Left-wing ‘influencers’ are not above the law

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“This is a political prosecution and a gross attempt to silence dissent,” Abughazaleh claimed in a video that has since received millions of views and garnered her sympathy and support across left-leaning media. 

Of course, if the Trump administration really were prosecuting Abughazaleh simply for peacefully protesting against ICE and mass deportation, that would be a horrifying attack on free speech and in direct violation of the First Amendment. But that’s simply not what’s happening in this case. 

On the contrary, the Department of Justice is specifically charging the progressive activist with “forcibly impeding and interfering with a federal agent who was engaged in immigration enforcement operations.”

“All federal officials must be able to discharge the duties of their office without confronting force, intimidation, or threats,” United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Andrew Boutros said. “As we have warned repeatedly, we will seek to hold accountable those who cross the line from peaceful protests to unlawful actions or conspiracies that interrupt, hinder, or impede the due administration of Justice.”  

According to the indictment, a mob of protesters attempted to prevent a government vehicle from entering a federal facility, blocking the street, swarming the vehicle, and banging their bodies against it, allegedly damaging it and delaying its movement. 

You simply can’t do that. Physically pounding your body against a law enforcement vehicle and trying to stop officials from doing their work is not peaceful protest or “free speech.”

Now, Abughazaleh, like any American, deserves the presumption of innocence. But footage from the “protest” explicitly confirms the DOJ’s version of events. You can easily, clearly see her on camera, physically pushing against a federal vehicle and trying to prevent an ICE employee from entering the federal facility.

That’s not a legitimate form of peaceful protest. And prosecuting you for physically attempting to obstruct federal officials from doing their jobs is not an attack on your First Amendment rights.

Imagine that your local police are engaged in some controversial law enforcement action that people are upset by, such as forcing a business to close during the pandemic. And some protesters go beyond peacefully demonstrating against this and instead decide to block the street and try to push patrol cars away from getting to the business.

Would anyone be surprised if they were immediately arrested and charged with a crime? Would anyone take the idea that they were just engaged in “free speech” seriously? Of course not. And while the underlying causes and issues at stake are different, the same principles apply to Abughazaleh’s case.

Now, she claims this is a “political prosecution” and part of a broader pattern where the Trump administration has weaponized federal law enforcement. And it is true that the president has publicly demanded the prosecution of specific political enemies, such as James Comey and Adam Schiff, in a way that is wildly improper and does suggest a politicization of the justice system. 

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Yet this isn’t a concern in Abughazaleh’s case. Yes, she is a Democrat being prosecuted by a Republican administration, but she also, in my opinion, clearly committed a federal crime on camera. She’s not being framed or persecuted; she’s being held accountable. And if you can’t prosecute someone who commits a crime just because they’re from the opposite party, even when the charges are well substantiated, then you’re giving a pass to anyone who runs for office to do whatever they want.

Left-wing influencers and politicians are not, in fact, above the law. And Kat Abughazaleh is apparently going to have to learn that lesson the hard way. 

Brad Polumbo is an independent journalist and host of the Brad vs Everyone podcast.