Wearing All Black at Protests Makes You Guilty of Terrorism, Prosecutors Tell Jury

Federal prosecutors are seeking to convict nine defendants on charges including attempted murder and terrorism counts, arguing that wearing "black bloc" clothing at a protest outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility near Dallas constitutes material support for terrorism. During a 10-day trial in Fort Worth, Texas, prosecutors presented evidence including radical zines and anti-government internet memes, arguing these materials showed defendants were "steeped in antifa tactics." Defense attorneys contend that prosecutors have overcharged the case, which stems from a late-night noise demonstration where a local police officer was wounded by gunfire, and are attempting to criminalize protest. Eight of the nine defendants face material support for terrorism charges for wearing "black bloc" clothes, a tactic prosecutors claim provided camouflage for others. This case is seen as a bellwether for the Trump administration’s crackdown on left-wing dissent, with Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel hailing the first-ever use of terrorism charges against alleged antifa members.