Four Black rights activists have been convicted of conspiring to act as unregistered agents for Russia, according to the US Justice Department.
The activists, Omali Yeshitela, Penny Hess, Jesse Nevel, and Augustus Romain, could face up to five years in prison. However, they were found not guilty of the more serious charge of being foreign agents.
Yeshitela, 82, founded the African People’s Socialist Party and Uhuru Movement. Hess and Nevel are allies of these groups, and Romain leads a related organization called Black Hammer.
Prosecutors said the activists acted on behalf of Russia from 2015 to 2022, receiving support from Aleksandr Ionov, a Russian who used these groups to promote Russian views.
Ionov is alleged to have worked under the supervision of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB).
Despite the convictions, the jury did not find evidence that the activists were directly working as Russian agents.
Some of their actions included drafting a petition accusing the US of genocide against Africans and trying to influence local elections.
The activists’ lawyers argue that the case attempts to suppress their views. They plan to appeal the convictions.
Credit: BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c624ppg14jpo