Military veterans are increasingly facing arrest and injury while protesting Donald Trump’s deportation campaign and the deployment of National Guard troops to American cities, The Guardian has found. Eight instances have been identified in which veterans were prosecuted or sought damages after being detained by federal agents.
The latest incident occurred in Broadview, Illinois, where 70-year-old air force veteran Dana Briggs was charged with felony assault on a federal officer. A video on social media shows a masked ICE agent advancing on and knocking over Briggs during a protest outside a detention centre. Federal prosecutors allege Briggs made physical contact with the agent’s arm. He pleaded not guilty and was released on bond.
Another veteran, John Cerrone, a former Marine who served in Afghanistan, was arrested the day before Briggs. Video shows masked agents tackling him as teargas is deployed. Cerrone says he was held for nine hours in a cell with blood, hair and mucus on the walls, and that an ICE agent boasted of shooting him with rubber bullets and insulted him. He received a citation for disorderly conduct, which he plans to contest.
A White House spokesperson, Abigail Jackson, said anyone assaulting law enforcement would be held accountable, and claimed a 1,000% increase in assaults on ICE officers, though no data was provided. The Department of Justice said it would uphold the rule of law.
On Thursday, US district judge Sara Ellis issued a temporary restraining order barring federal agents from using riot control weapons against journalists, protesters and religious practitioners in Chicago unless there is probable cause of a crime. Demi Palecek, an Illinois National Guard member, criticised ICE agents’ handling of weapons as reckless and dangerous.
