Fifteen face charges in case alleging antifa ties to ICE plot
Erik Davis was driving to a medical appointment in St. Paul, Minnesota, on June 16 when federal agents surrounded his car, arrested him, and placed him in a belly chain, he told the Guardian. Davis, a professor at Macalester College, is one of 15 people charged in a 94-page indictment alleging a conspiracy to “impede or injure” Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers during immigration enforcement actions in the Twin Cities earlier this year.
The indictment argues that Direct Action Minnesota, the loose coalition of organizers Davis was connected with, conspired to obstruct federal law enforcement and had “ties” to “antifa,” an umbrella term for anti-fascist activism. The government alleged that the defendants used “force, intimidation, and threats” to prevent officers from carrying out their duties.
Davis said he was not accused of violent acts, taking any specific actions at protests, or having any encounters with ICE agents. “It’s petty revenge,” Davis said. “They’re trying to portray being part of a community as an illegal conspiratorial act.”
The indictment alleges Davis helped facilitate an “emergency meeting” on Jan. 11, four days after an ICE officer killed Renee Good, a Venezuelan man, during a raid. The meeting drew more than a hundred participants and included discussions of civil disobedience, marches, and “blockades” to stop ICE officers, according to the indictment. Prosecutors also cited a post by Davis in a Signal group sharing information about upcoming protests and encouraging people to be at a federal immigration building.
“Far more important than anything that happens to us is continuing to organize against the armed masked people in our streets,” Davis said.
Minnesota U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen said at a press conference that the prosecution supported President Donald Trump’s executive order designating “antifa” a “domestic terrorist organization.” To support the alleged antifa connection, the Department of Justice highlighted a photo showing one defendant wearing an “I’m Antifa!” sweatshirt and quoted another defendant’s Facebook post saying: “YOU WILL NEVER WIN WITH NON-VIOLENCE ALONE.” The indictment does not cite any comments by Davis about antifa.
A similar federal case against demonstrators in Chicago collapsed last month. Protesters in Texas were recently convicted of terrorism charges and sentenced to decades behind bars after one protester shot and injured an officer. Prosecutors have not alleged any specific injuries to officers in Minnesota.
Civil rights advocates have said these prosecutions, even when unsuccessful, are part of an effort to criminalize lawful community organizing and weaken movements opposing deportations.
Co-defendant Natasha Rakotz faces conspiracy charges and a separate accusation that she followed an ICE officer’s vehicle on May 18, “brake checked” and “side swiped” the car, causing a collision. Rakotz denied the allegation, telling the Guardian the collision was an accident. State records show she received a misdemeanor citation for allegedly violating her “duty to drive with due care,” a charge later dropped because federal prosecutors were filing charges covering the incident. The assault charge carries up to 20 years.
“I really believe these charges are going to get dropped because they’re unfounded and ridiculous,” Rakotz said. “But I feel like the process is the punishment.”
A trial date has not been set. The 15 defendants are under a strict no-contact order, cutting Davis off from close friends who are also defendants. Davis said the case has made it difficult to sleep and has strained his personal relationships. He said he worries about the impact on his academic career.
“This isn’t just about us. It’s about trying to scare everybody who opposes ICE,” Davis said.