Equating protest with terrorism: A narrative against dissent

September 29, 2026

The Trump administration has systematically labeled protesters, particularly those opposing immigration enforcement and police violence, as "domestic terrorists," a tactic that echoes similar governmental strategies used globally in countries like Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Venezuela, and the UK. This narrative intensified after federal agents killed protester Alex Pretti in Minnesota during a large-scale immigration operation, with officials claiming he was a terrorist despite video evidence contradicting their account. The administration has formalized this approach through executive orders designating groups like "Antifa" as terrorist organizations and issuing memoranda that broadly criminalize protest-related activities, raising serious First Amendment concerns.

Who is affected

Black Lives Matter protesters and movement participants
Alex Pretti (killed protester in Minnesota)
Renee Nicole Good (killed during immigration enforcement operation)
Asylum seekers arrested outside immigration courts in Portland, Oregon
More than 4,000 people arrested during Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota
11,000 people represented as disappeared on protest quilt
Antifa activists and those ideologically aligned with them
Palestine Action members in the UK
Protesters in Sri Lanka (2022), Tunisia (2023), and Venezuela (2024)
Civil rights groups filing lawsuit
Immigration enforcement protesters in Oregon and Minnesota
Electoral workers detained in Venezuela

What action is being taken

ICE and Border Patrol officers are conducting immigration enforcement operations across multiple states with documented excessive use of force
The Trump administration is implementing executive orders and memoranda designating protest groups as domestic terrorists
Federal prosecutors are investigating "conspiracies to impede" law enforcement actions
A coalition of civil rights groups is pursuing a lawsuit against the administration (filed September 2026)
Activists are displaying an 11,000-patch quilt at the Minnesota State Capitol protesting ICE violence

Why it matters

This matters because it represents a fundamental threat to democratic freedoms and constitutional rights, particularly the First Amendment protections for peaceful protest and free speech. By labeling dissent as terrorism, governments can justify extraordinary measures to suppress opposition, including arrests, violence, and broad surveillance—actions the UN Human Rights Committee has explicitly warned against. The framing of protesters as terrorists creates a chilling effect on civic participation and normalizes the use of counter-terrorism laws against legitimate political expression, undermining the relationship between citizens and government that is essential to democratic governance. This trend is global, demonstrating how authoritarian tactics can be adopted even in established democracies.

What's next

Federal law enforcement deployment is anticipated during the coming mid-term elections
The civil rights coalition's lawsuit against the administration will proceed through the courts

Read full article from source: Global Voices