ANDY NGO REPORTS: Texas targets Houston Antifa cell in terror probe

The Screwston Anti-Fascist Committee, which calls itself an organization, maintains a large online presence where it spreads radical propaganda, targets private citizens and law enforcement officers, and sells merchandise to bankroll its activities.

“Radical leftists have engaged in coordinated efforts to militantly attack our nation and undermine the rule of law,” Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, said in a statement earlier this month. “Screwston and related groups have illegally doxed Texans and encouraged violent terrorism against fellow citizens.”

He added, “These deranged traitors will face the full force of law. No stone will be left unturned, and no tool will be left unused.”

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is running to be a U.S. Senator for the state of Texas

The group uses a variation of the Antifa “iron front” logo as its branding. The three diagonal arrows — a symbol of organized militant Antifa groups — were originally associated with Germany’s Social Democrats during the Weimar Republic but have since been appropriated by Antifa’s contemporary manifestation.

Paxton’s press release alleges members of the Screwston Antifa cell were involved in the July 2025 Prairieland ICE facility ambush, in which a local police officer was shot in the neck in what authorities have described as a terrorist attack. 18 suspects who are part of the North Texas Antifa network have been federally and/or locally charged.

On Feb. 18, Screwston Antifa released a statement responding to Paxton’s announcement, claiming it has a constitutional right to organize — despite openly and violently rejecting the legitimacy of the U.S. legal framework and the nation-state itself.

“Our organization is being targeted by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton … This investigation by Paxton is a blatant act of intimidation against progressive and leftist organizations by the far right,” the group wrote. “The Screwston Anti-Fascist Committee maintains our right to protest and organize.

Screwston Antifa’s logo

The statement ended with a link expressing solidarity with the Prairieland terror suspects. Seven co-defendants have already pleaded guilty in federal court to providing material support to terrorism in what is the first federal Antifa terrorism case in history. The seven admitted to organizing behind an Antifa ideology. Nine additional co-defendants have started a federal trial this week in Fort Worth on terrorism, attempted murder and related charges. A mistrial was declared last week on the first day after a defense attorney engaged in misconduct during jury selection.

Left-wing media figures have long insisted Antifa is merely a non-organized “idea.” Yet Screwston Antifa repeatedly refers to itself as an “organization,” raises funds, sets membership criteria and coordinates activities — all hallmarks of structured militant operations.

Screwston Antifa previously posted a claim of responsibility for vandalizing a billboard shortly after the Oct. 7, 2023 terror attacks in Israel

Screwston Antifa had previously been open about financially backing extremist militant “startups.”

During the violent 2020 BLM-Antifa riots, the group launched what it called a “Houston Militant Funding Initiative.”

“We have made a lot of money selling shirts,” the group announced. “Much of these funds are fed back into printing costs and our own group fund. We do, however, want to pass on some of our excess funds to other militant pro-revolutionary groups in the Houston area.”

The application rules required groups to operate on the ground, refuse any cooperation with law enforcement and work toward revolution “by any means necessary,” including the abolition of the U.S. nation-state and the “capitalist mode of production.”

That was not an isolated incident. After the Prairieland terror attack, Screwston Antifa mobilized almost immediately to raise funds for the suspects, according to its online postings.

The group appears to generate revenue primarily by selling propaganda merchandise featuring violent imagery, including police vehicles engulfed in flames and graphics glorifying attacks on Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It also sells trans-themed merchandise bearing its logo.

Screwston Antifa tabling at the San Antonio Anarchist Bookfair with extremist anti-government literature

Screwston’s online store uses WooCommerce as its payment gateway for PayPal, Venmo and Google Pay. WooCommerce, Venmo and Google have been contacted for comment.

In its “Points of Unity” section, which outlines its beliefs, Screwston Antifa explicitly rejects democracy in favor of direct confrontation and violence.

“Our organization does not and will never endorse political candidates of any kind, nor will we promote the act of voting as a solution to our problems,” the group wrote. “Fascism cannot be defeated through voting, it must instead be fought directly in the streets. The election of political representitives [sic] is not aligned with our goals or mission.”