Self-identified Antifa member caught on video urging armed resistance as feds charge 15 in Minneapolis cell

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Federal prosecutors on Tuesday announced charges against 15 alleged members and associates of two Minneapolis-based Antifa-linked groups, accusing them of conspiring to obstruct federal immigration operations, stalk officers, assault law enforcement, and damage government property.

The charges stem from an investigation into Direct Action Minnesota, a group prosecutors say organized efforts to disrupt federal immigration enforcement operations during Operation Metro Surge and other law enforcement activities.

Twelve defendants were arrested Tuesday morning. One defendant was already in federal custody and two others remained at large.

Explicit video shown during press conference

U.S. Attorney Andrew Rosen played a profanity-laced video during the press conference in which alleged Direct Action Minnesota leader Kyle Wagner, who identifies himself as Antifa, urges followers to abandon peaceful protest in favor of armed resistance.

“[We’re] not talking about peaceful protests anymore,” Wagner says in the video. “This is exactly what I said was gonna f-cking come when we didn’t f-cking go and march on f-cking Whipple [Federal Building] with guns.”

At another point, Wagner urges followers to “get your f-cking guns and stop these f-cking people.”

Rosen referenced the video as evidence supporting the government’s claim that members of the organization embraced confrontation rather than peaceful activism.

Federal prosecutors allege Direct Action Minnesota trained members in the use of homemade shields, surveillance tactics, operational planning and rapid mobilization against law enforcement.

According to Rosen, members allegedly used overturned vehicles, RV trailers, barricades, and other obstacles to obstruct roads used by federal officers near the Whipple Federal Building.

Prosecutors also allege members stalked and followed federal officers away from government facilities and to their homes.

One defendant allegedly followed federal officers from the Whipple Building all the way to Hudson, Wisconsin, where local deputies ultimately stopped him. Those allegations follow exclusive reporting previously published by Alpha News.

In April, a contractor who works at the Whipple Federal Building told Alpha News that protesters and activists routinely followed employees after they left work and, in one instance, discovered what she believed was a tracking device concealed beneath her SUV.

“Such stalking and other direct actions against law enforcement are criminal,” Rosen said. “They’re un-American, and they’ll be met with swift justice.”

Those named in the indictment include Isaac Auman Sant, Emmett James Doyle, Cameron Kennedy, Callum Robinet, Erik Davis, Brian Stillwell Apland, Kyle Wagner, Hannah Margaret Van de Water Davis, Treasure Cay Thoreson, Nathan Junho Kim, Alec Stewart, Douglas Misterek, Dustin Scott Beisell, William Morgan, and Natasha Rakotz.

Officials draw distinction between protest and violence

Both Rosen and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy repeatedly emphasized that the case is not about political viewpoints or peaceful protest.

“Peaceful protest is a protected right and a cornerstone of our democracy,” McCarthy said. “We respect and defend that right. However, there’s a clear line that cannot be crossed. When protest turns into riot, violence, or criminal activity, it becomes unlawful, and it will not be tolerated. Unfortunately, some groups have crossed that line.”

McCarthy said organized assaults, threats, destruction of property and efforts to obstruct federal officers cross a line that federal authorities will continue to prosecute.

“You may not agree with the laws. You may protest the laws. But you must follow the laws or face the consequences,” McCarthy said.

Reporters question indictment, seek updates on unrelated probes

If the first half of the press conference focused on the government’s allegations, the second half featured a series of exchanges between Rosen and members of the Minnesota press who repeatedly focused on the legitimacy of the charges rather than details of the alleged conspiracy.

Reporters spent little time asking about the video shown moments earlier, in which Wagner allegedly urged followers to arm themselves and abandon peaceful protest, or prosecutors’ claims that members coordinated efforts to stalk federal officers and obstruct immigration enforcement operations.

“How can juries be assured that what’s in this indictment and these affidavits is true and based on facts?” one reporter asked.

Another reporter suggested the case amounted to a “thought crime.”

“I’m not sure that anything I just said is a thought crime,” Rosen responded. “We have a group of people who quite deliberately got together, planned violence, used violence … whether or not they actually caused bodily harm is not the measure of whether they committed a serious federal crime.”

Protesters gather outside the federal courthouse in Minneapolis where the charges were announced. (Alpha News)

Rosen repeatedly directed reporters to the indictment, arguing that the evidence would ultimately speak for itself in court.

Several reporters, however, continued to focus elsewhere — on the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti — pressing Rosen for updates on potential charges against officers instead of asking further questions about the alleged conspiracy detailed during the press conference.

Investigation ongoing

Federal officials said the investigation remains ongoing and warned that others engaged in similar conduct could face future prosecution.

“If you are actively conspiring to impede law enforcement, actively conspiring to commit the acts that today’s indictment alleges, you ought to go on the assumption that we’re watching you,” Rosen said.

“And that we’ll get you.”

 

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