A White House petition requesting that President Trump’s administration label Antifa as a terrorist organization reached more than 180,000 signatures, surpassing the 100,000 needed for a response from the White House.
The petition created on August 17 calls for President Trump to formally designate the radical, left-wing movement as a terrorist organization following the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, earlier in August.
“Antifa has earned this title due to its violent actions in multiple cities and their influence in the killings of multiple police officers throughout the United States,” the petition reads.
The radical left-wing group has a history of provoking right-wing activists in Berkeley, California, in March and Charlottesville, Virginia, this month.
Trump has not singled out Antifa by name, but he did condemn white supremacists and violent “alt-left” protesters.
“What about the alt-left that came charging at, as you say, at the alt-right? Do they have any semblance of guilt?” Trump asked reporters at Trump Tower on Tuesday. “What about the fact that they came charging with clubs in their hands, swinging clubs? Do they have any problem? I think they do. That was a horrible, horrible day.”
The Obama administration established the “We the People” petition website in 2011 to provide an opportunity for the public to make their voices heard in the White House. If any petitions reach 100,000 signatures or more within 30 days, the White House is obligated to issue an official response to those petitions.
Other petitions that have circulated through the White House petition site, such as several petitions demanding that Trump release his tax returns, have not yet received a response from the administration.
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