I am glad you do not support Antifa violence. Do politicians have a responsibility to condemn Antifa?
For example, should Governor Inslee of Washington specifically condemn Antifa and not simply state platitudes about violence is bad after an Antifa gunman attacked an ICE facility in Tacoma?
Here is Inslee’s statement:
"Along with many Americans, I object with every fiber of my being to Donald Trump’s inhumane treatment of immigrants in America. But if today’s attack was motivated by opposition to the federal government’s actions, it was totally unacceptable. Violence is not acceptable.
"Our democracy is strong and we are a resilient people. But it is, again, unacceptable to turn to violence. Hate crimes are on the rise, as is divisive and incendiary rhetoric.
"We must be better than that and find non-violent ways of pursuing the better world we want, as many groups are doing.
Note that several Antifa-related organizations (including the Puget Sound John Brown Gun Club and Puget Sound Anarchists) specifically praised the actions of the attacker. The attacker appeared in video from a favorable CNN story about the Gun Club, where he was a member. Yet I have seen nothing about Inslee or CNN condemning these organizations.
Does that need to change? Does silence equate with tacit support?
