To the Editor:cnn.com/2017/08/14/us/what-is-antifa-trnd/index.html; www.cnn.com/2017/08/18/us/unmasking-antifa-anti-fascists-hard-left/index.html; washingtonpost.com/news/made-by-history/wp/2017/08/16/who-are-the-antifa/?utm_term=.fce014f8ec3d; theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/09/the-rise-of-the-violent-left/534192/; nbcnews.com/news/us-news/who-antifa-meet-radical-neo-nazi-fighting-militia-n793241; nytimes.com/2017/08/17/us/antifa-left-wing-faction-far-right.html; foxnews.com/world/2017/08/26/german-authorities-ban-extremist-antifa-website-over-connections-to-g20-violence.html; newyorker.com/books/page-turner/an-intimate-history-of-antifa

The violence in Charlottesville was between two radical elements in our society. On one side there was the extreme right wing; the KKK and National Socialists, who have very few followers and have little impact on our society these days, thank God. On the other side there was the extreme left wing who were called the counterprotestors by the media. Although the majority of people came to peacefully protest against racism and hatred, many of the so-called counter demonstrators were left wing thugs calling themselves "anti-fascists" even though they are fascist themselves. They also go under The Anarchist Movement. Most of the media did not even mention them but I suppose that is part of the fake media.*

This group hates America. They attack the police; wear masks to hide their identity, wear black and usually burn American flags. They had no right to interfere with the rally that was going on. If not for the violence that woman might still be alive. I take it, as Americans we all respect the Constitution and believe that all are entitled to express their views even if we are disgusted by those views. The Anarchist Movement has been involved in many extremely violent situations in the last year. They attacked people on campuses, when conservative speakers were scheduled to speak. They have been violent at Trump rallies and have attacked the police. Their objective is to intimidate and frighten anyone attending a political rally for Trump which is one of our constitutional rights of free assembly. I have never heard the media ask a Democratic politician if he or she condemns the violence committed by these thugs. They should be declared a terrorist organization.

Bryan McSweeney

4 East Street, Newtown         August 28, 2017

*Editor's Note: Most mainstream media have reported recently on antifa: