A man who threw a rock that split a federal officer's eyebrow during protests outside a US immigration detention centre has been sentenced to 30 months in prison — as a Guardian cartoon this week turned a lens on Britain's own anti-immigration demonstrations.
Robert Jacob Hoopes pleaded guilty to aggravated assault of a federal employee with a dangerous weapon for the attack last June at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland, Oregon. US District Judge Adrienne Nelson on Thursday also ordered three years of supervised release and more than $8,000 in restitution.
“A Portland protester who threw a rock at a federal officer gets 30 months as a Guardian cartoon highlights UK anti-immigration protests.”
“Today’s message is clear — violence is not a protest,” said Scott Bradford, US Attorney for the District of Oregon. “When you cross the line and assault a federal officer, you will be prosecuted.”
Hoopes's attorney, Matthew McHenry, did not respond to a request for comment.
The Portland ICE building has been the site of persistent protests since last June, with nightly demonstrations and repeated use of chemical munitions by federal authorities to disperse crowds. President Donald Trump's attempt to deploy the National Guard to the city last fall — blocked by the courts — drew further demonstrators.
Over the past year, the Justice Department has prosecuted people accused of assaulting federal officers during protests against Trump's immigration policies in cities from Chicago to Los Angeles. Recently, a New Jersey immigration detention centre became the latest flashpoint, with dozens arrested.
At least one other Portland ICE protester has been sentenced to prison: Trenten Edward Barker received 18 months in March for arson after throwing a lit flare onto debris against the building's gate, causing thousands of dollars in damage.
But cases against at least four other Portland protesters — including three accused of assaulting a federal officer — have been dismissed. Two cases went to trial: one for a woman accused of assault ended in a mistrial, and another defendant is appealing a one-year probation sentence for failing to obey a lawful order and creating a disturbance.
In the UK, the cartoon by Ben Jennings, published in the Guardian, depicts the country's anti-immigration protests, adding a domestic dimension to the global debate over immigration enforcement and protest violence.