Washington (Lord Media): Eight individuals, including former Marine reservist Benjamin Song, have been sentenced to prison for shooting during a protest outside an immigration detention center in Texas, injuring a police officer. Song received a 100-year prison sentence, while the other seven were sentenced to between 30 and 70 years.
Prosecutors claimed the incident was an act of terrorism and linked the defendants to the left-wing group Antifa, which was labeled a domestic terrorist organization by former President Donald Trump. Defense lawyers denied this connection, stating that the defendants were participating in a political protest.
Family members of the defendants expressed outrage over the harsh sentences. Lydia Koza, partner of Autumn Hill, stated that the government aims to ruin their lives merely for participating in a protest, despite no fatalities occurring in the incident.
Judge Reed O’Connor stated that the event was not a protest but an attack on democracy, and harsh sentences are necessary to prevent such incidents. Critics argue that this decision could impact the right to protest and freedom of expression in the United States.
According to the Department of Justice, this is the first case where individuals linked to Antifa have been sentenced. Prosecutors noted that the presence of weapons and protective gear among the protesters indicated their violent intentions.
