Antifa riots is the shorthand often used for a string of violent confrontations involving self-identified anti-fascist activists in the United States since 2016, ranging from street brawls in Sacramento and Berkeley to an armed assault on a Texas immigration detention center in 2025. In September 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order designating “Antifa” as a domestic terrorist organization, and the Justice Department has since won lengthy prison sentences in the first prosecution brought under that framework. Civil liberties groups say the designation itself has no legal basis, but its downstream effect on federal investigations, banking, and platform access is already substantial.
What Antifa Is and Isn’t
Antifa is not a group in the way the word usually implies. There is no membership roll, no headquarters, and no national leadership. FBI Director Christopher Wray told Congress in September 2020 that the bureau views antifa as “more of an ideology than an organization,” though people who identify with it sometimes “coalesce regionally into small groups or nodes.”1NBC News. FBI’s Wray Says Antifa Is More an Ideology Than an Organization The Center for Strategic and International Studies describes it as a “decentralized network of far-left militants” that follows a model of “leaderless resistance.”2CSIS. Who Are Antifa and Are They a Threat A Congressional Research Service report characterizes the U.S. movement as “independent groups and individuals” that lack “a unifying organizational structure or detailed ideology.”3Congressional Research Service. Are Antifa Members Domestic Terrorists
That structural reality matters for the legal fight now underway. The signature tactic is the “black bloc”: participants dress in all-black with faces covered, coordinate through encrypted messaging apps like Signal, and act in small autonomous cells. Named local groups do exist, most prominently Rose City Antifa in Portland, part of the Torch Network. But a designation aimed at “the organization” runs into the problem that no such organization, in the ordinary sense, exists to designate.
The Major Violent Incidents Linked to Antifa
Sacramento, June 2016
Roughly 25 to 30 members of the Traditionalist Worker Party and the Golden State Skinheads tried to rally at the California State Capitol on June 26, 2016. They were met by more than 150 counter-protesters, and a brawl broke out involving knives, wooden clubs, rocks, and chunks of concrete. At least 10 people were wounded, many by stabbing, with two critically injured.4BBC News. Ten Wounded in Sacramento Neo-Nazi Rally Stabbing Three counter-protesters, dubbed the “Sacramento 3,” were initially charged with felony assault but pleaded no contest to misdemeanor unlawful assembly, receiving 90 hours of community service and three years of informal probation.5Sacramento Bee. Sacramento Capitol Rally Stabbing Legal Outcomes
Berkeley, August 2017
On August 27, 2017, scores of masked, black-clad demonstrators overran police barricades at an “anti-hate” rally in Berkeley, California. They pepper-sprayed and chased Patriot Prayer founder Joey Gibson and attacked at least four other people. Six people were injured, two of them hospitalized, and a police officer was hurt during an arrest.6PBS NewsHour. Black-Clad Anarchists Swarm Anti-Hate Rally in California Police made 13 arrests on charges including assault with a deadly weapon and violating a ban on face coverings.7NPR. Scattered Violence Erupts at Large Left-Wing Berkeley Rally Berkeley Police Chief Andrew Greenwood drew criticism for pulling officers out of the park, saying the “potential use of force became very problematic.”
Tacoma ICE Facility, July 2019
Willem van Spronsen, a 69-year-old Dutch immigrant who described himself as an antifa supporter, launched a solo armed attack on the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington, around 4 a.m. on July 13, 2019. He arrived with a semiautomatic rifle, set his car on fire, threw Molotov cocktails, and placed a flare under a 500-gallon propane tank. ICE officials said an ignition of the tank could have caused mass casualties. Police shot and killed him after he refused commands to drop his weapon.8The News Tribune. Willem Van Spronsen Tacoma Detention Center Attack Van Spronsen left a manifesto referencing his childhood in post-war Holland: “I promised myself that I would not be one of those who stands by as neighbors are torn from their homes and imprisoned for somehow being perceived as lesser.”9NPR. One Activist’s Violent Death Became a Symbol for the Right and Left
The 2020 Protests and the Portland Federal Courthouse
The scale of the 2020 protests dwarfed anything before or since, but the “antifa” label attached to that unrest is contested. The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project recorded over 10,600 demonstration events between late May and August 2020. Nearly 95% were peaceful; around 570 involved some form of violence.10ACLED. Demonstrations and Political Violence in America By late September 2020, the Justice Department said more than 300 individuals in 29 states and Washington, D.C., faced federal charges tied to the demonstrations, including arson, assault on law enforcement, civil disorder, and inciting a riot.11Department of Justice. Over 300 People Facing Federal Charges for Crimes Committed During Nationwide Demonstrations A Reuters review of 53 of those charging documents found “mostly disorganized acts of violence by people who have few obvious connections to antifa or other left-wing groups,” and the word “antifa” did not appear in any of them.12U.S. Congress. House Judiciary Committee Hearing Document
Portland became the sustained flashpoint. The Mark O. Hatfield federal courthouse was first attacked on May 29, 2020, and nightly clashes ran for months. The Department of Homeland Security eventually deployed 755 officers to protect the building at a cost of more than $12 million. Federal officers reported 689 injuries between mid-June and July 30, primarily from lasers, fireworks, and projectiles, while protesters caused $1.6 million in damage.13OPB. DHS Report Says 750 Federal Officers Sent to 2020 Protests in Portland Oregon Governor Kate Brown called the federal deployment “a blatant abuse of power.”14New York Times. Portland Protests
The Danielson Killing, August 2020
On August 29, 2020, during a “Trump 2020 Cruise Rally” through downtown Portland, Michael Reinoehl, 48, shot and killed Aaron “Jay” Danielson, 39, a supporter of Patriot Prayer. Danielson died of a single gunshot wound to the chest.15Multnomah County District Attorney. Update on Homicide of Aaron Jay Danielson Reinoehl had described himself on social media as “100% ANTIFA” and later told VICE News he acted in self-defense. Five days later, a U.S. Marshals Service fugitive task force located him in Lacey, Washington. According to the Marshals Service, Reinoehl produced a firearm during the attempted arrest and four officers opened fire, killing him. Witnesses reported hearing 40 to 50 shots.16NPR. Protester Suspected in Portland Shooting Death Killed by Law Enforcement
Prairieland ICE Detention Center, July 2025
The most serious antifa-linked incident to date happened on July 4, 2025. At least 11 people prosecutors described as a “North Texas Antifa cell” launched an armed attack on the Prairieland ICE Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas. The group had acquired over 50 firearms in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, used encrypted messaging, and carried Faraday bags to defeat electronic tracking. Dressed in black bloc gear and body armor, they vandalized vehicles, launched fireworks and explosives at the building, and fired weapons.17Department of Justice. Antifa Cell Members Convicted of Prairieland ICE Detention Center Shooting
When Alvarado Police Lt. Thomas Gross responded to a 911 call, defendant Benjamin Song yelled “get to the rifles!” and opened fire with an AR-15-style rifle with a modified trigger. Gross was struck in the neck, shoulder, and back within seconds of arriving. He survived.18CBS News Texas. Prairieland ICE Facility Attack Evidence Released
The January 6 Antifa Claim
One story sits outside the record. Within hours of the January 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol, claims spread on social media and among some members of Congress that the rioters were actually antifa members disguised as Trump supporters. Federal investigations have not supported that. More than 1,200 people have been charged in connection with the attack, and none have been identified as antifa affiliates.19NBC News. Antifa January 6 Capitol Riot Conspiracy Theory Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf condemned “supporters of the president using violence” and made no mention of antifa.20WBAL-TV. There Is No Evidence That Antifa Was Part of the Storming of the Capitol Individuals whom online theorists labeled as antifa infiltrators, including William Lewis, Jonathan Munafo, and Paul Orta, turned out to be documented Trump supporters. Federal judges have blocked defense attorneys from raising antifa theories at trial; Judge Beryl Howell told counsel: “We are not going down rabbit holes in this case. Let’s stick to the facts in my courtroom, please.”
The 2025 Domestic Terrorist Designation
On September 22, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order designating “Antifa” as a “domestic terrorist organization,” describing it as a “militarist, anarchist enterprise” that aims to overthrow the U.S. government through “organized riots,” “armed standoffs,” and “violent assaults” on law enforcement. The order directs all executive departments to “investigate, disrupt, and dismantle” illegal operations by Antifa or anyone providing material support to it.21The White House. Designating Antifa as a Domestic Terrorist Organization
Three days later, Trump issued National Security Presidential Memorandum 7, “Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence.” NSPM-7 directs the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Forces to investigate and prosecute individuals and organizations linked to political violence, with a particular focus on anti-fascist ideology. It orders the Treasury Department to disrupt financial networks tied to such activity and tasks the IRS commissioner with ensuring no tax-exempt organizations are financing political violence.22The White House. Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence The memorandum cites the September 10, 2025, assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charles J. Kirk in Orem, Utah, and a shooting at a Dallas ICE field office as motivating events.23GovInfo. National Security Presidential Memorandum on Countering Domestic Terrorism
On November 13, 2025, the State Department extended the framework internationally, designating four European groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224:
- Antifa Ost (Germany)
- Informal Anarchist Federation/International Revolutionary Front (Italy)
- Armed Proletarian Justice (Greece)
- Revolutionary Class Self-Defense (Greece)
Those designations allow the government to block the groups’ U.S. assets, prosecute anyone who knowingly provides them material support, and expel their members from the country.24U.S. Department of State. Designations of Antifa Ost and Three Other Violent Antifa Groups The Lawfare Institute noted that the FTO designations create a foreign nexus that could allow the government to use Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act tools against domestic individuals alleged to be connected to the groups, bypassing traditional probable-cause requirements.25Lawfare. Foreign Terrorist Designations Pose Civil Liberties Concerns
What the Designation Actually Does, and What It Doesn’t
Civil liberties groups say the domestic designation carries no direct legal weight. The Brennan Center for Justice noted that the executive order cites no specific statute or constitutional provision as authority and argued that the “purported designation has no legal effect” because “the administration has no authority to designate groups as domestic terrorist organizations.”26Brennan Center for Justice. Trump’s Orders Targeting Antifascism Aim to Criminalize Opposition The ACLU has similarly called the designation “not a thing,” noting that no domestic terrorism labeling regime exists under U.S. law, and compared the administration’s strategy to the FBI’s COINTELPRO surveillance program of the mid-20th century.27ACLU. How NSPM-7 Seeks to Use Domestic Terrorism to Target Nonprofits and Activists
As of mid-2026, no court has ruled on the constitutionality of either the executive order or NSPM-7. Legal analysts expect challenges on grounds of ultra vires executive action, First Amendment protection for political association, and due process. In the meantime, the practical impact is being felt through what Lawfare called “jawboning”: the designation pressures banks, technology platforms, and employers to cut ties with people and groups associated with antifascist activism, even without formal enforcement.28Lawfare. You Can’t Designate Antifa, but Banks and Platforms Will Act Like You Did
Prosecutions Under the New Framework
Prairieland: 450 Years in Combined Sentences
The Prairieland case became the first prosecution to reach sentencing under the September 2025 designation. Most participants were arrested near the scene; Benjamin Song evaded capture until July 15, 2025. A federal jury convicted all nine defendants who went to trial in March 2026 on charges including rioting, providing material support to terrorists, conspiracy to use explosives, and, for Song, attempted murder. The defense presented no witnesses, arguing the event was meant to be a peaceful “noise demonstration” and that the prosecution was politically motivated. Judge Mark Pittman rejected Song’s claim that he fired into the ground as “suppressive fire.”29KERA News. Prairieland Shooter Gets 100 Years On June 23, 2026, the eight convicted defendants received a combined 450 years in prison. Song got 100 years, Maricela Rueda 70 years, and five others 50 years each. Daniel Sanchez-Estrada, convicted of lesser charges for concealing evidence, received 30 years.30Department of Justice. Leader of Antifa Cell Sentenced to 100 Years in Prison Seven additional defendants who pleaded guilty to one count of material support are awaiting sentencing.31BBC News. Antifa Cell Sentenced for ICE Detention Attack
Minnesota: 15 Indicted Over ICE Interference
On June 16, 2026, a federal grand jury indicted 15 members and associates of Direct Action Minnesota, a Minneapolis activist group the government describes as having antifa ties. The charges stem from efforts to obstruct “Operation Metro Surge,” a large-scale immigration enforcement operation DHS ran from December 2025 through February 2026.32PBS NewsHour. A Timeline of Trump’s Immigration Crackdown in Minnesota According to the indictment, members tracked ICE vehicles using a database they called “Whipple Watch,” organized vehicle and debris blockades at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in St. Paul, and followed and harassed federal officers. Specific alleged acts include one defendant brake-checking and side-swiping a federal vehicle, and another kicking a government vehicle and knocking notes from an agent’s hands.33Department of Justice. 15 Members of Direct Action Minnesota Indicted
All 15 face charges of conspiracy to impede or injure federal officers; some also face interstate stalking, solicitation to commit violence, and assault on a federal officer. The defendants do not face terrorism charges. The indictment does not allege that any officers were physically injured. Defense attorney Bruce Nestor called the charges “thought crimes” and “political retribution.” The U.S. Attorney’s office for Minnesota acknowledged it had previously dropped 18 of 36 earlier cases related to the same immigration crackdown.34The Guardian. Minnesota Immigration Enforcement Conspiracy Charges
Operation Metro Surge itself has been contested. Two U.S. citizens were shot and killed by federal agents during the operation: Renee Good, killed by an ICE agent on January 7, 2026, and Alex Pretti, a nurse at a VA hospital, killed by a Border Patrol officer on January 24, 2026. Minnesota officials have sued the federal government seeking the release of evidence related to the shootings.35CNN. Minnesota Lawsuit Over Shooting Deaths The Brennan Center and the ACLU have warned that NSPM-7 directs task forces to investigate not only violent actors but also the “officers and employees of grant-making organizations,” and to question arrested individuals about “financial sponsorship” of their activities before any adjudication. The executive order also instructs the Attorney General to recommend additional groups for designation.26Brennan Center for Justice. Trump’s Orders Targeting Antifascism Aim to Criminalize Opposition