Far-Left Groups Organized Anti-ICE Protests in Austin, Investigation Finds
Socialist and communist organizations mobilized rapidly after an ICE agent shot a Venezuelan national, promoting the event through established networks.
A network of far-left socialist and communist groups, including the Democratic Socialists of America, the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and the Party for Socialism and Liberation, coordinated and promoted protests in Austin, Texas, following the shooting of a Venezuelan man by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent. These groups utilized pre-existing activist networks and online platforms to amplify the incident, portraying it as an act of "ICE terror" and "police violence."
The shooting occurred Sunday afternoon when an ICE officer discharged a firearm during a traffic stop, wounding Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez, a 28-year-old Venezuelan national. Pérez was hospitalized and subsequently taken into federal custody. Federal authorities are investigating the incident, with assistance from the FBI.
Within hours of the shooting, activists from these organizations were present at the scene, sharing footage and mobilizing supporters through social media. The Party for Socialism and Liberation's national account posted an announcement of the shooting, urging residents to protest ICE and advocating for "ICE OUT OF AUSTIN NOW!" The group's Austin chapter and other Texas chapters quickly shared this message.
Similarly, the Austin chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America announced an "Emergency Demonstration/Vigil" shortly after the shooting, calling for a "spontaneous protest and vigil against yet another instance of ICE and police violence."
The Freedom Road Socialist Organization, described as an openly Marxist-Leninist group, also disseminated promotional material, characterizing the shooting as "ICE SHOOTS AN UNARMED CIVILIAN" and part of a pattern of "ICE violence and killings." This group has openly stated its goal of building a "revolutionary, communist party" and has expressed support for the Communist Party of China and the Communist Party of Cuba.
These organizations, some of which are linked to nonprofits funded by American-born tech tycoon Neville Roy Singham, have been investigated by congressional lawmakers for allegedly fomenting unrest in the U.S. Their mobilization in Austin mirrors tactics used in previous protests in locations such as Minneapolis and Newark.
The Party for Socialism and Liberation, which describes itself as a "revolutionary socialist" movement aiming for communism, functions as a key organizer within a broader network that includes organizations like the People's Forum, BreakThrough News, CodePink, and the ANSWER Coalition. These groups collaborate on protests, media campaigns, and international solidarity efforts.
Social media posts from these groups often featured dramatic language and calls to action. For instance, the Party for Socialism and Liberation shared a live video from the protest scene accompanied by the song "We've Got to Take the Power Back" by Rage Against the Machine, aiming to create the impression of a spontaneous uprising.
By the evening of the protest, an expanded statement titled "Justice for Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez" was published, demanding the detainee's release and the agent's arrest, and urging supporters to "follow the example of Minneapolis earlier this year until ICE terror is defeated!"
Later that evening, a call to action directed activists to the Pearsal Detention Center, where the groups claimed ICE agents were holding the detainee, urging people to mobilize "boots on the ground."