Antifa is ‘trading on the divisions and misery’ in American society

Sky News US political commentator Joe Hockey says vigilantism is “not new in the United States” but what is being observed now is “almost a pass given to vigilante groups” by authorities.

The Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone in Seattle Washington established by Black Lives Matter protesters seizing a six-block area in downtown Seattle including a police precinct, exemplifies the growing lawlessness amid race riots throughout the country.

Mr Hockey told Sky News host Paul Murray vigilantism comes about when “the people in authority aren’t supporting the police to enforce the law”.

A Seattle Councillor, Kshama Sawant, took to Twitter to declare “our movement needs to urgently ensure the east precinct is not handed back to police but is turned over permanently into community control”.

Responding to question posed to her by CNN anchor Chris Cuomo about how long the autonomous zone could last, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan said “this could be the summer of love”.

“What is new is when there is a sign off from authorities to say it’s ok for us lose control of part of our city,” Mr Hockey said.

Antifa has been identified as one group which is at the forefront of these riots and the autonomous zone in Seattle, which Mr Hockey described as a movement “that’s trying to trade on the misery” around the killing of unarmed African-American man George Floyd at the hands of police.

“They’re trading on divisions in American society”.

Image: GETTY

Видео Antifa is ‘trading on the divisions and misery’ in American society канала Sky News Australia