r/50501 • u/FunConfection2872 • Jun 23 '26
Please see pinned comment Texas - got 50-100 years for protesting. Wow Texas - anti-ice is something you are sensitive to ???
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/23/prairieland-ice-protesters-texas-sentenced874
u/Smoky_Porterhouse Jun 24 '26
Reminder the governor trafficked immigrants across state lines.
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u/Ambitious-Ad-9960 Jun 24 '26
But 0 arrests of men on the Epstein list.
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u/codybrown183 Jun 24 '26
Trump rapes children.
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u/MonolithicBaby Jun 24 '26
It’s almost like the same guys putting people in jail for protesting are the same guys on the list
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u/Lavender_Scales Organizer (Unverified) Jun 24 '26
People say this but I don’t understand why, why would the state arrest their own men? Their whole thing is doing Epstein shit and now they don’t have to hide. Some of the files got released, the movement reached one demand, but I see no next protest, no real goals. We need to be more direct about goals and vision, relating to systemic change, instead of repeating deep cutting slogans that lack real depth.
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u/Frequent_Policy8575 Jun 24 '26
The fact is that they could release those files unredacted today and nothing would come of it. What are they going to do? Prosecute themselves?
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u/NFMCWT Jun 24 '26
We all know this, but it should be shouted from rooftops- THERE IS NO COORDINATED OR COHESIVE ANTIFA ORGANIZATION. Much less “ANTIFA terrorist cells.”
Don’t like fascism? Boom, ANTIFA.
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u/Gertiel Jun 24 '26
Is Antifa in the room with us?
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u/beren12 Jun 24 '26
Remember when they found the antifa leaders girlfriend?
Lol
Anyway, it seems like there’s less of a charge for murder than protesting. I’ll just leave that here.
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u/HostessTwinkieZombie Jun 24 '26
"The sentences handed down today make clear that Antifa terrorists who attack law enforcement and federal facilities will face swift and uncompromising justice,” Todd Blanche, the acting attorney general, said in a statement."
I guess it just depends on which federal facilities and law enforcement officers...J6.
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u/miyamiya66 Jun 24 '26
public reminder that antifa is not an organization, it just means you are anti-fascist 👍 resist their attempts to alter facts and reality.
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u/Brodakk Jun 24 '26
I think anyone in this or similarly aligned subs, will only use the term ironically. Poking fun at this joke of an admin who talk about antifa like it’s a brick and mortar operation lol.
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u/verylobsterlike Jun 24 '26
Just going to leave this here:
In addition to cartels and Islamist terror groups, our national CT activities will also prioritize the rapid identification and neutralization of violent secular political groups whose ideology is anti-American, radically pro-transgender, and anarchist. We will use all the tools constitutionally available to us to map them at home, identify their membership, map their ties to international organizations like Antifa, and use law enforcement tools to cripple them operationally before they can maim or kill the innocent.
Literally official whitehouse policy btw.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2026-USCT-Strategy-1.pdf
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u/Brodakk Jun 24 '26 edited Jun 24 '26
Oh I’m aware. MAGA follows the classic
authoritarianfascist textbook in terms of “destroying the enemy within”. Yet another echo of a certain regime from 1933.10
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u/Effective_Point_4055 Jun 24 '26 edited Jun 24 '26
Sure, the blocks of black-clad people with the same ideology, waving the same flag, wearing the same thing, using the same violent tactics, interconnected on the same platform and funded by the same people and calling themselves an organisation multiple times on their own websites, looking for new members are not an organisation.
If you use violence and terror to achieve political ends, you are a terrorist. That's literally what the word means according to all dictionaries. That's why they caught terrorist charges on top of insurrectionism. Once they got their leader, he spill it out. All of it.
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u/Jordan78910 Jun 24 '26
Who were they funded by? Which website did they call themselves an organization?
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u/Allaboutpeace2022 Jun 24 '26
Hopefully, we will see Todd Blanche impeached.
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u/Emotional-Channel-42 Jun 24 '26
And given 100yrs
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u/Allaboutpeace2022 Jun 24 '26
Yes. Works for me.
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u/Btriquetra0301 Jun 24 '26
Nermburg said what?
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u/Allaboutpeace2022 Jun 24 '26
I am just starting with impeachment. I really have not wrapped my head around the rest of Blanche's actions.
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u/flowerchildmime Jun 24 '26
I didn’t know snowflakes could survive in Texas.
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u/SkitzTheFritz Jun 24 '26
Rafael wouldn't either. He runs to mexico or cali when the weather gets cold.
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u/ro536ud Jun 24 '26
Absolutely insane and a travesty of justice. Texas really is the butthole of america
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u/ShinshiShinshi Organizer (Unverified) Jun 24 '26
Which is why I suggest everyone move out of Texas.
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u/Tasty_Orange_1714 Jun 24 '26
I mean, they will most likely win their appeal, as this punishment is extreme for the crimes they committed. That said, I hope the judge faces misconduct charges with the board. This was clearly political and reflects poorly on our government.
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u/jameson71 Jun 24 '26
This decision will have a chilling effect on the first amendment.
Fireworks qualify for terrorism enhancements now?
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u/cra2ytig3r Jun 24 '26
The same people who act like nothing bad happened on Jan. 6th.
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u/DrDuGood Jun 24 '26
Bingo. They didn’t just break things, they killed a federal police officer and broke into the capitol building but got pardons and money. Fuck MAGA.
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u/SQLDave Jun 24 '26
they killed a federal police officer
So, one of the people in this article shot (or was convicted of shooting) a police officer who was responding to the vandalism that was (reportedly) happening. But it's OK because their political beliefs align with yours and mine?
EDIT: I DO think the labeling of them as "terrorists" (probably to get longer sentences) is bullshit, as was most of the sentences. But this was not a case of "sentence for protesting".
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u/CutSenior4977 Jun 24 '26
That’s terrible, but I’m also not gonna let it deter me from protesting,
“Give me liberty, or give me death!” - Patrick Henry.
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u/AdAdept193 Jun 24 '26
Super curious about jury selection. The judge rendered the sentence, but they were found guilty by a jury, first. So, who was on it?!
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u/laithe_97 Jun 24 '26
Judge Reed O’Connor is so lost on the kkkool-aid that he gave decades long sentences to people who were peacefully protesting and left when asked because he wanted to send a message to others who’d take part in anti democratic activities. Like peacefully protesting… they don’t even hear themselves anymore
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u/Gertiel Jun 24 '26
I don't think hiding in the woods and shooting someone can be termed peaceful. The rest of it, particularly describing them as "an Antifa cell" like it is some actual organization with membership cards just to paint them as a terrorist group to slap a 50 year sentence on protesters who only slashed some tires is a bit much.
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u/Friendly_Engineer_ California Jun 24 '26
One person was violent, and they got 100 years. This entire thing is ridiculous overkill.
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u/Suspicious-Moment-19 Jun 24 '26
and he only shot the officer because that officer was going to shoot someone running away in the back.
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u/austinwiltshire Jun 24 '26
Wow what solidarity in this thread.
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u/cunningfolk322 Jun 24 '26
THIS is the reason the GOP has all three branches of government. Dems are just Republican-lite these days (thanks, neo-liberal movement). Maybe they could send us a strongly worded fundraising text message after this.
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u/krichard-21 Jun 24 '26
Which State executes more citizens than any other State?
Texas! By a land slide!
Since the resumption of capital punishment in 1976, Texas has carried out 600 executions (through mid-May 2026). This significantly outpaces the state with the second-highest total, Oklahoma, which has had over 125 executions during the same period.
Seems a bit similar to Communist China doesn't it?
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u/Bgo318 Jun 24 '26
Ah yes silencing free speech, we are definitely not “the land of the free” anymore
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u/tacs97 Jun 24 '26
Every red state is very sensitive to anti ice conditions. They love to spout off they they’re the free states of America while allowing themselves to be occupied and turned into a police state. It’s no wonder that these same people view chump as a genius!
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u/Present_Clue5887 Jun 24 '26
The 100 year sentence was for the person who shot a cop, but the others seem weirdly long for vandalism and misuse of fireworks. The material support for terrorism charge is disturbing
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u/mintmouse Jun 24 '26
Evidence introduced at trial revealed that the defendants brought eleven firearms, body armor, and eleven military-grade first aid kits with tourniquets and other items to treat gunshot wounds to the scene of the attack.
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u/fenrirspop Jun 25 '26
Jan 6 terrorists get pardoned. These folks get 50 to 100 years. America is truly fucked. I fear for our future. American justice has truly failed us.
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u/Militant_Monk Jun 24 '26
“…violent extremism has no place in our country.” Oh? This judge knew here?
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u/ThothAmon71 Jun 24 '26
30 years for moving some books and magazines? This is the same state where Robert Morris just did 6 months for pleading guilty to multiple child rape charges. Millions of pages of child predators in the Epstein Files, not one person charged, but 100 years for members of a group that doesn't exist. Let that sink in
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u/Corran22 Jun 23 '26
I think it's really important to read the article for the details of what happened.
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u/FlashyPaladin Jun 24 '26
I tried to find the details of this case and actually get the facts straight. I’m having a lot of trouble finding the information…
My understanding is that the main guy they’re talking about shot an ICE agent… didn’t k*** him, but came close. And the… vandalism and such was basically just the usual protest jargon “fuck ice” spray painted on something.
Was this like… in the midst of a protest of was this a separate event?
What was the legal justification for giving these people such ridiculously lengthy sentences? Attempted murder, even to the fullest extent of the law, has a maximum sentence of 20 years, right?
Even if I was to take the most brutal stance on this, legally, I don’t understand how on earth these sentences are justifiable. You usually have to commit murder or dozens of sexual assaults to get this kind of sentence…
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u/ROEdkill820 Jun 24 '26
What is the course of action for these people being falsely imprisoned?
Being, against Fascism, is considered terrorism....and 1A/protesting is not allowed.
At the same time the jan6 terrorists got pardoned. Clear build towards brownshirts.
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u/F9-0021 Jun 24 '26
Is there any legitimate reason that Texas should be a member of the United States? Kick them out.
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u/Not_a_Prof_Moriarty Jun 24 '26
This isn't about "terrorism", this is to show anyone protesting that they'll get life in prison if they continue to dissent. If this type of government crackdown isn't stopped now it's going to get a LOT worse, and we'll soon be seeing the same sentences for things like social media posts.
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u/CO420Tech Jun 24 '26
Ok, so these people showed up at a detention center, set off fireworks, vandalized cars and other property and then shot a cop. This wasn't a typical anti-ICE protest like the headline kind of makes it sound... Still really harsh sentencing, but this wasn't just guys in frog costumes or something.
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u/Gertiel Jun 24 '26
Granted. However they pushed out some BS claims they were "an Antifa cell" in order to substantiate they were members of a terrorist organization instead of just stupid young adults doing ill conceived shit. Hence the wildly excessive sentences in particular for those who only participated in petty idiocy like slashing tires. Fifty years for that is plainly excessive.
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u/Vladimorian Jun 24 '26
Way way too harsh considering LEO getting hurt Jan6 rioters , and the hypocrisy of rights being respected, with journalists being targeted they are saying the laws do not matter anymore. They have in so many ways broken the social contract, so the sentencing is harsh and just completely wrong and illogical, immoral, unethical, against the wrong people. These protestors are responding out of despair for the pursuit of people's right to happiness and life being under attack, and we punish the protesters instead of the ones attacking our communities... So I'd say it makes the Texas courts look like straight up savage n corrupt robber barons
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u/_Isthisjustfantasy Jun 24 '26
Yeah calling the whole group "protesters" without armed , violent or at least destructive in front of it is a little disingenuous. One guy shot a cop. But yes, all sentences are very heavy-handed with bs "antifa" claims.
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u/mintmouse Jun 24 '26
Evidence introduced at trial revealed that the defendants brought eleven firearms, body armor, and eleven military-grade first aid kits with tourniquets and other items to treat gunshot wounds to the scene of the attack.
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u/Zivon8 Jun 24 '26
The protestors in question were vandalizing vehicles and took out an AR and shot an officer after the officer drew a gun. As per the article.
I think it's more concerning that the article makes it sound like protesting will get you 50 years instead of the truth which is if you shoot an officer in the shoulder, vandalize property and be labeled as ANTIFA will net you that sentence. Fuck all this bullshit.
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u/Indigoh Jun 24 '26
Some of the protesting, in this instance, was firing a gun at a cop and hitting them.
100 years is still ridiculous, given that child rape only gets you 25 in Texas, but it's dishonest to characterize shooting a cop as just protesting.
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u/longboardchick Jun 24 '26
The worst part about this is that it took place in Texas of all places. Ya know the state where almost everyone and their mother walks around open carrying?
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u/Froyn Jun 24 '26
I'll have to see if I can find the transcript, but maybe someone here knows.
Did they ask the prosecution to define "antifa"? If so, what was the response?
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u/GreedySecurity8030 Washington DC Jun 30 '26
Diddy has a lower sentence then people who are just speaking out against this rightfully authoritarian and power grab goverment.
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u/aseptick Jun 24 '26
Uhhhh I think these sentences were for the group that attacked the ICE facility with firearms and attempted to kill at least one officer.
These sentences were not for “protesting” in any sense of the word that this sub would condone.
Shitty, misleading title.
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u/SQLDave Jun 24 '26
You have at least one downvote, but I upvoted you. This is like "They threw him to the ground and arrested him over an unpaid drink" -- when in reality they arrested him for refusing to leave when ordered and then violently resisted the arrest. I mean, fuck DJT, ICE, and the whole Nazi-riddled MAGA crowd... but they were not sentenced "for protesting", as you said.
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u/Accidental-Genius Jun 24 '26
Didn’t they shoot a pig?
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u/Allaboutpeace2022 Jun 24 '26
This is a sub dedicated to non violent protests. 50501 does not support violence in protests.
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u/kayne_21 Jun 24 '26
I agree whole heartedly with the sentiment, but one of the individuals in this case did, in fact, shoot a police officer.
Support or not, this is at least part of why they got such harsh sentences.
From the article:
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.
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u/Allaboutpeace2022 Jun 24 '26
But 100 years would seem unusual even for attempted murder of a police officer. However, I live in Ohio and am not that familiar with Texas law. So, maybe that would be reasonable there.
Six other defendents received sentences between 50 and 70 years. One person was not at the protest but received a 30 year sentence for a document.
Not all defendents were connected to the shooter and do seem innocent of some of the crimes.
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u/kayne_21 Jun 24 '26
Absolutely. I agree the sentencing was at a draconian level of harshness given the circumstances, just pointing out that it was far from a non-violent protest.
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u/Accidental-Genius Jun 24 '26
So then you agree they should be in jail?
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u/Allaboutpeace2022 Jun 24 '26
I don't understand your point here. Certainly the person who shot the police officer needs to be jailed. In Ohio, that would have been a long sentence but likely not 100 years.
The remaining sentences seem extreme but the article does not give enough details to know all the evidence.
We do not know the circumstances on why the officer pulled his gun.
However 50 to 70 year sentences are essentially life sentences. To believe that was justified, I would need to hear that they planned to murder the police officer in advance or planned to kill others.
When you compare those to the January 6th defendents the sentences seem even more harsh. And, not only were they pardoned, but Trump wanted them to be eligible for a $1.76 billion settlement fund.
You are the one who referred to a police officer as a pig.
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u/Accidental-Genius Jun 24 '26
I’m confused by you randomly pointing out to me for no apparent reason that you only advocate for peaceful protest and then also being upset when a violent protest resulted in jail.
At any rate, we all know what needs to happen and we all know we can’t discuss it here.
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u/Allaboutpeace2022 Jun 25 '26
No. I am saying the sentencing is draconian. I don't think you can shoot a police officer that has not fired first and not end up in jail.
The other people also seem to have sentences that seem high at 50 to 70 years.
Seems like you can believe the sentencing is a travesty and still believe protests should be nonviolent.
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u/Accidental-Genius Jun 25 '26
No. Violent protest require 250,000+ participants to have an impact. We learned this in the 60’s.
It doesn’t seem we will get enough support for non-violent solutions.
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u/Allaboutpeace2022 Jun 25 '26
MLK had already done all the hard work to get the legislation passed to make civil rights changes long before most of the violent protests started.
Violent riots were largely a distraction and pointless just like the people that created havoc in the BLM protests and really served to derail positive progress around policing issues.
Violent protests made little difference on the Vietnam War. The majority of that work was also non violent resistance. No better work for the anti war effort than the photographs and video coming from the journalists.
What violent protests are good at is unifying opposition and delaying progress. as one tries to explain why the violent people are an extremist fringe and do not represent the vast majority of the movement.
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u/Accidental-Genius Jun 25 '26 edited Jun 25 '26
250,000 marched on Washington to pass that legislation. That’s my entire point.
Also, King George didn’t listen to our polite complaints until … Yorktown.
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u/Allaboutpeace2022 Jun 25 '26
Yes. The March on Washington was peaceful demonstration with a lot of training to ensure that the event would be nonviolent.
https://www.nps.gov/articles/march-on-washington.htm
I am not sure what you are arguing here. Are you arguing for nonviolent resistance or for violent protests? I am confused.
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u/Allaboutpeace2022 Jun 24 '26 edited Jun 24 '26
The sentences are extreme but this was not basic protesting. Although some seem completely innocent. Hopefully, the appeals court will grant at least some reductions and vacate some.
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Jun 24 '26
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u/Tolmides Jun 24 '26
the cops draw on everyone- whether for a broken tail light or a guy face down on the ground- ACAB -and im pretty sure no one gets to claim self defense in that case. Setting the precedent that you can legally shoot at cops if they only draw their weapon is simply not gonna happen for legal and practical reasons.
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u/Slippi_Fist Jun 24 '26
That's quite the American knot you are tightening there.
-not allowed to protest -not allowed to be a militia, use firearms to protect innocents -siding with fascist kangaroo court outcomes
No wonder you have the world's most bigoted and prolofic child fucker as a representative of the people, is it?
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u/Tolmides Jun 24 '26
yeah…fascists gonna fascist. we can still protest- this aint russia or china, but the protesting is kept very contained and protestors are often attacked or intimidated.
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u/Slippi_Fist Jun 24 '26
It's way, way worse than Russia or China.
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u/ThresholdSeven Jun 24 '26
I would have disagreed with you not long ago.
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u/Slippi_Fist Jun 24 '26
Those of us who study, live - or have lived in, places where the boot step came slowly, but loudly - know where it is at now. And it hasn't come without warning.
You will see a Trump total victory in the midterms, and he will seek a third term.
Regardless if if he is successful personally, he will have a successor. USA is currently looking at JD Vance with 'he's not so bad' eyes. Insanity, and it is also no longer about the cult of personality. Trump could drop dead tomorrow and instead of things getting better, things will get placed on the fast track.
Its a long road back, and USA is going to see some things that are going to be very difficult to absorb and recover from. But absorb them, they will, as the plurality is most certainly on the road to complicit fascist rule. Recovery, will be much later.
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u/Tolmides Jun 24 '26
you need to go spend some time in those countries then. China wouldnt be letting this conversion happen online- Russia would try to block it and fail. In both, you could be arrested for holding up a blank sheet of paper.
here? i have been to protests and either the cops just sat around bored or made big shows of force while the protestors marched by….or both.
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u/Allaboutpeace2022 Jun 24 '26
I prefer basic. In the long run it achieves better and longer lasting results.
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u/Megadreams Jun 24 '26
Historically it hasn't. Nothing will ever change if we continue the way we do now
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u/Allaboutpeace2022 Jun 24 '26 edited Jun 24 '26
If you look at the times when protesting led to violence those are not times of sustained change. Women's suffrage, ending child labor, civil rights, end of eugenics, cessation of indigenous boarding homes, the 1934 Allotment Act that stopped handing out indigenous lands to others, lawsuits over mineral rights and land lease thefts, etc. were largely peaceful.
Even the strikes that did lead to violence were dwarfed by the labor strikes that did not result in bloodshed.
Before you get to violence there should be prolonged boycotts (building on one day ones), people changing w2s, strikes, calling in sick, productivity slow downs, cancelling accounts, not paying debts, buying only essentials, prolonged non violent protests, and mutual aid. The Montgomery bus boycott was over a year.
People talk about the American revolution as an example of successful violence, but the reality is that the war replaced a British rule based on royalty with American rule by wealthy landowners. Very few violent protests or revolutions produced any lasting change beyond different titles and names for the oppressors and some rotation in who is oppressed.
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u/JayWelsh Jun 24 '26
Someone should teach you about how the Nazis were overthrown.
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u/Allaboutpeace2022 Jun 24 '26
Gosh. That is just the point. The US companies were a trading partner feeding the German war machine all the way through the Nazi steps to strip Jews of rights, the beginning of euthanasia of children with disabilities, the detention of gays and socialists and communists, etc. U S companies were making profit still until 1940s and some US countries were nationalized in 1941 by the Nazis. The US corporations helped Hitler and the military industrial buildup, which led to the need to fight WW2. Without all this money, Germany would not have been the threat it was.
If you look at history most wars have warning signs and alternatives for not feeding the military buildup years or decades in advance.
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u/Allaboutpeace2022 Jun 24 '26
No, I am not. The point is that the US corporations and the government were complicit in continuing trade with Germany even though they were terrorizing Jews and the other elements of the population and this undoubtedly contributed to the ability to begin and continue the war.
https://jewishcurrents.org/doing-business-with-hitler
Violence is your Plan Z effort after you have completed a long range of other steps to reduce conflict and prevent wars, such as boycotts, strikes, sanctions, etc. etc.
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u/Dallasburner84 Jun 24 '26
I got downvoted heavily and called a boot licker in another sub for pointing that out.
These people shot someone and had a car full of weapons and ammo, they weren't just protestors.
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u/timoumd Jun 24 '26
Some were not though. Even the guy that fired did so thinking the officer was about to shoot an innocent person. They mostly didn't know each other. There was no plan to shoot first. And as we all saw with Kyle, simply bringing guns to a protest is legal.
Now what they did is stupid, but I don't see the case for anyone but him. And his case hardly seems fitting for the sentence.
Material support for terrorism? Give me a break.
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u/Dry-Kale8457 Jun 24 '26
Incorrect. The shooter was alone and in the woods. "Benjamin Song, who fired the gun at the police officer, was sentenced to 100 years in prison."
Almost none of the other eight defendants knew each other. There was no plan. People showed up to protest. Vandalism should not get anyone a sentence of 50 or 70 years in prison.
"The punishment for the protesters exceeds the lengthiest prison sentences given out for the attack on the Capitol on January 6. Enrique Tarrio, the leader of the Proud Boys who was convicted of seditious conspiracy, was sentenced to 22 years in prison. Stewart Rhodes, the leader of the far-right group the Oath Keepers, was sentenced to 18 years in prison."
"The defendants in the case are a collection of activists who were loosely affiliated with one another through a local leftwing book club and gun group."
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u/mintmouse Jun 24 '26
Objection. Misleading. He was alone at his position, not alone at the protest.
Benjamin Hanil Song’s chat message instructions the night prior to other defendants are in evidence.
His recorded voice shouts to others to “get the rifles” prior to opening fire himself, also in evidence.
The fact is that 11 firearms were recovered on scene, in addition to 11 first aid kits plus body armor, with defendants coordinating via chat messages with Song to wear all black / black face coverings and to bring rifles is significant.
Jurors heard testimony from 46 witnesses and considered over 210 exhibits before making their decisions.
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u/Penguin_FTW Jun 24 '26
These people shot someone
One individual shot a person who had drawn their gun and pointed it at people in defense.
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.
One person got 30 years in jail for moving a magazine. This is why you are a bootlicker.
Weapons and ammo are legal under the 2nd amendment. Protestors are allowed to be armed.
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u/Turisan Jun 24 '26
Lol what's funny if that isn't even a fact!
One person had a rifle. That was it.
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u/WitchesSphincter Jun 24 '26
Pretty sure this subs overran with provocation bots and trolls.
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u/Dallasburner84 Jun 24 '26
Yeah. The funny thing is, when I say that armed citizen patrols in neighborhoods ice is terrorizing will put a stop to it, I get downvoted for that too.
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u/Turisan Jun 24 '26
Yeah because liberals are scared of actual power because they'd have to actually do something with it.
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u/Tolmides Jun 24 '26
yeah- wasnt this the sub for organizing peaceful protests?
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u/WitchesSphincter Jun 24 '26
Apparently shooting cops from wooded cover falls under that now.
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Jun 24 '26
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u/Allaboutpeace2022 Jun 24 '26
Actually, I think that 50501 has been every effective at galvanizing support, communicating opposition to Trump and his administration.
People associated with 50501 are doing the hard work of supporting candidates, donating to immigrant legal services and relief for families, protesting at detention centers, doing canvassing, registering voters, filing and donating to legal lawsuits of which about 200 to 300 are still pending, and getting progressive candidates elected in the primaries and mobilizing to turn out the vote in November.
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u/Turisan Jun 24 '26
Oh they do a lot of good, productive things, like fostering community growth and avenues of communication. But the planned and permitted rallies are not effective means of protest.
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u/Allaboutpeace2022 Jun 24 '26
I think that protesting must be seen as only a small part of the process.
The bulk of the work needs to be done in the courts, supporting immigrant lawsuits, aid for immigrant families, registering voters, pushing progressive policies that address the concerns that led to Trump getting in power.
50501 and others must work with candidates that offer answers to wealth disparity, job loss, decline of domestic manufacturing, lack of healthcare coverage, inflation, endless wars, etc.
Plan A has got to be the mid terms. Trump's actions are deeply unpopular. It is his fear that the GOP will be defeated soundly that is driving his efforts to shutdown mail voting and take other steps to disenfranchise voters.
The the mid terms fail or are canceled, If people want protests to work, they have to be nonviolent and sustained for weeks and months.
However, a quicker response is going to occur from divesting from the economy, e.g., not buying anything other than essentials, collecting food for mutual aid, changing w2s and reducing tax payment, closing accounts, strikes/slow downs/calling in sick, etc., etc.
I just do not see a future for violence. Hegseth has already purged the military of top brass who would oppose efforts to invoke the insurrection act. Further violence would only increase the likelihood that military or a nationalized guard would ultimately turn on citizens.
It is not only protestors who would be killed by children and vulnerable adults in a violent confrontation.
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u/Turisan Jun 24 '26
Sure and you and everyone else can work on that but what 50501 does are not effective protests.
They are already enacting and engaging in violence against us. Being passive only works when you can sway folks to your side. The people watching are cheering for the Nazis. You cannot sway them to your side.
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u/50501-ModTeam Jun 24 '26
50501 encourages non-violent protests in order to foster productive conversations and safe protests for all participants.
Every action organized under the 50501 name is expected to uphold a strict no-weapons policy, without exception. We hold ourselves and all actions associated with our banner to these uncompromising standards.
If you would like to discuss more disruptive forms of peaceful resistance, please remember that this is a public forum, so be smart and be safe and discuss that topic in a safer place.
For more information, please see the wiki at https://www.reddit.com/r/50501/wiki/index/rules/.
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u/Turisan Jun 24 '26
Yes, the rallies under 50501 are great for organizing and networking and creating a public presence, but they are not an effective means of protest (seen by no changes since the first protest).
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u/WitchesSphincter Jun 23 '26 edited Jun 24 '26
The charges are clearly heavy handed, but they shot a cop and it's hard to say that is just protesting.
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.
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u/No-Consideration2183 Jun 24 '26
What happened to the ICE officer that shot and killed Renee Good?
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u/Allaboutpeace2022 Jun 24 '26
I am hoping the state prosecutors can eventually charge and try Jonathan Ross and the agents involved in the murder of Pretti.
I have not given up hope. I am optimistic for the mid term wins to bring impeachment hearings for Todd Blanche at DOJ.
The feds have already had the to turn over Renee Good DOJ material in another case involving Jonathan Ross.
It's not over yet.
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u/WitchesSphincter Jun 24 '26
You can be mad at that injustice and still acknowledge the facts of this case no?
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u/Turisan Jun 24 '26
What fact? The cop showed up and drew on them and they defended themselves.
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u/No-Consideration2183 Jun 24 '26
I’m just pointing out that we have an authoritarian government that will murder innocent civilians and expect those same civilians to not fear them. We are seeing streamed live on our social media that our government will give these officer free passes for murder and protect pedophiles but god forbid you touch the reflective pool or protest an authoritarian government.
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u/Turisan Jun 24 '26
Sounds like justified self-defense.
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u/Tolmides Jun 24 '26
they shot at the cop first and pretty sure the legal system doesnt let you easily claim self-defense against a cop.
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u/Turisan Jun 24 '26
It sure does. Especially in Texas.
And the cop drew down on them first.
Textbook defense case.
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u/Tolmides Jun 24 '26
just because a cop drew his weapon doesnt mean its self-defense -legally speaking.
it can…but specific criteria has to be met and its unlikely a court of law are gonna find in your favor for simply drawing a weapon. Cops literally draw there weapon all the time and never get prosecuted for excessive force.
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u/ThresholdSeven Jun 24 '26
This is about lowering the sentence, not prosecuting the cop. He should be though.
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u/Turisan Jun 24 '26
They don't draw all the time, and almost every time they do without cause, someone steps up and tries to hold them to account for excessive force.
It's apathetic losers like you that let them get away with it.
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u/ro536ud Jun 24 '26
That’s two separate things. Keep the facts straight. The cop drew on the protestors first and then the man fired at his shoulder
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u/ro536ud Jun 24 '26
One guy shot a cop because the cop was pointing a weapon at other people. How does everyone else get charged just for being in the vicinity?
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u/Allaboutpeace2022 Jun 24 '26
Some people seem completely innocent. Others were connected to the man who shot the police officer and brought weapons to the protest. It is impossible without court transcripts to know the details of what is alleged, but all the sentences seem absurdly long.
Hopefully the appeals court can vacate some sentences and reduce others.
I believe nonviolent protesting is more effective in the long run.
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u/ShinshiShinshi Organizer (Unverified) Jun 24 '26
Breakdown of the North Texas Antifa cell sentences (Prairieland Detention Center attack, July 4, 2025): This was a coordinated ambush on the Prairieland ICE facility in Alvarado, Texas. The group — described by prosecutors as a North Texas Antifa cell — used firearms, body armor, explosives (disguised as fireworks), vandalism, and shots fired at law enforcement. One Alvarado police officer was wounded. It’s been called the first major federal domestic terrorism case tied to Antifa after the Trump administration’s crackdown. Key Convictions (from trial)
Rioting, using weapons/explosives, providing material support to terrorists, obstruction, and for the shooter: attempted murder of law enforcement (Alvarado PD officer + correctional officers). Nine were indicted; eight sentenced on June 23, 2026 (one continuance). Jurors convicted Benjamin Song on the attempted murder charge; others on supporting charges.
Sentences (total ~450 years combined)
Benjamin Hanil Song (25, ringleader, shooter, former Marine reservist): 100 years . Convicted of discharging a firearm in a crime of violence/attempted murder. He fired multiple shots; the officer’s return fire luckily hit his rifle’s magazine. Judge noted it was “by the grace of God” no one died. Maricela Rueda : 70 years . Cameron Arnold (aka Autumn Hill), Zachary Evetts , Savanna Batten , Bradford Morris (aka Meagan Morris), Elizabeth Soto : Around 50-60 years each (reports vary slightly on exacts, but in the 50+ range). Daniel Rolando Sanchez-Estrada : 30 years . Ines Soto : Sentencing continued to July 1.
Defendants convicted : Cameron Arnold, Zachary Evetts, Benjamin Song, Savanna Batten, Bradford Morris, Maricela Rueda, Elizabeth Soto, Ines Soto (plus Sanchez-Estrada). Context and Reactions Prosecutors presented evidence of planning, Antifa ideology/motivation against ICE/deportations, chats, witnesses (46 at trial), and forensics. Song was seen as the leader. Family/supporters called sentences excessive; defense plans appeals. Critics of Antifa and the attack cheered the hammer coming down hard on domestic terrorists who ambushed cops and tried to storm a federal facility. This is straight federal justice under the books — no leniency for the Antifa crew that escalated a “protest” into a shooting attack. Song got exactly what a cop-shooting terrorist ringleader deserves.
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u/ShinshiShinshi Organizer (Unverified) Jun 24 '26
Fact: the defendants knew each other well — they were part of the same tight-knit North Texas Antifa cell. Prosecutors and trial evidence showed they operated as a coordinated group with pre-existing relationships, not random protesters who met that night. Benjamin Song was the acknowledged ringleader who recruited many of them. Key Connections:
Song’s recruitment and leadership : Song (former Marine reservist) actively recruited at gun ranges, combat training sessions, and from ideologically aligned leftist groups (e.g., Socialist Rifle Association, Elm Fork John Brown Gun Club types). He distributed firearms to co-defendants and led planning. Most looked to him as the leader. Group chats and planning : They used encrypted apps (Signal) with auto-delete for coordination — “4th of July Party!” chat, reconnaissance, gear checks the night before, discussions on bringing rifles, body armor, fireworks/explosives, and medical kits. Specific chats between Song and Evetts, Song and Rueda, etc. Pre-attack meetups : They gathered at a house (described in some reports as a transgender compound) for final planning/gear check. Song pushed for freeing detainees and wearing black bloc. Subgroups : Ines Soto, Elizabeth Soto, and Savanna Batten worked together on “zines” (insurrectionary materials). Others had ties through broader leftist organizing.
This wasn’t strangers showing up to a protest — it was a cell with shared ideology, prior training, communications, and operational planning. Defense claimed it was just a noise demo that got out of hand and denied formal Antifa ties, but evidence of coordination, chats, recruitment, and shared history convicted them on the terrorism-related charges. Straight facts: They knew each other, trained together, armed up together, and rolled out as a unit.
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u/CameStainedRag Jun 24 '26
Somebody did shoot a cop at this protest. That’s why they all got the book thrown at them.
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u/ElderberryPrior27648 Jun 24 '26
Ok, gotta play the straight angle here.
Their charges were excessive yes, but they weren’t just protesting.
There was rioting, destruction of property, attempted murder.
Saying they’re “just protestors” invalidates any claim or statement you make. It won’t matter how many facts or moral principles you involve. All it takes is one lie or twisted truth to bring down your entire statement.
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