Photo: The Washington Post
A federal grand jury has indicted Kat Abughazaleh, a Democratic congressional candidate, along with five others for allegedly obstructing law enforcement during a protest at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Broadview, Illinois. The indictment, filed on October 23, accuses Abughazaleh of "physically hindering and impeding" an ICE agent by blocking a government vehicle with her body, forcing it to move slowly to avoid harm.
Abughazaleh, 26, who is running for Illinois' 9th Congressional District, has called the charges a "political prosecution" and an attack on First Amendment rights. She stated, "I'm not backing down, and we're going to win." The protest, which took place on September 26, involved demonstrators surrounding and banging on the vehicle, with some allegedly etching the word "PIG" into its body and damaging mirrors and windshield wipers, as reported by ABC News.
Among those charged are Catherine Sharp, a Cook County Board candidate, and Brian Straw, an Oak Park Village trustee candidate. Sharp expressed confidence that a jury would see the charges as an effort to intimidate protesters. Straw emphasized his participation was in response to ICE's treatment of immigrants.
The Department of Justice stated the defendants intended to impede the agent's duties. If convicted, they could face up to six years in prison for conspiracy charges and eight years for intimidation charges. The case has drawn attention to ongoing tensions surrounding ICE protests and the use of federal charges against demonstrators.
Abughazaleh, a former journalist, has been vocal about her opposition to ICE policies and the Trump administration's immigration stance. She continues her campaign to replace retiring Rep. Jan Schakowsky, advocating for progressive policies such as a wealth tax and a $25 minimum wage.
Her initial court appearance is scheduled for November 5.