cross-posted from: https://infosec.pub/post/48230164
According to the indictment, the protesters blockaded ICE facilities, followed ICE vehicles, and coordinated their activities in various group chats. (The phrase “group chat” is used 31 times throughout the indictment.) But reporters repeatedly pressed federal officials on whether the Minneapolis anti-ICE protesters indicted had ever actually injured an officer—and Rosen could only insist that that wasn’t the point.
“Whether or not they actually at the end of the day caused bodily harm is not the measure of whether or not they committed a serious federal crime,” Rosen said.
It’s not the first conspiracy indictment the Trump administration has brought against protesters—nor, given the Justice Department’s successful prosecution of Spokane-area ICE protesters last month, is it even sure to fail—but its details may make it the most bizarre.
Here are some of the more than 200 actions which, according to Trump’s federal prosecutors, were “committed in furtherance of the conspiracy.”
Posting “we need to become ungovernable” on Facebook
“On or about January 13,” one of the indicted Minnesotans posted on Facebook that “we need to become ungovernable. We need to actively resist anyway [sic] we can to materially stop the Nazi occupation forces.”
Wearing a hat commemorating activist Ray Rainbolt
In mid-February, one indicted person wore a hat commemorating Ray Rainbolt, a member of the Sioux Nation who played an active role in the 1934 Minneapolis strikes.
Tracking ICE li****cense plates
Protesters allegedly used a database to track ICE vehicles, which has become common practice across several cities. They also allegedly used group chats to do this.
Attending a meeting at a DSA office
In late January, the indictment says, several people attended an “after action” meeting at the Democratic Socialists of America Office a few days after a protest.
Wearing a sweatshirt that says “I’m Antifa!”
One person named in the indictment wore “a sweatshirt that had ‘I’m antifa!’ on the front.” Additionally, he “possessed multiple antifa patches at his residence.”
Saying, “We will be broadly anti-authoritarian. We’re going to be broadly anti-capitalist.”
On the evening of February 13, one person allegedly said this at a meeting.
Discussing a potential meeting at a library
“Library meeting rooms are not the worst spot for this kind of thing unless people have security concerns,” one defendant allegedly said.
Including a devil emoji in a Signal message
On May 15, someone allegedly “included a smiley face and a devil emoji” in a Signal message about a Homeland Security vehicle’s flat tire.
Posting a flyer on Signal
About half-a-dozen times throughout the indictment, people sent each other flyers advertising various meetings and protests. At one point, they argued over whether to post the flyers on Signal or on public social media platforms.
Giving someone a radio
One person allegedly gave “a radio to an individual wearing a blue jacket on a bike.”
Possessing a radio
That same person also allegedly had a radio.
Possessing a bullhorn
At approximately 9:41 AM on March 1, one individual allegedly had a bullhorn.
Going on an “anarchist speaking tour”
During a speaking tour to talk about their experiences resisting ICE, one person allegedly expressed happiness over the 2020 burning of a Minneapolis police precinct.
Sharing a link to the White House Counterterrorism Strategy
One chat member responded, quoting the document, “My new bio: anti-American, radically pro-transgender, and anarchist.”
I was a member of DAMN (Direct Action Minnesota), which is a major target in the indictment. We were militant, but always peaceful. We peaceably assembled, and never harmed law enforcement.
All we did was embarrass them by throwing dildos at their vehicles, made it difficult to get to or leave Whipple, defended each other with homemade shields and umbrellas, and encouraged somali workers to skip their pickup/delivery at logistics sites over ICE collaboration.
Genuinely curious why a judge wouldn’t summarily dismiss this with prejudice (I.e. “you are not allowed to re-file this, because you are such a fucking waste of oxygen”) - assuming the judge isn’t an orangeboi appointee.
I am not a lawyer, but I think it is because the USA is governed by a fascist regime.
According to the indictment, the protesters blockaded ICE facilities, followed ICE vehicles, and coordinated their activities in various group chats. (The phrase “group chat” is used 31 times throughout the indictment.) But reporters repeatedly pressed federal officials on whether the Minneapolis anti-ICE protesters indicted had ever actually injured an officer—and Rosen could only insist that that wasn’t the point.
“Whether or not they actually at the end of the day caused bodily harm is not the measure of whether or not they committed a serious federal crime,” Rosen said.
It’s not the first conspiracy indictment the Trump administration has brought against protesters—nor, given the Justice Department’s successful prosecution of Spokane-area ICE protesters last month, is it even sure to fail—but its details may make it the most bizarre.
Here are some of the more than 200 actions which, according to Trump’s federal prosecutors, were “committed in furtherance of the conspiracy.”
Posting “we need to become ungovernable” on Facebook
“On or about January 13,” one of the indicted Minnesotans posted on Facebook that “we need to become ungovernable. We need to actively resist anyway [sic] we can to materially stop the Nazi occupation forces.”
Wearing a hat commemorating activist Ray Rainbolt
In mid-February, one indicted person wore a hat commemorating Ray Rainbolt, a member of the Sioux Nation who played an active role in the 1934 Minneapolis strikes.
Tracking ICE li****cense plates
Protesters allegedly used a database to track ICE vehicles, which has become common practice across several cities. They also allegedly used group chats to do this.
Attending a meeting at a DSA office
In late January, the indictment says, several people attended an “after action” meeting at the Democratic Socialists of America Office a few days after a protest.
Wearing a sweatshirt that says “I’m Antifa!”
One person named in the indictment wore “a sweatshirt that had ‘I’m antifa!’ on the front.” Additionally, he “possessed multiple antifa patches at his residence.”
Saying, “We will be broadly anti-authoritarian. We’re going to be broadly anti-capitalist.”
On the evening of February 13, one person allegedly said this at a meeting.
Discussing a potential meeting at a library
“Library meeting rooms are not the worst spot for this kind of thing unless people have security concerns,” one defendant allegedly said.
Including a devil emoji in a Signal message
On May 15, someone allegedly “included a smiley face and a devil emoji” in a Signal message about a Homeland Security vehicle’s flat tire.
Posting a flyer on Signal
About half-a-dozen times throughout the indictment, people sent each other flyers advertising various meetings and protests. At one point, they argued over whether to post the flyers on Signal or on public social media platforms.
Giving someone a radio
One person allegedly gave “a radio to an individual wearing a blue jacket on a bike.”
Possessing a radio
That same person also allegedly had a radio.
Possessing a bullhorn
At approximately 9:41 AM on March 1, one individual allegedly had a bullhorn.
Going on an “anarchist speaking tour”
During a speaking tour to talk about their experiences resisting ICE, one person allegedly expressed happiness over the 2020 burning of a Minneapolis police precinct.
Sharing a link to the White House Counterterrorism Strategy
One chat member responded, quoting the document, “My new bio: anti-American, radically pro-transgender, and anarchist.”
"Whether or not they actually at the end of the day caused bodily harm is not the measure of whether or not they committed a serious federal crime,” Rosen said.
They say the same thing about Jan 6th as a defense x_x
Everyone who has a cell phone has a radio. Several radios. Arrest them all? Are amateur radio licensees such as myself no longer allowed to possess radios? Kind of puts a crimp on the hobby. Even in Soviet Russia there were ham operators - I remember my dad (Advanced license) working them from time to time.
Radios should be protected under the 1st and 2nd amendments.
Transmission in general should be IMO it should only become regulated when things like charges and sponsors get involved. I dream of drowning rightwing AM talk radio with niche metal music, also copyright can fuck itself.
