Overview
- Prosecutors allege the group surrounded a government SUV on Sept. 26, banged on it, and caused damage including a scratched “PIG,” a broken side mirror, and a snapped windshield wiper.
- The defendants are Kat Abughazaleh, Catherine Sharp, Michael Rabbitt, Andre Martin, Brian Straw and Joselyn Walsh, several of whom hold or are seeking local political offices.
- Some defendants also face counts of assaulting, resisting or impeding officers; the conspiracy charge carries up to six years in prison, and related intimidation charges carry up to eight.
- Judge Heather McShain declined a request to require passport surrender, kept the defendants free on bond, and set the next hearing for Dec. 4.
- Supporters rallied outside the courthouse as an attorney moved to block Broadview’s 9 a.m.–6 p.m. protest curfew on First Amendment grounds.