US veterans decry arrest of ex-army sergeant after Ice protest | US news
Veterans who help the US Afghan allies refuge in the USA He is accused of the role of the Trump administration in a protest against immigration policies.
Some say the arrest of the former US army Sergeant Bajun Mavalwalla II and the arrest of “shameful” and “non -American”. Mavalwalla part of a community American army After Kabul fell into the Taliban in 2021, veterans working to save Afghans supporting US military operations in their own countries.
“He’s one of us – and his arrest is sending a message that the peaceful opposition is punished, Sha said Shawn Vandiver #AfghanevacBringing together military veterans, national security leaders, intelligence workers and refugee rights groups, a Umbrella Group wrote to the membership after explaining the arrest of Mavalwalla on Tuesday.
“We want to say this high and clear. We will not be intimidated,” the navy veteran Vandiver wrote.
The protest against Ice, June 11, which led to the arrest of Mavalwalla, smashed the windshield of a government minibus and cut the tires, but Mavalwalla was not among more than two dozen people arrested at the scene.
A minute video Published on Instagram The army briefly shows a senior, face with a ski mask and an officer covered with sunglasses. Mavalwalla then locks the arms with other demonstrators to block the door outside a federal building in Spocane.
The FBI passed more than a month before he came to his door on July 15, and the 35 -year -old Afghanistan took the war veteran with handcuffs. He is not accused of blocking or attacks, typically involving a victim and aggressive actions; The federal conspiracy accusation he encounters is an intention crime. Legal experts say that prosecutors should prove that Mavalwalla has accepted with others in the plan to block or wound an officer.
Mavalwalla claimed he wasn’t guilty. Maximum six years of imprisonment, a fine of $ 250,000 and a three -year -old evacuation.
“This is not the subject of America, Arn A retired army colonel, who spoke to Afghanistan and served as a joint board, said,” This is not the subject of America. ” Operation Snow LeopardAn effort to help release and rebuild about 2,000 high -risk Afghan, including children, female leaders, human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists, interpreters, athletes and filmmakers.
“We are moving as veterans and we model the road,” he said. “We set the example. When we are abroad, we show what it means to be an American in the countries where the war breaks down.”
Participating in the protest in Spokane, Strong, Mavalwalla’nın honesty acting and continuing the tradition of service in uniforms, he said.
Michael Baumgartner, a Republican representing the East Washington province at the congress, refused to comment for this story.
Veterans defenders support Baumgartner’s efforts and Permanent welcome lawIn August, the two -party legislation for the Afghans working with the US army will coding and will coding and will do.
They said that Donald Trump, who ended the evacuation flights, restricted asylum petitions and imposes a travel ban on visitors from the country, became critical after a series of executive orders.
The US Law Office in Spokane, who brought the charges, did not respond to an investigation. The Office refused to comment on Guardian’s first report by referring to an ongoing investigation.
Vandiver said that despite the arrest of Mavalwalla, he would proceed with a plan to accompany Afghanevac’s Afghan allies to accompany the migration hearings, California And Massachusetts.
One expressionThe Human Rights, which facilitated the Pro Bono for the Afghan refugees, called Mavalwalla’s conspiracy as “a dangerous step towards authoritarianism”.
“What we see is an aggressive attempt to dismantle our basic civil and human rights, using Mavalwalla II as a test case because they want to do Mavalwalla II on a mass scale, Han “Everyone should worry about it.”
John Moses, an army officer who worked in Afghanistan and founded the Massachusetts Afghan Alliance after coming home, also supported Mavalwalla.
“The veterans on the board are incredibly proud of that child,” he said. “If they go after a war veteran with an experienced father, it becomes easier to go after everyone. We should stand up for civilians and democracy.”
Moses, Lowell, Massachusetts began to help a local immigrant rights group, the society to warn immigration scans, followed the presence of ice agents and plans to participate in an ice detention facility next week. Orum I’m trying to keep my community safe, ”he said.
