Several far-left groups — from socialists to anarchists — are uniting right in the heart of Utah, one of the nation’s most conservative states.
President Donald Trump designated Antifa a “major terrorist organization” Wednesday following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. There are a litany of other leftist, anarchist groups throughout the country — some of which are armed.
Less than an hour away in Salt Lake City, Utah, various radical left-wing groups have established a presence, including the Armed Queers Salt Lake City (SLC).
The organization, which apparently took down its Instagram account following Kirk’s assassination, was investigated for possible connections to his murder, a law enforcement source confirmed to the New York Post.
A student organizer with the group, Ermiya Fanaeian, told The Daily Utah Chronicle in 2024 that threatening power requires “disruption.”
“We have seen many great examples of peaceful protest, throughout history,” she said. “And it’s not to discredit any of that. But I think in order for us to pose a threat to power … there needs to be some form of disruption.”
Another far-left organization in Salt Lake City that encourages the use of firearms is the Utah chapter of the Socialist Rifle Association (SRA).
The national group boasts 10,000 members, and its members have ties to at least four crimes — including the alleged firebombing of Tesla dealerships, according to a report from the Daily Wire.
The Utah SRA spent the summer raising money for “Artruro Gamboa, an anti-racist accused of murder,” according to a social media post.
Police alleged that Gamboa refused to drop a rifle at the request of an armed safety volunteer at a Salt Lake City “No Kings” rally, according to The Guardian.
Gamboa allegedly ran into a crowd of demonstrators before the safety volunteer fired his weapon and accidentally killed a protester, according to the outlet, citing police. Officers arrested Gamboa after he allegedly fled the scene, and he was accused of creating the situation that resulted in the death an attendee, the report stated.
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Although the national SRA claims it has no affiliation with its subreddit, the forum serves as a place where members can discuss political issues with members across the country. SRA also contends that it is not a militia.
Following Kirk’s assassination, one reddit discussion responded to Cox’s call to “disagree better” by claiming they are “at war.”
Comments from members of the subreddit shared now-debunked claims that the alleged shooter was right-wing.
One commenter stated, “we literally can’t coexist with fascists,” while another shared articles from left-wing news outlets claiming “toxic rhetoric” and “anger” was spiking among the right.
“Train as often as possible. Because make no mistake, right-wing violence will be skyrocketing over the next few months and years,” the user said.
The Salt Lake chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (SLDSA) is another prominent local left-wing group.
The chapter’s bylaws state that its purpose is to “facilitate the transition to a truly democratic and socialist society.”
Its bylaws also condemn “violence that defends the status quo” and violence “against another member.” However, it appears to not display a stance on condemning violence toward nonmembers or as a form of resistance against “an economic order based on private profit, alienated labor, gross inequalities of wealth and power, racial and sexual discrimination.”
“When we fight, you say we win,” SLDSA co-chair Matty Jackson chanted with a crowd at a Labor Day protest.
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“We must to ask ourselves constantly, what would it take for us to fight back? What will make the whole [working class] fight back? What will convince someone to put something real at risk?” Jackson said.
“[Employers] are part of a whole capitalist class that fights us in the courts, in the state, in the government, who own the homes we live in,” he added.
The Daily Caller asked the chapter if it condemned political violence, but has not heard back as of publication.
Republican Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said the suspect in custody for the assassination of Kirk held strong left-leaning beliefs. The alleged gunman carved “Hey, fascist! Catch!” onto one of the bullet casings.
On Sunday, SLDSA announced the postponement of its Socialist Night School session on the “prison industrial complex” due to “recent events” and “public safety.”
A Sept. 1 blog post shared on the SLDSA site posed the question: “How, without taking up arms, can I truly call myself a revolutionary?”
“The question sits at the back of my mind, and no doubt, most likely yours,” the author wrote. The post ultimately concluded that the most revolutionary act is creating art, and it urged readers to be “relentless in your rebellion.”
Another group, the Palestinian Solidarity Forum of Utah, started the “Anti-Zionism Challenge” in July, where the forum aims to dismantle “Zionism” and “Nazi ideology”.” It advocates for “every restaurant, shop, bar and business should ban Zionism.”
“Apathy is no longer an excuse,” the social media post continued.
“Nazis aren’t allowed to unmask and exist in public. They aren’t welcome and need to be shamed out of existence,” the post added.
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There are a variety of smaller left-wing groups in Utah.
Utah’s Pagans for Change and Witches for Change, for example, have protested Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee with signs calling him a “fascist liar” and a “little b*tch.”
Websites like “A Radical Guide” function as a map for left-wing groups around the world. The project asserts that its vision is for “interconnected communities” working together for “liberation, dismantling systems of oppression and creating lasting social transformation.”
One Salt Lake City group listed on the platform is the Salt Lake City Free Skool, which holds free classes on various subjects and describes itself as “a small community of mostly radical minded folx.”
Another organization listed on the website is Boing! Anarchist Collective.
The collective invites those who are “inspired by people who have acted outside of the legal system to achieve liberation” and “hesitant to resign yourself to a pacified and glorified form of dissidence” to join their program.
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