Prosecutors in Arizona are charging 15 Black Lives Matter protesters w assisting in a criminal street gang, rioting, & aggravated assault (all felonies) for carrying umbrellas & wearing black at a peaceful protest where some traffic cones were knocked over https://theappeal.org/maricopa-county-black-lives-matter-protest-gang-charges/

Police and prosecutors are claiming the 15 are part of a gang called "ACAB" or all cops are bastards, purportedly because some of the protesters used that phrase. Video footage of the protest contradicts officers statements

The protesters and their attorneys say many of the 15 don't even know each other, they just responded to a flyer on social media advertising the protest. One wasn't even at the protest, he's just a photographer from Prescott who was downtown taking pictures while it happened

The 15 are facing serious consequences. They now have arrest records. They could spend years in prison. They're spending $ on lawyers. If convicted, it will be harder for them to get jobs, housing, & some gov't assistance. If convicted of a felony, they'd lose the ability to vote

Some of the 15 have been offered plea deals, but it’s unlikely any will take it: it requires them to plead guilty to two felonies, including the street gang charge. In AZ, those charges cannot be expunged or later downgraded to a misdemeanor & puts them in a higher sentencing cat

“It’s outrageous,” said Paul Gattone, an attorney for three of the protesters. “I was shocked when I came on the case and saw they had charged them with organized street gang activity. They are trying to say that ACAB is an organization like the Crips and the Bloods."

The case is being prosecuted by the "first responder bureau," which handles crimes against first responders and was established by Allister Adel. The bureau is led by ex-Phoenix cop Tom Van Dorn. The lead prosecutor is April Sponsel, who is married to an Arizona state trooper.

It's Sponsel who decided to bring the gang charges against the protesters, who were in the streets demanding justice not just for the killing of George Floyd, but for Dion Johnson, who was shot and killed by an Arizona state trooper on the same day as Floyd

“As County Attorney Adel has publicly stated numerous times, MCAO is committed to protecting the safety of everyone in this community, law enforcement and demonstrators alike," a spokesperson for Adel said in defense of the charges.

But just last week, Adel’s office declined to bring charges against the Phoenix cop who threatened to shoot Mayor Kate Gallego, stating that they could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officer’s statements constituted a true threat

When armed rightwingers went to the county elections office in Nov to “stop the steal,” the police presence was noticeably less intense. No tear gas, no arrests. Present then was Jake Angeli, who last week stormed the Capitol (which led to the deaths of five people)