Bacon Re-Introduces Bill to Study Antifa Involvement in National Riots

Washington – Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE-02) along with Reps. Brian Babin (TX-36), Maria Salazar (FL-27), and Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today introduced H.R. 649 to establish the National Commission on Domestic Terrorist Attacks on the United States; to investigate the involvement of Antifa in nation-wide riots, including those in 2020 and most recently this month in Atlanta. Bacon first introduced the bill in June of last year. The independent bipartisan commission is structured like the 9/11 commission and mirrors the proposed Jan. 6 Commission formed in H.R. 3233 of the 117^th Congress, which was passed by the House on May 19, 2021, with a vote of 252-175.

 “While the majority of participants in demonstrations across the country are peaceful, some events themselves became destructive due to organized pushes for violence by Antifa,” said Bacon. “Many cities were burned, and businesses destroyed. Retired police officer David Dorn was shot and killed while protecting a business. People were harassed while simply eating at outside restaurants, and Americans across the nation feared for their lives. Most recently, Atlanta was the scene of violence as businesses were targeted and law enforcement vehicles were attacked. Just as with the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, we must learn the truth about who is behind the violence and who is pushing the narrative to try and weaken our country and scare people into submission.”

“It’s past time we investigate the violence and destruction Antifa has inflicted on our cities,” said Babin. “These extremists must be held accountable for their crimes.”

 “In America, we resolve our differences through dialogue, peaceful protests or at the ballot box,” said Salazar. “We need to help authorities address direct threats that violent extremist groups, like Antifa, pose to our democracy.”

“In 2020, multiple riots across the county, including in cities such as Rochester, NY, turned violent because of Antifa elements,” said Tenney. “We must better understand what happened during these riots – who organized them, who funded them, and who led them? Every American has the right to assemble peacefully, and the National Commission on Domestic Terrorist Attacks in the United States will ensure this right is strengthened and protected by investigating these violent attacks by Antifa. The right of every American to peacefully protest must be protected.” 

The Co-sponsors joined together to issue a call to their House colleagues:

 “Americans are guaranteed the right to protest and should feel safe knowing that they will not be caught up in terroristic actions by others. They deserve to know the truth about the underlying causes of the violent domestic terrorist sieges in our cities. They also deserve to feel safe no matter where they live, what time of day it is, or what situation it is.”

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