Felony Dropped Against Remaining 'Broadview Six' Defendants: Report

EVANSTON, IL — A federal judge on Thursday dismissed the felony conspiracy count against the four remaining defendants in the “Broadview Six” case, leaving only misdemeanor counts of impeding an immigration agent, the Chicago Tribune reported.

U.S. District Judge April Perry granted a motion from prosecutors in federal court in Chicago and told the defendants, “Congratulations, you all are no longer charged with felonies,” according to the Tribune. The remaining defendants are Oak Park Trustee Brian Straw, former congressional candidate Katherine “Kat” Abughazaleh, Andre Martin and 45th Ward Democratic Committeeman Michael Rabbitt.

The case stems from a Sept. 26, 2025, protest outside the ICE facility in Broadview. According to the indictment, protesters surrounded an ICE vehicle and “banged aggressively” on its windows, hood and doors before they “crowded together in the front and side of the Government Vehicle and pushed against the vehicle to hinder and impede its movement.”

The Tribune reported that prosecutors earlier dropped charges against Catherine Sharp and Joselyn Walsh. Defense attorney Christopher Parente, who represents Straw, argued this week that prosecutors should turn over unredacted grand jury transcripts, and after Thursday’s ruling, he renewed that request.

The Tribune reported that Perry plans to take up that issue again at the next hearing on May 18. If the case goes to trial as scheduled on May 26, it would be a rare federal misdemeanor trial at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse.

Read more from the Chicago Tribune: Judge tells ‘Broadview Six’ defendants ‘congratulations’ and dismisses conspiracy count.