Four US black rights activists have been found guilty of conspiring to act as unregistered Russian agents, though they were acquitted of the more serious charge of acting on behalf of a foreign government. The activists, including Omali Yeshitela, Penny Hess, Jesse Nevel, and Augustus C. Romain Jr., face a maximum penalty of five years in prison, with no sentencing date set yet.
The trial was part of broader legal proceedings against Russian human rights activist Aleksandr Ionov, accusing the defendants of carrying out actions in the US on behalf of the Russian government between 2015 and 2022. All four activists are affiliated with the African People’s Socialist Party and the Uhuru Movement, with the defense claiming they were targeted for their pro-Russian views.
In an interview, Ionov criticized the lack of evidence against them while Yeshitela emphasized their commitment to working for black people. The defense also raised concerns about the lack of black jurors in the trial. Despite the conviction, the activists remain steadfast in their fight for black rights.