Minnesota activists face conspiracy charges after federal crackdown on immigration protests
Fifteen members of Direct Action Minnesota were indicted on conspiracy charges for allegedly obstructing Homeland Security officers during the Trump administration’s Operation Metro Surge.
On June 16, a grand jury returned an indictment against fifteen individuals identified as members or associates of Direct Action Minnesota, charging them with conspiracy to impede Homeland Security officers during the administration’s Operation Metro Surge. The complaint alleges that routine activist activities - from moderating gatherings to posting online and fundraising - constituted a coordinated effort to block federal agents.
This legal action follows the issuance of National Security Presidential Memorandum 7, which creates a broad domestic-terrorist label without clear statutory authority. While headlines have labeled the group as “Antifa,” the 94-page indictment mentions anarchism on a limited number of pages, highlighting a strategy to portray the defendants as extremist. Organizer Cameron Kennedy, one of the accused, contends the prosecutions are intended to deter effective grassroots resistance and has received community support despite the charges.
Why it matters
The case shows how federal authorities are using broad terrorism language to target community organizers.
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