Eight people with alleged ties to Antifa have been sentenced to a total of 450 years in prison for their roles in a riot outside an immigration detention centre in Texas, where a police officer was shot. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing BBC News.
A former US Marine Corps reservist, convicted of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, was sentenced to 100 years in prison. The others received sentences ranging from 30 to 70 years, according to the Justice Department.
Last year, President Donald Trump designated Antifa as a "domestic terrorist organisation". A US judge called their actions on 4 July "an assault on democracy", while their families condemned the length of the sentences.
"The sentences handed down today make clear that Antifa terrorists who attack law enforcement and federal facilities will face swift and uncompromising justice," Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement.
The US Department of Justice said the North Texas Antifa Cell operatives began shooting off and throwing fireworks at the facility in Prairieland, just south of Dallas, on Independence Day last summer, as well as vandalising vehicles and a guard kiosk.
The eight were convicted on charges including rioting, using weapons and explosives, providing material support to terrorists, and obstruction.
Benjamin Hanil Song, the purported leader of the group, was sentenced to 100 years. According to the Justice Department, he faced a minimum penalty of 20 years. Song said in a written statement that he fired his gun because he believed the police officer was preparing to shoot a protester. His mother, Hope Song, has disputed claims that he shot the officer and said he didn't intend to hurt anyone.
Maricela Rueda was sentenced to 70 years; Cameron Arnold (also known as Autumn Hill), Savanna Batten, Zachary Evetts, Bradford Morris (also known as Meagan Morris) and Elizabeth Soto were each sentenced to 50 years; and Daniel Rolando Sanchez-Estrada was sentenced to 30 years.
A ninth defendant, Ines Soto, will be sentenced on 1 July. Seven others involved in the incident pleaded guilty before the trial to one count of providing material support to terrorists. They will also be sentenced on 1 July.
The DOJ said the North Texas Antifa Cell was part of a network of individuals and small groups ascribing to an ideology that calls for the overthrow of the US government, law enforcement and the system of law.
The defendants' supporters say the punishments were unduly harsh. While other immigration facilities have seen numerous protests, the Prairieland site had been relatively free of disruptions.
Some attendees said they believed that night was supposed to be a "noise demonstration" that did not include violence. The defendants have denied any affiliation with Antifa and said they attended to support detained immigrants.
Antifa has long been a target for Trump. In September, he signed an executive order designating the loosely organised, far-left movement as a domestic terror organisation. Critics say Antifa is an ideology, not an actual group with an organised leadership structure, and that subscribing to a specific ideology is not a crime.