In Fort Worth, Texas, a former U.S. Marine reservist, Benjamin Song, along with seven others, received lengthy prison sentences related to a shooting incident at a Texas immigration detention center. The event took place during a demonstration last year and led to the wounding of a police officer.
Prosecutors identified the shooting as an act of terrorism and claimed connections to the antifa movement. However, the defendants’ attorneys and family members denied these associations and expressed outrage over the severe sentences.
U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor stated that the incident constituted an “assault on democracy.” He emphasized the importance of deterring such conduct, highlighting the need for strong punitive measures. The maximum sentence of 100 years was imposed on Song, while the others received terms ranging from 30 to 70 years.
The case has garnered attention beyond Texas, raising concerns about its implications for protests and First Amendment rights. This sentencing marks the first time individuals linked to antifa have been penalized following President Donald Trump’s executive order designating antifa as a domestic terrorist organization.
During the trial, prosecutors argued that the presence of firearms, first aid kits, and body armor indicated malicious intent. Defense attorneys countered that these items were meant for personal protection, asserting that the gathering was planned as a peaceful event for supporting immigrants before gunfire erupted. Song’s defense pleaded that there was no intention for harm or violence.
Family members and attorneys of the defendants plead for leniency, stating that the gathering appeared more as a party rather than a protest with violent intent. They insisted that defendants had no involvement in planning or committing violence during the demonstration.
Alongside Song, several individuals received harsh sentences ranging from 30 to 50 years. One of the accused, Daniel Sanchez Estrada, who was not present during the shooting, was convicted of concealing documents and sentenced to 30 years.
In a related development, federal prosecutors in Minnesota charged 15 people for obstructing immigration enforcement. These individuals are accused of being antifa members aiming to thwart government actions through blockades and projectiles.
Associated Press reporter Marcelo reported from New York, with contributions from Kendria LaFleur.