Unmasking Antifa Act introduced in Congress, carries potential 15 year prison sentence

‘Unmasking Antifa Act' includes 15-year prison term proposal

The “Unmasking Antifa Act of 2018,” legislation introduced in the House, carries a potential 15-year prison sentence for those caught engaging in behaviors typically associated with the “antifa” movement of anti-fascist activists.

Under the act, anyone “wearing a mask” or in disguise who “injures, oppresses, threatens, or intimidates any person … in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege” would be subject to a fine or up to 15 years in prison.


The bill was introduced in the House last month but received renewed attention on Tuesday after alt-right personality Mike Cernovich encouraged his followers to call their representatives and "let them know what you think" about the legislation.

Antifa activists, who often wear masks, have gained nationwide attention for engaging in violent clashes. Many activists in the movement have also disrupted actions planned by white supremacist groups.

The bill was introduced by Republican Rep. Dan Donovan (N.Y.) and is co-sponsored by GOP Reps. Pete King (N.Y.), Paul Gosar (Ariz.) and Ted Budd (N.C.).

The bill is currently in the House Judiciary Committee.

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/396404-unmasking-antifa-act-includes-15-year-prison-term-proposal

I don't really have a problem with this but I'd rather it be done at the state level.

If you are wearing a mask and are attacking people protesting I don't care what side of politics you are on you need to go to jail and get an extra helping of a prison sentence to go with it.

Antifa wears masks so they can break the law and not get caught.

But like I said I'd rather this be handled at the state level. I also don't see this bill passing. Democrats will filibuster it.

Sorry is this a joke? Because if it isn't it's more ludicrous than McCarthyism.

Where is the "Anti-Nazi Act"?

Oh yeah, they're very fine people that most of the fake conservatives here agree are "very fine people". .

This is no different than several state laws that were passed to fight the KKK. It just shouldn't be done at the federal level. It's a state issue to be dealt with at the state level.

You should have a problem with it because the very fact it has "Antifa" in it's title says political agenda all the way.

Where is the same for the Nazis and alt0right cunts who murdered a person in Charlottsville?

Oh yeah, you think they're "very fine people".

You denied you were a fake conservative, but here's where you prove it. No conservative in the modern day should be supporting shit like this while turning a blind eye to an administration that apologises for Nazis who want to, among other things, kill people like me.

The name of the law is terrible but this law would also apply to any Nazi wearing a mask as well.

I don't think they are very fine people you stupid piece of shit.

I don't support Nazi's. If it were legal I'd be all for rounding them up and shooting them. I've said this before. However they are still Americans, as much as it pains me to say, and they have the right to protest. I'm all for arresting any of them if they are wearing masks as well.

This law has come about because there are people running around protests with their faces covered up and they are attacking people and property. Anyone wearing a mask doing such a thing, and it doesn't matter what their politics, should be jailed.

As I said above though this law will not be passed. It won't get past a Democrat filibuster. It also should be a state issue. Yes, it is political. Right now when you see people running around at protests in masks it's almost a given that they are Antifa.

And the asshole who killed a person in Charlottesville wasn't wearing a mask. This law wouldn't apply to him.

This administration is not apologizing for Nazis. You've gone full retard. Typical of a leftist cunt.

No, it wouldn't you obtuse buffoon. Look up the meaning of "Antifa". Antifa are people opposed to Nazism and fascism. They are left wingers and socialists who, unjustifiably in my view, choose violent protest as their method of action. But the point is they are firmly on the left and this is designed to target the left while giving a pass to Trump's alt-right and Nazi buddies.

This is just another example of the creeping dictatorship and destruction of democracy that you Trump apologists are oblivious to.

If there is to be an Act against Antifa there should be an Act against a Nazi who says he wants rid of Jews and then murders a peaceful protester for challenging that view.

People like you fucking disgust me. Your president and his administration has gone way beyond reasonable human decency and democracy and still you're making excuses.

Fucking pathetic.

No matter how many times you call me a leftist I'm not one.

I just not an alt right Nazi and Trump apologist like you.

I believe in basic human decency, basic human rights and basic civility. You've thrown all this of the window and started suckling the orange clown, and yet still you pretend to be a mainstream conservative. Disgraceful.

Where is the Anti-Nazi Act Zombie? WHERE IS IT?

The title is stupid but the wording of the law makes no distinction between Antifa wearing a mask and some Klan-Nazi clown wearing a mask.

Both would be arrested.

We already see this at the state level.

Georgia passed the Anti-Mask law to fight the KKK. They recently used the law to arrest some Antifa protesters.

This should be handled at the state level.

*yawn*

There already is an act.

It's called the law against Murder.

Guys still in jail and will go to prison for a long time.

*yawn*

The name of the act points to the motive behind it, which is specifically to intimidate ONE political group.

If I create an act that makes it illegal to walk around in public with your jeans lower than your boxers, and call it the "Anti Hip-Hop Nigger Act", you can point out that it also applies to white guys all you like, I'd still be a fucking racist.

The problem with this being at the state or local level is that in places like Berkeley or Cali in general, antifa has a lot of official support.

I'm not Alt-Right nor a NAZI. Neither is Trump. But please feel free to keep saying it. Get all your leftist American friends to do it as well. Piss off enough Americans to help guarantee Trump in 2020. We thank you in advance for your over the top hyperbole and foaming at the mouth insanity.

So?

I'd rather not let the Feds be involved in this issue even if it means states like California are soft on people wearing masks.

It absolutely is political. Perhaps they are just doing it for the midterms because they know there is no way it will pass. Democrats will of course filibuster this bill.

This is not how we should do things in America. Inciting violence and/or committing violence are already illegal acts. Targeting one group like this smacks of tyranny.

were it just wearing masks this law would be stupid. But this law isnt just about wearing masks, and it doesnt just target antifa, it just calls them out because they are the ones doing it right now.

Was it tyranny for states to pass laws like this to target the KKK?

In my opinion no. At that point in the this country's history, it was the KKK wearing masks to intimidate and attack people. Now, for the most part, it's people on the left like Antifa who are wearing the masks to intimidate and attack people.

The only difference between this law and many state laws is that the GOP in Congress intentionally put a stupid name for the title of the law. I'm pretty sure they only did it for the mid-term elections because they've got to know that the Democrats won't let it get past the Senate.

People who wear masks at protests, regardless of their politics, usually are wearing the masks so they can make trouble and get away with it. I have no problem with arresting anyone, no matter their political beliefs, whose wearing a mask to cover their face.

I know that.

But still, I'd rather the Feds stay out of it. This is a state-level issue. Let the states deal with it.

At least someone gets it.

I disagree that its a state level issue. Were antifa and its plans confined to a single state, sure, let that state take care of it.
But its (1) a domestic terrorist organization, and (2) a nation wide entity, puting the org square into federal territory.

God, you're an insufferably stupid man.

You already have all the laws you need stopping acts of aggression on the street and all other acts of violence an Antifa type might commit. This is a law specifically designed to target people on idealogical grounds. The laws already exist to stop the violence. This is just an excuse to target people based on political persuasion. As @Lanzman says, that is an abuse. It's tyranny. Where is your argument for an Anti-Nazi law? Where is your argument that such laws against ideology are unconstitutional by virtue of the First Amendment?

They can do whatever they like and you servile fools are just going to keep apologising for it and patting themselves on the back for it, aren't you? You genuinely can't see the slippery slope can you?

Anyone who wears a mask at a protest needs to take the mask off or be arrested. Anyone. Doesn't matter what side of the political spectrum they are on.

No.

Wearing a mask is speech. Should congress make a law abridging the freedom of speech? Or perhaps a law abridging the right of the people to peaceably assemble?

Don't like that it's aimed at one group in particular, but as a general principle I'm good with it.

If you commit a crime while wearing a mask, I'm not against dropping some extra time on you.

I don't disagree, but wearing a mask while committing any unlawful violent act is not and should not be protected speech.

This doesn't just target those who are attacking, threatening, and harassing people. We already have sufficient laws to deal with those wrongful acts.

By the wording of the bill, a masked person could be liable for merely intimidating someone. 15 years for intimidating someone while wearing a mask--does that sound reasonable? How is intimidation defined, and how is it different than threatening or harassing? What is it about intimidation that makes it punishable by 15 years? Simply wearing a mask?

That is patently absurd. What is your reasoning for dictating what people can and cannot wear to a protest? What constitutional support do you have for that? If someone has allergies and wears a mask, and just happens to pass by a protest, you'd have them arrested?

Yeah, but you’re fine with kids being locked in cages.