We, the undersigned, condemn the Trump regime’s decision to file federal charges against a group of six people, including candidates, local officials, and activists, for protesting the inhumane treatment of detainees at the Broadview ICE facility.

Congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh, County Board candidate Cat Sharp, Committeeperson Michael Rabbitt, Oak Park Trustee Brian Straw, Joselyn Walsh, and Andre Martin now face prosecution for exercising their First Amendment rights.

This follows a disturbing national pattern, from the indictment of Rep. LaMonica McIver in New Jersey to the charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James, former FBI Director James Comey, and dozens of others who have challenged the Trump regime. Federal prosecutors are being weaponized to punish political opponents and silence dissent. 

The politicization of our justice system crosses a fundamental line that should alarm anyone who cares about democracy and the rule of law. This is not what democracy looks like, and we cannot accept it as normal. 

The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects the right to protest, and the people of Illinois have every reason to do so. For months, masked ICE agents have terrorized the city of Chicago and surrounding communities.

Federal agents have grabbed residents off the streets without warrant or explanation, including U.S. citizens. They attacked a South Shore apartment building in the middle of the night, with heavily armed agents detonating concussion grenades, rappelling from helicopters, breaking down doors, and detaining and zip tying residents. They fatally shot an unarmed civilian during a traffic stop. They have caused multiple high-speed collisions in residential neighborhoods. They have pepper-sprayed innocent bystanders and peaceful protesters across Cook County and outside the Broadview ICE facility.    

A federal judge cited U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s use of tear gas against protesters in Little Village and near a children’s Halloween parade in Old Irving Park as examples of abuse, and demanded CBP Commander Gregory Bovino appear in court after federal agents repeatedly violated orders limiting use of force.  

Masked ICE agents have shattered the normalcy of everyday life for thousands of Illinois residents. Parents aren’t sending their kids to school, workers are choosing to stay home, and families are skipping doctors’ appointments for fear of being picked up off the street. Nothing about this makes our communities safer.  

These charges are meant to scare all of us into staying quiet because the Trump regime knows that they cannot justify their violent attacks on our communities.

We refuse to be silent. 

We stand with Kat Abughazaleh, Andre Martin, Michael Rabbitt, Cat Sharp, Brian Straw, and Joselyn Walsh, and call for these bogus, politicized charges to be dismissed. We will continue standing with every resident who speaks out against what this regime is doing to our neighbors and our communities.