Miami's police chief dismissed social media posts warning of antifa adherents congregating in Miami and preparing to cause unrest, local CBS network affiliate WFOR reported.
"There is quite a bit of anxiety about some misinformation put out and we have businesses boarding up because they are afraid about what can happen," Chief Jorge Colina told WFOR. "There are some text messages and posts that are circulating, one of which says that antifa has arrived in Miami for example and that they’re checking in to hotels and you should get supplies. This is fake."
Colina said other cities, likewise, have seen similar information.
"If you have received that, there is zero credibility to any message you may have received in that form," he said. "We checked with other cities and they have been receiving the same messages and what they do is take out the name Miami and put in other names like Chicago or Washington, D.C."
Antifa, decried by Republicans and President Donald Trump as a radical violent movement that espouses opposition to fascism and right-wing ideology, has been blamed for instigating and/or exacerbating riots in many cities this past summer – particularly Portland and Seattle.
Attorney General William Barr called antifa the "ramrod" for the violence.
Colina, however, said reports of its members arriving and girding for violence were unfounded.
"There is no need, based on the intelligence that we have, that it is necessary for someone to board up their homes or businesses," Colina said. "Sometimes decisions are made by corporate offices and some do this as a precaution. So, if someone felt like they wanted to do this because they can sleep better at night that is OK.
"They can run their businesses as they see fit. As far as any danger to the public we don’t see that. At the same time if you see something that makes you uncomfortable, you should call us and we will address that."
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