Those are what in Europe are called anarchists. They are against any sort of order, capitalism, government, police, etc. Anarchy is what they are about. They seem to align themselves with the left, but they will attack the left at will, too. They have.
Every time there are violent protests in Athens, Greece being a prime European country where they exist, it is anarchists who are doing the burning and destruction.
They are violent, but they are not splintering society into groups of support and opposition. They are opposed universally, because they are against everyone.
Americans, as ignorant as they are about the world at large, don't get that. They think they are the alt-left and bullshit like that. Of course, the Antifa themsleves are confused about what they are about, thus becoming associated with leftism, but they are just thugs who enjoy violence and anarchy. They have watched the violence in Athens over time and have copied the clothes and the weapons and practice it all to a tee.
| 
