Why We Have to Fight Back Against ICE Protesters’ Terror Convictions

Since his first inauguration, Trump has been throwing charges at protesters and seeing what sticks. He always failed — until now.

Natasha Lennard, March 17 2026

Excerpt: "It started on President Donald Trump’s very first day in office in 2017. Over 200 #InaugurationDay #protesters were mass arrested and charged with hefty riot and conspiracy felonies for simply being present and wearing black at a rowdy demonstration.

"Since then, the government has sought and failed to convict left-wing activists on thin, unconstitutional claims of collective guilt.

"Just as the J20 prosecutions, as the inauguration cases were known, fell apart, so too did cases accusing dozens of participants in the Atlanta-based #StopCopCity movement of #DomesticTerrorism, #racketeering, and conspiracy.

"It became a pattern of sorts. Prosecutors on both the federal and state level throwing extreme and overreaching charges at leftists, based on infirm theories of collective liability, aiming to paint #antifascist, #AntiRacist movements as criminal terrorist networks. The evidence marshaled in these cases was consistently no more than typical #FirstAmendment-protected activity, like making protest signs, raising bail funds, or being present at a demonstration. The cases drained movement energies and resources.
Again and again, though, they failed.

"This was the pattern repeated in the malign, overreaching cases against protesters in #FortWorthTX. The #AntiICE activists had mounted a demonstration at a U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement jail in nearby #Alvarado.
There were consistencies with other anti-protest cases. There had been some illegal activity outside the #PrairielandDetentionFacility last July, and a police officer was shot. The government latched onto these circumstances to build its strategy of criminalizing dissent through guilt by association.

"Even in conservative Texas, I didn’t think a jury would buy the government’s case that these defendants were 'North Texas Antifa Cell operatives' — an organization fabricated whole cloth by the Trump administration — who had orchestrated an elaborate ambush of the ICE facility.

" 'Most people looking at this case are still stuck on the shooting aspect, but the jury decided the shooting was beside the point,' a member of a support group for the defendants told me. 'The verdict is that a normal #NoiseDemo deserves to be called terrorism and people should spend potentially the rest of their lives in prison. The implications of this are obvious, and people should know that the DOJ is going to try this again.' "

Read more:
https://theintercept.com/2026/03/17/ice-protester-terrorism-convictions-trump-prairieland/

Archived version:
https://archive.ph/uvx92

#USPol #DomesticTerrorism #AntiICEProtests #Texas #ResistICE #SilencingDissent #AntiTerrorismLaws
#CriminalizingProtest #Resistance

Why We Have to Fight Back Against ICE Protesters’ Terror Convictions

For years, Trump has been throwing hefty charges at protesters and seeing if he can win convcitions. He always failed — until now.

The Intercept
Wearing All Black at Protests Makes You Guilty of Terrorism, Prosecutors Tell Jury

The case is a major test of the Trump administration's push to label "antifa" protesters as terrorists.

The Intercept
Nearly 1,000 Google employees urge the company to end contracts with DHS, citing ICE & CBP surveillance, raids, and violence. Learn more about their demands. https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/world/google-employees-protest-dhs-contracts-cmku332x?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #Google #antiICEprotests #USimmigration #DonaldTrump
Google workers demand end to US immigration contracts amid ICE violence allegations

Google employees demand cutting DHS contracts, citing ICE/CBP surveillance & violence. Learn their urgent demands for tech ethics.

Mathrubhumi English

“It can be hard to imagine how to defend oneself against such an overwhelming force. But a few enterprising hackers have started projects to do counter surveillance against ICE, and hopefully protect their communities through clever use of technology.” 🇺🇸 ⚖️ 💻 #USPolitics #AntiICEProtests #USA #technology #hackers

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/01/how-hackers-are-fighting-back-against-ice

How Hackers Are Fighting Back Against ICE

A few enterprising hackers have started projects to do counter surveillance against ICE, and hopefully protect their communities through clever use of technology.

Electronic Frontier Foundation

“The NBA has been here before. In 2020, after police shot Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Bucks refused to take the court for a first-round playoff game against Orlando. The decision halted the league….” 🇺🇸 ⚖️ 🐺 🏀 #NBA #politics #USPolitics #AntiICEProtests #Minneapolis #Minnesota

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/jan/08/timberwolves-ice-shooting-minneapolis-boycott-comment

The Timberwolves should not play until ICE violence in Minneapolis is held to account

After a woman was fatally shot by Ice during a raid in Minneapolis, the Timberwolves face a choice: play on and normalize it, or refuse and force a reckoning

The Guardian

#BreakingNews
An federal judge has just now ruled that the #Texas #NationalGuard cannot operate in #Illinois , contrary to the intentions of the Trump administration.

Judge Perry said there was not sufficient justification for the #NationalGuard presence in #Chicago:
* #ICEagents here do not require extra protection
* There is no "insurrection," merely protests
* The level of crowd activity and violence has not risen beyond what the local Illinois police and authorities can easily handle on their own

The judge ruled that while they do not need to leave the state (they can remain as individual tourists), the #TexasNationalGuard is not allowed to remain as a unit and operate in a military capacity.

Furthermore, the judge ruled that #ICE agents here can not hide their faces and identity, even when wearing tactical gear. The judge placed harsh restrictions on the actions ICE agents can use against protestors, journalists, and clergy. [See link for more.]

"A federal judge Thursday froze President Donald Trump’s attempt to deploy hundreds of National Guard troops in and around Chicago, saying the president lacked the authority to do so....

"U.S. District Judge April Perry, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, found that the Trump administration’s account of recent protests in Chicago were not credible and could not amount to a 'rebellion' against the federal government."

#ChicagoICE #NationalGuardDeployment #TrumpAutocracy #NatlGuardDeployment #AntiTrumpProtests #AntiICEProtests #ChicagoIL #ImmigrationProtests

https://abc7chicago.com/post/federal-judge-orders-ice-dhs-agents-dial-back-aggressive-response-journalists-protesters-chicago-area/17972763/

Judge orders feds to dial back aggressive response to journalists, protesters in Chicago area

Video shows pastor being hit by pepper balls fired by federal agents during protest

❤️ 🔁 - “It’s not the immigrants, it’s the billionaires” und alles andere, was Mark Ruffalo sagt:

☑️ ☑️ ☑️

#AntiICEProtests #NoKingsProtests

BREAKING: Unlawful Assembly in Los Angeles

YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJDKkjDducQ

#DaveNeal #TheRushHour one

10min. mark: #BrainFriedman responds to a #ColdHeartedSnake's faux-victory tour. #SuperRichBullies won't win.

18.18 min. mark: #losAngeles #AntiICEProtests. Ex-marine said this can end horrifically
18.25 min. mark: #Boston Mayor #MichelleWu tells #ShrekHoman to take a time out.
Dave is correct. Ogres like Homan are NOT going to 'time-out'. They want chaos.

20.57 min mark: #NoKings #JodySweeten out protesting against Trump.

22.min marK; How much will it cost for deployment of #Marines to #LosAngeles?
$134 million is the answer. This is bullshit.

25.25min. mark #GretaThurnberg spoke to #journalists in #Paris. #GazaFlotillaKidnapping #FreePalestineNOW 🇵🇸

Justin Baldoni Team Says Deposing Blake Lively Is NEXT & Plans To Refile FOUR Claims!

YouTube

Not weaponized...yet!

#DHS Flew #PredatorDrones Over #LAProtests, Audio Shows

by Joseph Cox, Jun 10, 2025

"The Department of Homeland Security (#DHS) flew two high-powered Predator surveillance drones above the #AntiICEProtests in Los Angeles over the weekend, according to air traffic control (ATC) audio unearthed by an aviation tracking enthusiast then reviewed by #404Media and cross-referenced with flight data.

"The use of Predator drones highlights the extraordinary resources government agencies are putting behind surveilling and responding to the Los Angeles protests, which started after ICE agents raided a Home Depot on Friday. President Trump has since called up 4,000 members of the National Guard, and on Monday ordered more than 700 active duty Marines to the city too.

" 'TROY703, traffic 12 o'clock, 8 miles, opposite direction, another 'TROY' Q-9 at FL230,' one part of the ATC audio says. The official name of these types of #PredatorBDrones, made by a company called #GeneralAtomics, is the #MQ9 Reaper.

"On Monday #404Media reported that all sorts of agencies, from local, to state, to DHS, to the military flew aircraft over the Los Angeles protests. That included a DHS Black Hawk, a California Highway Patrol small aircraft, and two aircraft that took off from nearby March Air Reserve Base."

Read more:
https://www.404media.co/dhs-flew-predator-drones-over-la-protests-audio-shows/

Archived version:
https://archive.ph/lqELF

#UAVs #PredatorUAVs #ICE #CBP #PredatorClassDrone #ArmedDrones #USPol #PoliceDrones #DroneWeaponization #MilitaryState #ACAB #USPol #GlobalPol #Orwell #NineteenEightyFour #SilencingDissent #Autocracy #Fascism #surveillance #SurveillanceState #PoliceState #WeaponizedDrones

DHS Flew Predator Drones Over LA Protests, Audio Shows

Air traffic control (ATC) audio unearthed by an aviation tracking enthusiast then reviewed by 404 Media shows two Predator drones leaving, and heading towards, Los Angeles.

404 Media