Columbia News

Senator Eric Schmitt, a member of the United States Senate representing Missouri, made a series of posts on October 9, 2025, addressing violence attributed to Antifa in the United States and abroad.

In his first post, Schmitt stated: "We're watching it again on our streets today: In cities like Portland, Chicago and others, Antifa radicals have launched a violent offensive against ICE agents, facilities, and the law enforcement officers protecting them—seeking to sabotage our immigration laws with violence." (October 9, 2025)

He followed up by referencing past incidents: "We've seen the sheer amount of violence Antifa is capable of inflicting here in the U.S. The George Floyd riots in 2020, driven in no small part by Antifa, cost between $1-$2 billion in damage—the costliest 'civil disorder' event in U.S. history. At least 25 people were killed." (October 9, 2025)

Schmitt also cited European perspectives on left-wing extremism: "European law enforcement agencies have reached the same conclusion. Europol’s 2023 terrorism report notes that left-wing extremists 'see themselves as part of an international movement', coordinating through shared safe houses, operations bases, and cross-border networks." (October 9, 2025)

Antifa is a loosely organized anti-fascist movement that has been involved in various protests across the United States. Its members are known for direct action tactics and have clashed with law enforcement during demonstrations. The George Floyd protests in 2020 resulted in widespread unrest and significant property damage; however, experts note that responsibility for violence during these events was attributed to a range of groups and individuals.

Europol’s annual terrorism situation reports provide assessments on trends related to extremist activity across Europe. In its 2023 report, Europol highlighted concerns about transnational cooperation among left-wing extremist groups.