* Fundraising text…

NAME, it’s Kat Abughazaleh. I have learned that Donald Trump’s Department of Justice has charged six people, including myself, with federal crimes for exercising our First Amendment rights near ICE’s Broadview processing center.

This is a political prosecution and a gross attempt at silencing dissent, a right protected under the First Amendment.

Here’s the truth: As I and others exercised our First Amendment rights, ICE has hit, dragged, thrown, shot with pepper balls, and teargassed hundreds of protesters, myself included.

This case is yet another attempt by the Trump administration to criminalize protest and punish those who dare to speak up. Because Chicago doesn’t back down from bullies in masks who teargas our neighborhoods, this administration is resorting to weaponizing the federal legal system to scare us into silence.

THEY know they are wrong, they know that they are inhumane, and they know that history will not be on their side. We cannot diminish ourselves in the face of these tactics; it’s time to unite and show up for humanity, for our rights, for everyone terrorized by Trump’s lawless secret police.

This legal fight will be extraordinarily expensive, and I need you on my team. Just $1 from each of our supporters would go a long way to ensuring we have the resources we need to defend the First Amendment. xxxx.us/xxxx?t=xxxxx

Thank you, and stay safe,

Kat Abughazaleh
Text STOP to quit

* From the indictment, which was unsealed today…

On or about September 26, 2025, at approximately 7:45 a.m., Agent A was wearing civilian clothes driving a government-owned vehicle (the “Government Vehicle”) to the BSSA [Broadview Service Staging Area] to report for his official duties. Agent A’s official duties at the BSSA included supervising logistics such as intake, processing, bedspace and transportation coordination for those temporarily detained in Broadview, communicating with upper management and federal partners to manage operations and ensure necessary supplies and proper staffing levels, and responding to requests for information, both internally and from the public. […]

On or about September 26, 2025, at Broadview, in the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division,

MICHAEL RABBITT,
KATHERINE MARIE ABUGHAZALEH,
ANDRE MARTIN,
CATHERINE SHARP,
BRIAN STRAW, and
JOSELYN WALSH,

defendants herein, conspired with one another and others, known and unknown, to prevent by force, intimidation, and threat, Agent A, a United States law enforcement officer, from discharging the duties of his office, and to injure him in his person or property on account of his lawful discharge of the duties of his office, and while engaged in the lawful discharge thereof, and to injure his property so as to interrupt, hinder, and impede him in the discharge of his official duties.

It was part of the conspiracy that, as Agent A drove the Government Vehicle and reached the vicinity of the BSSA on or about September 26, 2025, and turned west onto Harvard Street in Broadview, a group of individuals, including RABBITT, ABUGHAZALEH, MARTIN, SHARP, STRAW and WALSH, surrounded the Government Vehicle, with the intent to hinder and impede Agent A from proceeding to the BSSA and discharging the duties of his office.

It was further part of the conspiracy that, while surrounding the Government Vehicle, RABBITT, ABUGHAZALEH, MARTIN, SHARP, STRAW, WALSH, and others, among other things, banged aggressively on the Government Vehicle’s side and back windows, hood, and other vehicle body parts; crowded together in the front and side of the Government Vehicle and pushed against the vehicle to hinder and impede its movement; scratched the body of the Government Vehicle, including etching a message into the body of the vehicle, specifically the word “PIG;” broke one of the Government Vehicle’s side mirrors; and broke a rear windshield wiper off the Government Vehicle.

More here.

Rabbitt is the 45th Ward Democratic Committeeperson. Sharp is running for Cook County board.

…Adding… From Sen. Laura Fine, another CD9 Democratic candidate…

I am disgusted by the partisan and unethical indictments of Kat Abugazelah and five others at the direction of Donald Trump’s weaponized Justice Department.

This unjust prosecution is an attempt to intimidate and silence those who stand up for their rights and beliefs. It’s an attack on anyone sickened by masked men roaming our streets and shoving our neighbors into unmarked cars. It’s a threat to everyone willing to call this what it is: creeping tyranny.

Today it’s Kat. Tomorrow it could be any one of us. This administration wants to rob us of our empathy - to make us afraid to fight for one another. But we cannot abandon the values that make us who we are. We’re a community that shows up, links arms, and refuses to look away. No indictment, no threat, no act of intimidation will change that.

* Daniel Biss…

“The only people engaged in violent and dangerous behavior at Broadview have been ICE. As someone who has protested at Broadview multiple times, I know these protests are nonviolent demonstrations against the kidnapping of our neighbors. Now, the Trump Administration is targeting protestors, including political candidates, in an effort to silence dissent and scare residents into submission. It won’t work.

“I hope these frivolous charges are dropped immediately and Trump begins to listen to the vast majority of Americans who oppose his terror campaign.”

* Granato is running against Sharp for county board…

The following statement can be attributed to Democrat Elizabeth Granato, candidate for Cook County Board of Commissioners District 12:

“Donald Trump’s decision to indict protestors for exercising their constitutional right to speak out against federal agents targeting our communities is beyond the pale. I’ve demonstrated at Broadview myself, and we’ve all seen violence being incited by federal agents, not protestors.

“After pardoning January 6th rioters who assaulted police officers, Trump is once again weaponizing the Department of Justice, this time against ordinary Americans who believe in the rule of law.

“We will not be distracted from unconscionable violations of civil liberties ICE and CBP commit and the terror they unleash against our communities.

“I will continue to bear witness and fight alongside my neighbors as we work to protect our communities and keep families together,” said Elizabeth Granato.

* Wednesday Journal…

Oak Park Village Trustee Brian Straw was one of six indicted on conspiracy to impede the work of a federal law enforcement officer according to U.S. Northern District of Illinois court documents filed last week. […]

Straw provided Wednesday Journal the following comment Wednesday:

“I joined the protests at the Broadview ICE detention facility because of what is happening to our immigrant neighbors: children zip-tied and shoved into vans, mothers pulled from cars on the way to school, neighbors afraid to go to church or work. The Trump Justice Department’s decision to seemingly hand-pick public officials like me for standing up against these inhumane policies will not deter me from fulfilling my oath of office. I will fight these baseless charges, and I will continue to stand with and protect our immigrant neighbors.”

* Cat Sharp…

Cook County Board candidate Cat Sharp responds to federal indictment for participation in protest at Broadview ICE facility
CHICAGO (Wednesday, October 29, 2025)–Cook County Board candidate Catherine “Cat” Sharp responded to federal charges brought against her and five other defendants on Wednesday for their participation in protest activity outside of the Broadview, Illinois ICE processing facility in September.

“The charges brought against Ms. Sharp are ludicrous,” said attorney Molly Armour, who is representing Sharp. “We are confident that a jury of Ms. Sharp’s peers will see them for exactly what they are: an effort by the Trump administration to frighten people out of participating in protest and exercising their First Amendment rights.”

“As long as ICE is terrorizing members of our community and disregarding due process, I believe we must continue to speak out,” said Sharp. “I’m proud of my work organizing in our neighborhoods to keep our immigrant neighbors safe from harm.”

“The federal government is targeting my chief of staff, Cat Sharp and others for standing up and speaking out against their brutal campaign against immigrants. They want to scare our community into submission. It won’t work,” said Ald. Andre Vasquez (40). “With these charges, they’re acting with the same lack of regard for the constitution that we’ve seen from them every day on the streets of Chicago. All we need to say is ‘see you in court.’”

Cat Sharp is a candidate in the March 2026 Democratic primary election for the 12th District Cook County Board seat currently held by incumbent Commissioner Bridget Degnen, who is not running for reelection.