Reading the article, the guy who shot an officer with an AK probably should get time while the people who were just setting off fireworks and slashing tires, probably a misdemeanor, all things equal. (It being a government vehicle might count it as a felony, though IANAL).
The part that should disturb people isn’t their arrest, but the upcharge to terrorism, which frankly has been a potential problem we’ve had since Bush era politics but only now getting utilized in this way. That changes due process, and if they continue to push for those types of charges, that’s a problem and patriot act era laws absolutely need to get reversed if we’re to ever really be safe.
That said, just to clarify those who only read the headline: this isn’t the administration just targeting political opponents and calling them antifa to get them arrested. They got arrested for crimes like vandalism and assault and the antifa terrorism crap was tagged on. You’re still mostly safe to participate in peaceful protests, so continue putting on pressure.
I don’t know if they mentioned it in this article but the guy shot an officer after they pointed their gun at a protester. After the other murders by ICE it could definitely be argued it was defensive, and that they had weapons, which is a constitutional right (especially in Texas), to defend against potential far-right attackers.
“Prosecutors in the case charged and secured conviction of eight of the nine defendants for providing material support for terrorists. The ninth defendant, Daniel Sanchez-Estrada was not at the protest, but was convicted of corruptly concealing a document or record after prosecutors said he moved leftwing zines and other materials at the request of Rueda, his wife, after she was arrested. Sanchez-Estrada was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Tuesday.”
I don’t know the details but it sounds like a concealment charge, which again isn’t much of a thing unless you’re falsely charged with terrorism. It’s not so much the zines as the association-- but 30 years is again, obviously bullshit.
I can’t look into specifics now, but is that one able to appeal? I recall it’s the odd case of the 9.
I don’t know the details but it sounds like a concealment charge, which again isn’t much of a thing unless you’re falsely charged with terrorism. It’s not so much the zines as the association-- but 30 years is again, obviously bullshit.
That said, just to clarify those who only read the headline: this isn’t the administration just targeting political opponents and calling them antifa to get them arrested. They got arrested for crimes like vandalism and assault and the antifa terrorism crap was tagged on.
It sounds an awful lot like this is the administration just targeting political opponents by calling them antifa to get them arrested.
I know you’re making the point that ICE murderers should be tried and convicted, but real talk, the Jan 6 convictions (mentioned in the article) are more in line with what a violent conviction would look like).
They, of course, got pardoned… but naturally if the system worked as intended, pardons wouldn’t exist or be needed and sentencing wouldn’t be politically motivated. Ironically at this point the only possibility for justice for these 9 are pardons, though…
When the dust settles, we’ll see. It’s unfortunately difficult to prove something like that, but if we ever overcome fascism (hopefully peacefully…) then the case can be revisited or they can be pardoned. At the very least, I can believe that was their intention, though.
Yeah at least some of these guys definitely deserve long prison sentences. Protests should not result in officers getting shot.
You can’t really blame the state for harshly cracking down on these types of activities. Look what happened with Waco. It’s not new.
Obviously different scales and some people got hit with obviously inflated sentences (guy got 30 years and didnt even go to protest). Definitely politically motivated
But just a message to the young people. You will probably not change the world in prison. The surveillance state is omniscient and heavy handed.
Reading the article, the guy who shot an officer with an AK probably should get time while the people who were just setting off fireworks and slashing tires, probably a misdemeanor, all things equal. (It being a government vehicle might count it as a felony, though IANAL).
The part that should disturb people isn’t their arrest, but the upcharge to terrorism, which frankly has been a potential problem we’ve had since Bush era politics but only now getting utilized in this way. That changes due process, and if they continue to push for those types of charges, that’s a problem and patriot act era laws absolutely need to get reversed if we’re to ever really be safe.
That said, just to clarify those who only read the headline: this isn’t the administration just targeting political opponents and calling them antifa to get them arrested. They got arrested for crimes like vandalism and assault and the antifa terrorism crap was tagged on. You’re still mostly safe to participate in peaceful protests, so continue putting on pressure.
I don’t know if they mentioned it in this article but the guy shot an officer after they pointed their gun at a protester. After the other murders by ICE it could definitely be argued it was defensive, and that they had weapons, which is a constitutional right (especially in Texas), to defend against potential far-right attackers.
Honestly it all sounds like they just need some better lawyers and a non trump judge. And they have a right to request a trial by jury
One of them got 30 years for distributing pamphlets.
You’re referring to this part?
“Prosecutors in the case charged and secured conviction of eight of the nine defendants for providing material support for terrorists. The ninth defendant, Daniel Sanchez-Estrada was not at the protest, but was convicted of corruptly concealing a document or record after prosecutors said he moved leftwing zines and other materials at the request of Rueda, his wife, after she was arrested. Sanchez-Estrada was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Tuesday.”
I don’t know the details but it sounds like a concealment charge, which again isn’t much of a thing unless you’re falsely charged with terrorism. It’s not so much the zines as the association-- but 30 years is again, obviously bullshit.
I can’t look into specifics now, but is that one able to appeal? I recall it’s the odd case of the 9.
It sounds an awful lot like this is the administration just targeting political opponents by calling them antifa to get them arrested.
His sentencing should be in line with the same amount of time that the people who murdered Renee Good and Alex Peretti got.
I know you’re making the point that ICE murderers should be tried and convicted, but real talk, the Jan 6 convictions (mentioned in the article) are more in line with what a violent conviction would look like).
They, of course, got pardoned… but naturally if the system worked as intended, pardons wouldn’t exist or be needed and sentencing wouldn’t be politically motivated. Ironically at this point the only possibility for justice for these 9 are pardons, though…
Seems like the shot in the arm was to prevent the ice killing another person https://prairielanddefendants.com/defendant-writings/statement-by-benjamin-champagne-song/
When the dust settles, we’ll see. It’s unfortunately difficult to prove something like that, but if we ever overcome fascism (hopefully peacefully…) then the case can be revisited or they can be pardoned. At the very least, I can believe that was their intention, though.
Yeah at least some of these guys definitely deserve long prison sentences. Protests should not result in officers getting shot.
You can’t really blame the state for harshly cracking down on these types of activities. Look what happened with Waco. It’s not new.
Obviously different scales and some people got hit with obviously inflated sentences (guy got 30 years and didnt even go to protest). Definitely politically motivated
But just a message to the young people. You will probably not change the world in prison. The surveillance state is omniscient and heavy handed.