Eight Antifa Protesters Convicted on Terrorism Charges in Texas

Verdict raises concerns over free speech and the criminalization of protest

Mar. 16, 2026 at 1:54am

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A federal jury in Fort Worth, Texas, has convicted eight people of domestic terrorism charges stemming from their participation in a protest outside an ICE detention facility in Alvarado, Texas, on July 4, 2025. The charges were expanded from the initial 'attempted murder of a police officer' to include material support for terrorism, following President Trump's designation of 'antifa' as a domestic terror group and the release of National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 (NSPM-7), which directs federal law enforcement to target left-leaning groups.

Why it matters

The verdict has raised concerns among legal experts and civil liberties advocates about the potential impact on the right to protest and the government's efforts to suppress dissent. The case represents the first conviction of individuals accused of affiliation with 'antifa,' a loosely connected anti-fascist movement that the president has designated as a domestic terror group despite the lack of an organized group structure.

The details

During the protest, one participant shot and wounded a police officer. Prosecutors argued that wearing black clothing to the protest constituted material support for terrorism. The defense cautioned the jury about the free speech implications of the charges, with one attorney arguing, 'The government is asking you to put protesters in prison as terrorists. You are the only people who can stop that.'

  • The protest took place on July 4, 2025.
  • President Trump designated 'antifa' as a domestic terror group in 2025.

The players

Suzanne Adely

Interim president of the National Lawyers Guild.

Pam Bondi

Attorney General.

Shawn Smith

Assistant U.S. Attorney.

Blake Burns

Attorney for defendant Elizabeth Soto.

Christopher Weinbel

Attorney for defendant Daniel Rolando Sanchez Estrada.

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What they’re saying

“A case like this helps the government kind of notice how far they can go in criminalizing constitutionally protected protests and also helps them kind of intimidate, increase the fear, hoping that folks in other cities then will think twice over protesting.”

— Suzanne Adely, Interim president of the National Lawyers Guild

“Antifa is a domestic terrorist organization that has been allowed to flourish in Democrat-led cities — not under President Trump. Today's verdict on terrorism charges will not be the last as the Trump administration systematically dismantles Antifa and finally halts their violence on America's streets.”

— Pam Bondi, Attorney General

“Providing your body as camouflage for others to do the enumerated acts is providing support. It's impossible to tell who is doing what. That's the point.”

— Shawn Smith, Assistant U.S. Attorney

“The government is asking you to put protesters in prison as terrorists. You are the only people who can stop that.”

— Blake Burns, Attorney for defendant Elizabeth Soto

“The U.S. Lost today with this verdict.”

— Christopher Weinbel, Attorney for defendant Daniel Rolando Sanchez Estrada

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow the defendants to be released on bail pending sentencing.

The takeaway

This case highlights the government's efforts to crack down on dissent and protest, using broad terrorism charges to criminalize constitutionally protected activities. The verdict raises concerns about the chilling effect on free speech and the potential for further erosion of civil liberties under the Trump administration's policies targeting left-leaning groups.