in a podcast with American Psychological Association says giving people the facts is the best.

"In some of our own research, we've actually found that it's quite effective to provide people with factual information, provide people with the facts," said Douglas.

"And this was particularly about vaccines before they're exposed to conspiracy theories, and then the conspiracy theory fails to gain traction."

Read the original post:

In-Depth: Why can't we all just get along? Conspiracy theories, politics, and COVID-19 misinformation dividing families - KXXV News Channel 25