DGNO

Human Rights

Illinois Congressional Candidate Kat Abughazaleh Indicted Over Protest Actions, Sparking Constitutional Concerns

Supporters call charges politically motivated; prosecutors allege obstruction and unlawful conduct during demonstrations.

Abughazaleh is running for Illinois' 9th congressional district. She is being federally indicted for participating in anti-ICE demonstrations and is being charged with 2 counts of conspiracy to impede or injure an ICE officer, as of now, no major evidence suggests this is true.
Abughazaleh is running for Illinois' 9th congressional district. She is being federally indicted for participating in anti-ICE demonstrations and is being charged with 2 counts of conspiracy to impede or injure an ICE officer, as of now, no major evidence suggests this is true.

By Ruben Caz · · Updated

CHICAGO, Illinois — Congressional candidate for Illinois’ 9th district Kat Abughazaleh has been indicted by a federal grand jury along with five others over conduct at an ICE protest that occurred on September 26th, 2025 according to court documents. Core counts include conspiracy to impede (delay or prevent) or injure a federal officer and assaulting/impeding an officer. Co-defendants include Andre Martin, Catherine Sharp, Michael Rabbitt, Brian Straw, and Joselyn Walsh.

Abughazaleh’s response says the case is politically motivated and a First Amendment issue; she denies criminal wrongdoing and vows to fight the charges. Her exact quote:

“This is a political prosecution and a gross attempt at silencing dissent, a right protected under the First Amendment. This case is yet another attempt by the Trump administration to criminalize protest and punish those who dare to speak up,” Abughazaleh said in a statement Wednesday originally reported by the Associated Press.

Key alleged acts according to prosecutors: they allege a group surrounded/blocked a government vehicle (details unclear if it was a marked or unmarked government vehicle), impeded a federal officer, and damaged the vehicle; one report notes the word “PIG” etched on the vehicle.

Prosecutors allege the group surrounded a government SUV, banged on it, blocked its movement, broke a mirror and a rear wiper, and etched the word “PIG” into the body of the vehicle as the agent tried to enter the facility. The government says the agent was forced to drive at an “extremely slow rate of speed” to avoid injuring anyone.

Viral video circulating online shows a different story, in a demonstration outside of an ICE facility in Broadview, IL. Video shows a federal officer drag Abughazaleh some feet backwards before she is thrown and hits the ground hard. Local reporting notes that video linked by the Justice Department shows protesters pushing against the SUV, but does not show the alleged vandalism referenced in the indictment. That discrepancy is likely to be litigated at trial.

Editor’s note: This piece distinguishes confirmed allegations in charging documents from claims by defense and prosecution. Assertions of motive are presented as allegations. All factual statements are traceable to the linked sources above.