A group of Texas protesters convicted of terrorism charges received harsh sentences of at least 50 years in prison Tuesday in a closely watched case that was widely seen as a test case of the Trump administration’s efforts to crack down on dissent.

After a three week jury trial, the nine activists were all found guilty of a slew of criminal charges in March, stemming from a Fourth of July protest at an immigrant detention facility in Alvarado, Texas, south of Fort Worth. The demonstrators arrived late at night with a plan to set off fireworks as part of a noise demonstration to show solidarity with those detained inside. A few of the protesters spontaneously broke off from the main group and vandalized cars in the parking lot, a guard shack, slashed the tires on a government van and broke a security camera. When a police officer arrived on the scene and drew his weapon, one of the activists fired an AR-15 from the woods, hitting the officer in the shoulder. The officer survived.

Zachary Evetts, Autumn Hill, Savanna Batten, and Elizabeth Soto were sentenced to 50 years in prison. Maricela Rueda, another demonstrator, was sentenced to 70 years in prison. Benjamin Song, who fired the gun at the police officer, was sentenced to 100 years in prison. The other protesters were continuing to be sentenced Tuesday morning.

Even though many of the protesters did not know each other, or were loosely affiliated, prosecutors said the attack on the officer was premeditated and part of a conspiracy. They also said the activists were part of a “North Texas antifa cell”, which was seen as part of the administration’s effort to criminalize “antifa”, which is not an organization but rather a constellation of leftwing views.

    • Powderhorn@beehaw.orgOPM
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      7 hours ago

      They should have just gotten into child sex trafficking instead of something as serious as disagreeing with fascists. Far more lenient penalties.

    • ninjaphysics@beehaw.org
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      10 hours ago

      Texas seems to be the proving ground for some of the harshest human and environmental rights violations we’ve seen to date. What I want to know is how we combat this. Any decision can be undone with enough pressure from the public and lawmakers.

      • t3rmit3@beehaw.org
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        10 hours ago

        Pressure whoever is the next non-republican president to pardon them and commute their sentences.

    • TehPers@beehaw.org
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      10 hours ago

      What you’re missing is that one felony earns you life in prison, and 34 earns you life in office.