Antifa activist featured on local news advocating for violence

Nashville's News 5 gave Lemley a platform for his violent views, showing him in a positive light for his allegience to "stoking the fight to change the system."

The anchors state that they decided to do a segment on Antifa to explain what the group that the Trump administration recently designated as terrorist was all about. They interviewed a local activist, allowing him to express his views.

News Channel 5 reached out to an Antifa member named Corey Lemley in an effort to find out about Antifa participation in and outlook is on the recent protests and riots that have seen cities destroyed amid the unjust death of George Floyd. The 29-year-old Lemley does not cover his face the way many others do.

Lemley was asked if he supported the violence that has spread across the country. "I support self-defense. Self-defense, it comes in many shapes and forms," he said.

Lemley's Facebook page has a call for people to join the anti-racist movement called Antifa, which "takes a militant approach to protesting."

A photo is displayed showing that Lemley was setting fire to an American flag the night the Nashville courthouse was set ablaze.

When Lemley was asked if he thought it was okay to set the courthouse on fire, he again danced around the question by saying that his personal views do not matter when it comes to individuals expressing their anger in a way they see fit.

He qualified his statement by saying that if "we box ourselves in to talking about the courthouse, are we ever going to talk about the bigger issue?"

The "bigger" issue that Lemley is referring to is what he calls "systemic racism," which has been a major talking point by far-left groups such as Antifa and Black Lives Matter.

Lemley was arrested last year for disorderly conduct at Montgomery Bell State Park, protesting a white nationalist conference there. He was also in Charlottesville with a "large Antifa network" more white nationalists.

He goes on to say that Antifa has no meetings or organization, which has been proven incorrect by Andy Ngo, who is suing Rose City Antifa—an organized "anti-fascist" group in Portland, Oregon.

James O'Keefe and Project Veritas has also exposed the organization of certain Antifa groups, who overtly advocate for violence and destruction.