Jacob Hoopes

Jacob Hoopes is an activist Quaker and the son of a much respected and loved Quaker friend of mine. His situation is emerging as an example of the administration’s ongoing campaign to intimidate those who protest the strident attacks on citizens’ rights and democracy itself.

Law journalist Joyce Vance says, “The worst risk in this moment is that the administration will manage to normalize its treatment of immigrants. That it will normalize the denial of due process to people with brown skin. That it will rock the foundations of our Constitution, which offers fundamental protections to all people, not just citizens.”

Silencing protest is essential to “normalizing” abuse of power. This amounts to the state-sponsored terrorism that Timothy Snyder has warned of.

I don’t know the specifics of the charges, or anything about the circumstances. But it seems extrodinary that Jacob was arrested at his home weeks after the protest.

Updates:

July 29

The DOJ issued a press release after the arraignment. Fox News covered it. Hundreds of thousands protested peacefully all across the country on No Kings day. The No Kings protests were peaceful, even upbeat and cordial. As your follow the emerging events, be skeptical of accounts that seek to generalize or sensationalize.

Portland man accused by federal government of assaulting ICE officer

Robert Jacob Hoopes was arrested more than a month after the June 14 protest.

Portland Man Charged with Assaulting a Federal Law Enforcement Officer and Damaging Federal Property During Violent Protest at Local ICE Office

A Portland man made his initial appearance in federal court today after committing various offenses – including aggravated assault of a federal officer and damaging federal property – during a violent protest at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in South Portland.

Portland Quaker charged with assaulting federal officer in anti-ICE riot

A man whose father said he was a “lifelong Quaker,” is facing charges after his alleged actions during an anti-ICE protest in Portland, Ore. He now faces federal charges.

Portland man charged with assaulting federal officer, damaging property during ICE protests

A Portland man made his first appearance Monday in federal court after being charged with multiple crimes relating to a protest at the Portland ICE office, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Oregon.

July 30

The ethics and objectivity of the Trump/GOP DOJ is severly compromised. Read this clip from Talking Points Memo:

‘Fuck the Justice Manual’: A New Trump DOJ Assault on the Rule of Law

The Justice Manual is the DOJ’s internal handbook of rules on prosecutorial conduct. According to a damning Bloomberg Law piece, Bill Essayli, Trump’s interim US Attorney in Los Angeles, said “fuck the Justice Manual” in response to questions from line attorneys about his pursuit of indictments against anti-ICE protesters. (Morning Memo has previously discussed reports of LA-based grand juries not returning indictments against protesters and prosecutors being forced to drop felony charges because of false evidence presented by arresting officers.) Bloomberg sourced the quote to four current and former prosecutors in the office.

Here is another article about Hoopes arrest:

Supporters Pack Courtroom for Portlander Facing Federal Protest Charges

Robert Jacob Hoopes and his girlfriend looked out their bedroom window last Friday morning to find FBI agents surrounding their home. A minute later, the armed officers were pounding at their door, demanding they open up, reportedly without providing a warrant. Eventually, they learned the federal officers were there to arrest Hoopes, 24, for allegedly throwing a rock at an ICE officer and damaging the Portland ICE facility during a protest in June. Hoopes, who…