A Federal Indictment is Unsealed Against House Candidate Over ICE Protest, As Critics Accuse Trump DOJ of Silencing Dissent.
In a shocking move, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has brought federal charges against Illinois House candidate Kat Abughazaleh and five other activists who protested outside of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing facility in Broadview, a suburb of Chicago.
According to an 11-page indictment filed on October 23, the protesters allegedly used "force, intimidation, and threat" as part of a conspiracy to prevent an unnamed ICE agent from discharging his duties and injuring him in person or property. The charges stem from allegations that the protesters banged aggressively on a federal agent's car, crowded together in front of and pushed against the vehicle to hinder its movement, and even scratched the body of the vehicle.
"This is a political prosecution and a gross attempt at silencing dissent, a right protected under the First Amendment," Abughazaleh said in a statement. "This case is yet another attempt by the Trump administration to criminalize protest and punish those who dare to speak up. That's why I'm going to fight these unjust charges."
The indictment alleges that Abughazaleh put her hands on the hood of the car, braced her body against it while remaining in its path. The disruption forced the federal agent to drive at a slow speed to avoid injuring any of the conspirators.
The five other protesters charged alongside Abughazaleh face up to six years in prison for conspiracy charges and eight years in prison for intimidation charges if convicted. Conspiracy charges are often used as a tool against protesters, who may be accused of using tactics deemed "violent" by authorities even if their actions were peaceful and protected under the First Amendment.
Abughazaleh, who went viral earlier this year after video emerged of ICE agents slamming her to the ground at the same facility, pointed out the irony in the Trump administration accusing protesters of violence. She noted that she, along with other activists, had been subjected to aggressive tactics by ICE, including being shot with pepper balls and teargassed.
"This is not hyperbole," Abughazaleh wrote. "Court orders are being ignored. MAGA loyalists have been put in charge of the military and federal law enforcement agencies. The Department of Government Efficiency has stripped Congress of its power of the purse. News outlets that challenge Trump have been banished or put under investigation."
Critics say this is a case of the Trump administration's efforts to suppress dissenting voices, particularly those who oppose its policies on immigration and national security. As Abughazaleh herself noted, she has spent her career fighting against what she sees as an "America's backwards slide towards fascism."
In a shocking move, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has brought federal charges against Illinois House candidate Kat Abughazaleh and five other activists who protested outside of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing facility in Broadview, a suburb of Chicago.
According to an 11-page indictment filed on October 23, the protesters allegedly used "force, intimidation, and threat" as part of a conspiracy to prevent an unnamed ICE agent from discharging his duties and injuring him in person or property. The charges stem from allegations that the protesters banged aggressively on a federal agent's car, crowded together in front of and pushed against the vehicle to hinder its movement, and even scratched the body of the vehicle.
"This is a political prosecution and a gross attempt at silencing dissent, a right protected under the First Amendment," Abughazaleh said in a statement. "This case is yet another attempt by the Trump administration to criminalize protest and punish those who dare to speak up. That's why I'm going to fight these unjust charges."
The indictment alleges that Abughazaleh put her hands on the hood of the car, braced her body against it while remaining in its path. The disruption forced the federal agent to drive at a slow speed to avoid injuring any of the conspirators.
The five other protesters charged alongside Abughazaleh face up to six years in prison for conspiracy charges and eight years in prison for intimidation charges if convicted. Conspiracy charges are often used as a tool against protesters, who may be accused of using tactics deemed "violent" by authorities even if their actions were peaceful and protected under the First Amendment.
Abughazaleh, who went viral earlier this year after video emerged of ICE agents slamming her to the ground at the same facility, pointed out the irony in the Trump administration accusing protesters of violence. She noted that she, along with other activists, had been subjected to aggressive tactics by ICE, including being shot with pepper balls and teargassed.
"This is not hyperbole," Abughazaleh wrote. "Court orders are being ignored. MAGA loyalists have been put in charge of the military and federal law enforcement agencies. The Department of Government Efficiency has stripped Congress of its power of the purse. News outlets that challenge Trump have been banished or put under investigation."
Critics say this is a case of the Trump administration's efforts to suppress dissenting voices, particularly those who oppose its policies on immigration and national security. As Abughazaleh herself noted, she has spent her career fighting against what she sees as an "America's backwards slide towards fascism."
this is so messed up the trump DOJ is basically silencing dissenting voices & now they're targeting activists who are just trying to speak out against injustices like ICE 
. Kat Abughazaleh is a total hero for standing up to the man and refusing to be intimidated she's not alone in this fight, there are so many others who've been subjected to abuse at the hands of law enforcement & it's time someone held them accountable 
we need to stand together & support our fellow activists who are risking everything to make a difference 
This is just too fishy for me. I need to see some solid evidence of these "aggressive" tactics by the protesters before I believe it. What's with all these allegations and no video footage? 
Where are the eyewitness accounts? How can we be sure this wasn't just a case of ICE pushing back against peaceful protesters who were standing up for their rights?
It sounds like a classic move by a government trying to silence dissent. I'm calling BS on this indictment until we see some concrete proof. 
this is super worrying - silencing dissent isn't exactly how democracy works right? it feels like the gov's more interested in punishing people for speaking out than listening to their concerns. i'm not surprised they're using conspiracy charges against these activists, it's a classic move to discredit and intimidate opponents... meanwhile, ICE agents are still doing questionable things and getting away with it 