By any means possible

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Vermont DA Refuses to Bring Charges Against Anti-ICE Rioters

Police in Vermont blasted a local prosecutor for her decision not to file charges against six people who took part in a violent clash with law enforcement in March.

Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George announced Wednesday that she would not file charges against six people arrested during a violent protest opposing an operation by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Burlington-area TV station NBC5 News reported.

“I am confident that some protesters escalated the situation and went beyond civil disobedience into unacceptable and perhaps criminal behavior, including the three individuals cited by BPD – but I am just as confident that there were some law enforcement officers who agitated, who escalated, and who responded in a way that may ultimately be deemed legal, but was also unacceptable,” George claimed in a statement released Wednesday. “So to charge these six individuals with no criminal records, and expect that they bear the burden of all the harm caused that day — is not something I was interested in our office being a part of.”

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The three anti-ICE rioters arrested by the Burlington Police Department were referred to a “restorative justice” program according to NBC5 News, but police said they would not participate.

ICE agents were seeking to arrest an illegal alien on March 11 when the illegal alien rammed into multiple ICE vehicles and at least one “bystander vehicle,” according to a timeline posted by NBC5 News. As agents awaited a warrant to enter a house the illegal immigrant fled to, protesters arrived, sparking a multi-hour confrontation.

After ICE obtained a warrant and entered the house, taking three people into custody, the anti-ICE rioters attempted to prevent the federal agency’s vehicles from leaving, at least one vehicle’s tires were slashed, according to NBC5 News.

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Multiple Vermont State Police officers were injured while trying to keep order during the ICE operation, one suffered eye injuries when a police van’s window was shattered, and two female state police officers were punched in the face, according to the Vermont Daily Chronicle. Reviews by state and local law enforcement agencies indicated that no excessive force was used, Vermont Public reported.

“Lawbreakers in Chittenden County already seemed to know they can act with impunity. Individuals at the Dorset Street incident repeatedly stated that State’s Attorney George would not prosecute them for their behavior that day. It turns out they were right,” Morrison and Birmingham said.