East Side Poet Assaulted by Feds - Now She's The One On Trial

More than 1,500 people have signed a petition demanding federal prosecutors drop charges against Isabel “Isa” Lopez, an East St. Paul poet and community organizer arrested for protesting the presence of ICE during a federal raid on Lake and Bloomington in Minneapolis.

Isabel, 27, was taken into custody days after the protest and now faces four federal counts, including assaulting officers and obstruction during civil disorder despite footage circulating online of her being assaulted by federal agents.

Her arrest drew swift backlash. Community members say Lopez was targeted after speaking out against the heavy-handed tactics used by agents in a neighborhood with a large immigrant population. Supporters also note she was violently detained only moments after conducting an interview with Emmy award winning independent journalist Georgia Fort about her concerns for personal safety as a Latina activist.

Advocates argue that the charges against Lopez are an attempt to criminalize dissent and intimidate those who document or protest government action and deportations.

Demonstrators have gathered outside courthouses calling for her case to be dismissed.

The petition to drop all charges continues to circulate online, gaining momentum as Lopez’s next hearing approaches on Sept. 29. Organizers are urging the public to sign and share the petition as a show of solidarity.

To learn more or to sign the petition click here.