Operation DAMN — The Minnesota Anti-ICE Antifa Conspiracy
The Minnesota Anti-ICE Antifa Conspiracy
In their own words, they are "a decentralized coalition of working-class people engaged in various forms of community defense against the current Federal Occupation happening within the wider metro area, and against state and a far-right violence more broadly." The federal government has a different description: an organized Antifa conspiracy that trained its members in shield combat, military-style obstacle deployment, agent surveillance, and encrypted operational communications — and then deployed those capabilities against federal immigration officers for six months.
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Editorial Notice: All factual claims in this report are sourced directly to the federal grand jury indictment (Case CR 26-115 KMM/DTS, filed June 11, 2026), the DHS press release (June 16, 2026), and photographic evidence submitted by federal law enforcement. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Verbatim quotes are reproduced exactly as they appear in the indictment. NFA does not promote harassment of any individual.
■ Section I
Who Is DAMN? The Organization Behind the Conspiracy
They called themselves Twin Cities Direct Action — TCDA. Then they renamed themselves Direct Action Minnesota. The acronym was intentional: DAMN.
In their own words, they are "a decentralized coalition of working-class people engaged in various forms of community defense against the current Federal Occupation happening within the wider metro area, and against state and a far-right violence more broadly." The federal government has a different description: an organized Antifa conspiracy that trained its members in shield combat, military-style obstacle deployment, agent surveillance, and encrypted operational communications — and then deployed those capabilities against federal immigration officers for six months.
DAMN is comprised of members from several sub-organizations. The Black Cat Worker's Collective (BCWC) — a Minneapolis-based Antifa affinity group with 11,000 Facebook followers, whose page header graphic depicts the burning of the Minneapolis Police Department's Third Precinct. The Ray Rainbolt Memorial Shooting Club — another Minneapolis-based Antifa affinity group dedicated to "community self-defense." Together, these organizations supplied the personnel, the ideology, and the muscle for what federal prosecutors describe as an "unrelenting campaign of harassment and violence."
TOP: The Black Cat Worker's Collective Facebook page — 11K likes, 11K followers. The header graphic depicts the burning of Minneapolis Police Department's Third Precinct with the text "Welcome to Minneapolis!" The BCWC is identified in the federal indictment as a Minneapolis-based Antifa affinity group "committed to militant class struggle, community self-defense, and revolution." BOTTOM: Defendant CAMERON KENNEDY's February 5, 2026 Facebook post — posted publicly, 53 reactions. Full verbatim text documented in Section III of this report and in Indictment Paragraph 89.
● Documented Finding
DAMN describes Rapid Response Networks (RRNs) as "inherently militant" with the "explicit aim of combating and stopping a federal agent with a gun." This language appears verbatim in the federal indictment as the organization's stated doctrine — not NFA's characterization. [Source: Indictment, Paragraph 5]
■ Section II
The 15 Defendants: Names, Aliases, and Roles
The federal grand jury indicted 15 individuals. Fourteen were arrested on June 16, 2026. The fifteenth remains at large. All 15 face Count One — conspiracy to impede or injure a federal officer. Several face additional individual counts.
TOP: Suspect WILLIAM MORGAN (a.k.a. Willow) — charged with interstate stalking of a federal immigration officer, assault on a federal officer, and destruction of government property (Counts 5, 6, 7). BOTTOM: Suspect ISAAC AUMAN SANT (a.k.a. Ike) — lead organizer of the conspiracy, charged with interstate stalking (Count 4). Sant led meetings, directed blockade operations, wrote propaganda for the anarchist blog Crimethinc, and surveilled ICE vehicles at the Whipple Building for months. Source: Federal law enforcement surveillance photographs.
| # | Defendant | Role in Conspiracy | Counts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaac Auman Santa.k.a. Isaac Dalto, Ike | Lead organizer. Directed blockade operations. Surveilled ICE vehicles. Wrote anarchist propaganda. Followed federal officer to Hudson, WI. | 1, 4 |
| 2 | Emmett James Doylea.k.a. Plotnikov | Shield logistics and transport. Operated U-Haul during January 23 action. Conducted shield training. | 1 |
| 3 | Cameron Kennedya.k.a. Cam, Olive Knite, Knite | Financing ($5,000 raised for Jan 23 action). Blockade planning. Publicly called for violent resistance. Described burning Third Precinct as "the happiest moment of my life." | 1 |
| 4 | Callum Robineta.k.a. Juliet K, Juliet, Cal | Security team. Vehicle surveillance of ICE convoys. Described rapid response as "something with the explicit aim of combating and stopping a federal agent with a gun." | 1 |
| 5 | Erik Davisa.k.a. Errico | Co-organizer. BCWC member. Self-identified anarchist. Moderated emergency ICE resistance meeting January 11. | 1 |
| 6 | Brian Stillwell Aplanda.k.a. Tiny | Logistics. Vetting of new members. Shield coordination. Coordinated warehouse space for shield building. | 1 |
| 7 | Kyle Wagnera.k.a. Kaos | Public Antifa figure. Distributed gas masks and shields. Threatened to murder a federal officer on Instagram. Solicited others to assault federal agents with deadly weapons. | 1, 2, 3 |
| 8 | Hannah Margaret Van De Water Davisa.k.a. Gabriel Van De Water, Nube | Communications. Fundraising (GoFundMe). Shield distribution during March 1 action. Signal group administration. | 1 |
| 9 | Treasure Cay Thoresona.k.a. Schatzi | Marshal coordination. Radio distribution. Soft blockade participant. Detained by Hennepin County deputies March 1. | 1 |
| 10 | Nathan Junho Kima.k.a. Moon Bear | Logistics. Material procurement. Participated in March 1 Whipple Building deployment. | 1 |
| 11 | Alec Stewarta.k.a. Mac | Security. Communications coordination including walkie-talkies. Soft blockade participant. | 1 |
| 12 | Douglas Mistereka.k.a. Doug, D Munny Big Dog Orf Orf | Hard blockade team. Deployed Czech hedgehogs from blue Ford F-150 on March 1. | 1 |
| 13 | Dustin Scott Beisella.k.a. Sparky | Meeting organization. Logistics support. Shield distribution during March 1 action. | 1 |
| 14 | William Morgana.k.a. Willow, Willow Tree | Stalked federal immigration officer to Hudson, WI. Assaulted federal officer May 15. Kicked government vehicle causing $1,000+ damage. | 1, 5, 6, 7 |
| 15 | Natasha Rakotza.k.a. Anuran | ICE vehicle surveillance March–May 2026. Used vehicle as a weapon — rammed federal officer's vehicle May 18. Caused collision and bodily injury. | 1, 8 |
■ Section III
The Federal Charges: Eight Counts
-
Count One
Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer
All 15 defendants knowingly conspired to prevent by force, intimidation, and threats the officers and employees of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (including ICE) from discharging the duties of their office. Conspiracy ran January 2026 through June 2026. 18 U.S.C. § 372 All 15 Defendants -
Count Two
Solicitation to Commit a Crime of Violence
On or about January 24, 2026 — Wagner solicited, commanded, induced, or otherwise endeavored to persuade another person to assault a federal officer with a dangerous or deadly weapon. 18 U.S.C. § 373 Kyle Wagner (a.k.a. Kaos) -
Count Three
Interstate Threats
On or about January 24, 2026 — Wagner threatened to assault, kidnap, and murder a federal law enforcement officer with intent to impede, intimidate, and interfere with the officer while engaged in official duties. 18 U.S.C. § 115(a)(1)(B) Kyle Wagner (a.k.a. Kaos) -
Count Four
Interstate Stalking
On or about May 4, 2026 — Sant traveled in interstate commerce with intent to kill, injure, harass, intimidate, or place under surveillance a federal immigration officer. Followed the officer from the Whipple Building to Hudson, Wisconsin. Stopped by St. Croix County deputies. 18 U.S.C. § 2261A(1)(B) Isaac Auman Sant (a.k.a. Ike) -
Count Five
Interstate Stalking
On or about May 12, 2026 — Morgan followed a federal immigration officer from the Whipple Building to the area around the officer's residence in Hudson, Wisconsin. Identified by Hudson police as the driver. 18 U.S.C. § 2261A(1)(B) William Morgan (a.k.a. Willow) -
Count Six
Assault on a Federal Officer
On or about May 15, 2026 — Morgan forcibly assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, intimidated, and interfered with a federal officer engaged in official duties. Morgan approached an agent and knocked the agent's notes out of his hand. 18 U.S.C. § 111(a)(1) William Morgan (a.k.a. Willow) -
Count Seven
Destruction of Government Property
On or about May 15, 2026 — Morgan willfully kicked a government-issued vehicle, injuring and committing a depredation against property of the United States. Resulting damage exceeded $1,000. 18 U.S.C. § 1361 William Morgan (a.k.a. Willow) -
Count Eight
Assault on a Federal Officer — Dangerous Weapon (Vehicle)
On or about May 18, 2026 — Rakotz forcibly assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, intimidated, and interfered with a federal officer engaged in official duties. She caused physical contact and inflicted bodily injury, and used a dangerous weapon — specifically, a vehicle — to "brake check" and "side swipe" the officer's government-issued vehicle, causing a collision. 18 U.S.C. § 111(a)(1) and (b) Natasha Rakotz (a.k.a. Anuran)
■ Section IV
Physical Evidence: What Law Enforcement Documented
LEFT: Back of a cargo vehicle loaded with a large white barrel shield painted "ICE OUT" in red — matching the shields described in the indictment as unloaded by DOYLE at the January 23, 2026 Whipple Building blockade. RIGHT: A Czech hedgehog — welded metal angle beams forming a static X-shaped road obstacle. The indictment describes these as deployed by defendants including MISTEREK on March 1, 2026 to block vehicle access to the Whipple Building. Caption: "An example of a blockade set up by agitators." Source: Federal law enforcement documentation.
TOP: Aerial view of the soft blockade — approximately 15-20 individuals standing shoulder-to-shoulder across the roadway near the Whipple Building highway interchange. Large shields visible. Law enforcement officers visible on the right. Snow on the ground places this in winter 2026. BOTTOM: Axon body camera footage, timestamp 2026-03-01 09:42:03 -0600 — placing this precisely at the March 1 Whipple Building action described in Indictment Paragraphs 176-205. Individuals in gas masks and face coverings wielding "ICE OUT" barrel shields directly confronting law enforcement. Caption: "Agitators engaging in a 'soft blockade,' wielding shields made of plastic, wood, and metal."
Natasha Rakotz ramming her Honda Civic into a federal immigration officer's government-issued vehicle — May 18, 2026. Dashcam image captures the moment of the vehicle assault. Rakotz "brake checked" and "side swiped" the officer's vehicle, causing a collision and bodily injury. Count Eight: Assault on a Federal Officer with a dangerous weapon.
William Morgan kicked a federal agent's government-issued vehicle on May 15, 2026, resulting in the dents documented above. Damage exceeded $1,000. Count Seven: Destruction of Government Property. Morgan was also charged with stalking a federal officer to his Wisconsin residence and assaulting an agent by knocking notes from his hand.
■ Section V
In Their Own Words: The Documented Record
The federal indictment contains hundreds of direct quotes extracted from Signal group chats, Facebook posts, Instagram videos, and public speeches. These are not paraphrases. These are verbatim statements by the defendants, documented by federal law enforcement and presented to a grand jury. NFA is presenting them in full.
■ KENNEDY — Facebook — January 13, 2026
“It’s going to get much worse and non-violent ideology and our politicians aren’t going to save us. We need to become ungovernable. We need to actively resist anyway (sic) we can to materially stop the Nazi occupation forces.”Cameron Kennedy (a.k.a. Cam, Olive Knite) — Facebook post, January 13, 2026 — Indictment Paragraph 4
■ WAGNER — Instagram — January 24, 2026 (wearing bulletproof vest)
“We’re done with peaceful protests now. The gloves come off and ICE needs to get out. Run for the hills, boys… I have repeated myself ad nauseum to deaf ears of cowards… Get your [expletive] guns and stop these [expletive] people.”Kyle Wagner (a.k.a. Kaos) — Instagram video, January 24, 2026, wearing bulletproof vest — Indictment Paragraph 72-73 — Basis for Count Three: Interstate Threats
■ KENNEDY — Facebook — February 5, 2026
“YOU WILL NEVER WIN WITH NON-VIOLENCE ALONE. Ever. No one has. No one will. You absolutely need militants to win. I’m sorry the world is so cruel but this is the real world, not a [expletive] fairytale. This pacifism bullshit is [expletive] killing us and if I die on any hill, it’s to let you know that Pacifism has deeply damaged the movement more than anything and it needs to be totally abandoned as an ideology for us to even have a chance of winning.”Cameron Kennedy — Facebook post, February 5, 2026 — Indictment Paragraph 89 — Posted on Black Cat Worker’s Collective page
■ KENNEDY — Seattle "Anarchist Speaking Tour" — April 18, 2026
“The [burning and looting of the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct] was the happiest moment of my life.”Cameron Kennedy — Public speech, Anarchist Speaking Tour, Seattle, Washington, April 18, 2026 — Indictment Paragraph 232
■ ROBINET — Chicago "Anarchist Speaking Tour" — April 2, 2026
“Community defense also means attack, right… There’s also like an inherent militancy into this project and it’s all part of like a chain of insurgency… Rapid response is an inherently militant project… this is something with the explicit aim of combating and stopping a federal agent with a gun.”Callum Robinet (a.k.a. Juliet K) — Public speech, Anarchist Speaking Tour, Chicago, Illinois, April 2, 2026 — Indictment Paragraph 227-228
■ KENNEDY — Delaney Hall ICE Facility — June 6, 2026
“Those cars [leaving the Delaney Hall facility] need to be stopped by any means necessary… blockades, tire spikes, bashing windows and disabling. Anything. When cars are used as a weapon, all bets are off.”Cameron Kennedy — Signal group chat, June 6, 2026 — Indictment Paragraph 268
● NFA Note
All quotes above are sourced verbatim from the federal grand jury indictment — a certified legal document presented to and returned by a federal grand jury. These statements were made by the defendants in writing, on video, and in public speeches. They are offered here without editorial embellishment because they require none.
■ Section VI
How They Operated: Six Months of Documented Tactics
■ Hard Blockades
Czech hedgehogs — welded steel X-shaped military-style obstacles — deployed from vehicles to block all access to the Whipple Building. Debris, wood, and trailers also used. Goal: trap ICE vehicles inside the federal building perimeter.
■ Soft Blockades
Lines of shield-bearers standing shoulder-to-shoulder across roadways. Shields made from plastic, wood, metal — and half-barrel drums painted "ICE OUT." Used to "aggressively wedge or break through teams of officers on foot."
■ Surveillance Network
"Whipple Watch" — members photographed every ICE vehicle entering or leaving the Whipple Building, logging license plates into a publicly searchable database. "Dispatchers" relayed real-time location of federal agents to "commuters" who intercepted them.
■ Agent Stalking
"Commuters" followed federal immigration officers in vehicles from the Whipple Building to locations across Minnesota and into Wisconsin — including to the agents' residences. Two defendants were stopped by police in Hudson, WI after crossing state lines while following agents.
■ Encrypted Communications
Signal group chats with up to 1,000 members — created and deleted nightly. Multiple parallel groups: "TC DA," "DAMN," "Whipple Watch," "Whipple Plates," "SecuritAs," and others. Members used burner phones for ICE surveillance. Cell phones confiscated at meetings.
■ Interstate Coordination
DAMN participated in "Anarchist Speaking Tours" in Chicago, Ann Arbor, and Seattle — spreading blockade tactics nationally. Recruited members from California, Chicago, and nationwide anarchist networks. Connected to the Black Rose Anarchist Federation and Crimethinc international anarchist platform.
■ DHS National ICE Officer Safety Statistics — June 16, 2026
Assaults on ICE Officers
Vehicle Attacks on ICE Officers
Death Threats Against ICE Officers
■ Section VII
Six Months: The Complete Timeline
■ Key Overt Acts — January 2026 Through June 2026 — Source: Federal Indictment CR 26-115
January 11, 2026
The Organizing Begins
DAVIS moderates "Emergency Meeting on Resistance to ICE Operation" in Minneapolis. Attendees assigned roles: hard blockade, soft blockade, mass commuting, civil disobedience, march groups. SANT introduces DAVIS as a Black Cat Worker's Collective member.
January 13, 2026
Kennedy's Facebook Declaration
"We need to become ungovernable. We need to actively resist anyway we can to materially stop the Nazi occupation forces."
January 14, 2026
FBI Vehicles Raided — Firearm Stolen
SANT present when rioters broke into FBI vehicles and stole several items including a firearm on the northside of Minneapolis. SANT messages the group: "Some folks raided an ICE vehicle for paperwork..." He later wrote about it for Crimethinc, an anarchist blog.
January 23, 2026
First Major Whipple Building Blockade
Full deployment. KENNEDY rents U-Haul 7:01 a.m. Shields loaded. "ICE OUT" barrel shields unloaded to ~30-40 people. Shoulder-to-shoulder blockade formed at 9:46 a.m. Ice blocks thrown at law enforcement vehicles 10:22 a.m. Trailer flipped over at Bloomington Road and Minnehaha Avenue North 10:32 a.m. SANT afterwards: "We held the intersection at Minnehaha and Federal for 2 and a half hours."
January 24, 2026
Wagner Threatens to Murder Federal Officer — Bulletproof Vest — Counts 2 & 3
WAGNER posts Instagram video wearing bulletproof vest, calls for armed resistance: "Get your guns and stop these people." On the same date, solicits another person to assault a federal officer with a deadly weapon. Basis for Counts Two and Three.
February 5, 2026
Kennedy Posts Manifesto: "YOU WILL NEVER WIN WITH NON-VIOLENCE ALONE"
Public Facebook post on Black Cat Worker's Collective page. 53 reactions. Full text documented in Section V and in Indictment Paragraph 89.
March 1, 2026
Second Major Whipple Building Blockade
Full deployment with shields, Czech hedgehogs, vehicles. VAN DE WATER DAVIS and BEISELL distribute shields from white Dodge Ram. MISTEREK deploys Czech hedgehogs from blue Ford F-150. THORESON detained by Hennepin County deputies. Individuals throw projectiles at Hennepin County Sheriffs at 11:00 a.m. Axon body camera footage timestamped 09:42:03 captures the soft blockade in action.
April 2–18, 2026
Anarchist Speaking Tour — Chicago, Ann Arbor, Seattle
ROBINET, MORGAN, SANT, and KENNEDY participate in the "Anarchist Speaking Tour" spreading DAMN's tactics nationally. KENNEDY publicly describes burning of Minneapolis Third Precinct as "the happiest moment of my life." ROBINET describes rapid response as the "explicit aim of combating and stopping a federal agent with a gun."
May 4, 2026
Sant Stalks Federal Officer to Wisconsin — Count Four
SANT follows a federal immigration officer from the Whipple Building to Hudson, Wisconsin — crossing state lines. Stopped by St. Croix County deputies. Charged with interstate stalking (Count Four).
May 12, 2026
Morgan Stalks Federal Officer to Officer's Home — Count Five
MORGAN follows a federal immigration officer from the Whipple Building to the area around the officer's residence in Hudson, Wisconsin. Identified by Hudson police as the driver. Charged with interstate stalking (Count Five).
May 15, 2026
Morgan Assaults Agent, Destroys Government Vehicle — Counts Six & Seven
During an HSI operation, MORGAN approaches a federal agent and knocks the agent's notes from his hand. MORGAN then kicks a government-issued vehicle twice, causing dents. Damage documented to exceed $1,000. SANT was also present.
May 18, 2026
Rakotz Uses Car as Weapon — Count Eight
RAKOTZ follows a federal immigration officer in her Honda Civic, "brake checks" the officer, and "side swipes" the officer's government vehicle — causing a collision and bodily injury. Dashcam image captures the moment of impact. Charged with assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon (Count Eight).
June 11, 2026
Grand Jury Returns Indictment
Federal grand jury returns indictment — 94 pages, 8 counts, 15 defendants — in U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. Case No. CR 26-115 KMM/DTS. Filed under seal.
June 16, 2026
HSI Executes Warrants — 14 of 15 Arrested
HSI serves two criminal search warrants. 14 of 15 defendants arrested. DHS Secretary Mullin: "If you lay a hand on law enforcement, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." One defendant remains at large.
■ Complete Source Record — NFA-PV-001-L
United States v. Sant et al. U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota. Filed June 11, 2026. 94 pages. Signed: United States Attorney + Foreperson. File: f06e03b49_INDICTMENT-15.pdf.
"ARRESTED: Homeland Security Investigations Arrests Anti-ICE Rioters in Minnesota, Including Some Affiliated with Antifa." Includes statements from DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Acting AG Todd Blanche. ICE officer assault statistics. File: 992031607_SummaryOf15Charged.pdf.
Six photographs submitted by federal law enforcement documenting blockade equipment, soft blockade operations (including Axon body camera footage timestamped 2026-03-01 09:42:03), vehicle assault by Rakotz, vehicle damage by Morgan, suspect surveillance photos, and BCWC Facebook evidence. Files: Screenshot2026-06-17205135 through Screenshot2026-06-17205012.
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