Kat Abughazaleh, a progressive Democrat operating for an open Home seat in Illinois, faces federal expenses after attending a protest at a U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement processing middle outdoors Chicago.
Abughazaleh, a social media influencer who not too long ago moved to the state, was charged with conspiracy to impede or injure a federal officer and assaulting or impeding an officer as they engaged in official duties on the Broadview ICE detention middle.
In keeping with the indictment, Abughazaleh was amongst a number of protesters who in September allegedly surrounded a authorities automobile, banged on the hood and home windows and scratched the physique of the automobile, together with etching the phrase “PIG” into the automobile. The indictment additionally alleges the protesters broke one of many automobile’s facet mirrors and a rear windshield wiper.
Video of the encounter that day, posted by Abughazaleh, confirmed her and protesters putting their arms on the automobile because the agent continued to slowly drive ahead into the road of protesters, with some banging on the automobile.
Abughazaleh is among the greater than a dozen Democratic candidates operating for Congress to fill the seat now held by Rep. Jan Schakowsky, who introduced earlier this yr that she received’t search reelection in 2026.
In a press release, Abughazaleh referred to as the costs “political prosecution” and a “gross attempt to silence dissent.”
“This case is yet another attempt by the Trump administration to criminalize protest and punish those who dare to speak up,” Abughazaleh stated, including that the costs are “unjust.”
Different political figures named within the indictment embody Catherine Sharp, a chief of workers to a Chicago alderman and a candidate for Prepare dinner County Board; Michael Rabbitt, a Chicago Democratic ward committeeman; and Brian Straw, a member of the suburban Oak Park Village board.
Sharp’s legal professional, Molly Armour, referred to as the costs “ludicrous,” saying, “we are confident that a jury of Ms. Sharp’s peers will see them for exactly what they are: an effort by the Trump administration to frighten people out of participating in protest and exercising their First Amendment rights.”
The Division of Justice didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Advocates and politicians have protested recurrently outdoors the Broadview detention middle since President Donald Trump ordered ICE brokers into the town to conduct mass arrests.
Abughazaleh has beforehand protested outdoors the middle, together with not less than as soon as prior when she was teargassed and thrown to the bottom by an ICE agent.
“As someone who has protested at Broadview multiple times, I know these protests are nonviolent demonstrations against the kidnapping of our neighbors,” Biss stated in a press release posted on X. “Now, the Trump Administration is targeting protestors, including political candidates, in an effort to silence dissent and scare residents into submission. It won’t work.”
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