In a striking display of confrontation, a viral video capturing Illinois Democratic congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh being pushed to the ground by federal officials during an anti-ICE protest in suburban Chicago has ignited fierce debate across social media platforms.
The incident, which unfolded on Friday in Broadview, Illinois, involved a heated clash between protesters, including Abughazaleh, and armed federal agents attempting to move ICE vehicles obstructed by demonstrators, Fox News reported.
The protest in Broadview targeted an ICE operation known as "Operation Midway Blitz," which focuses on addressing illegal immigrant crime in the Chicago area.
During the demonstration, Abughazaleh, wearing a mask, positioned herself in front of an ICE vehicle to block its path.
Federal agents directed her and other protesters to clear the way, but tensions escalated quickly.
Video footage shows an agent shoving Abughazaleh, who resisted and subsequently fell onto the street.
Another angle of the video reveals Abughazaleh rising after the fall and charging toward the agents again, prompting further pushback from the officials.
Throughout the encounter, protesters can be heard shouting expletives and taunting the federal agents.
Abughazaleh later shared the video on her X account, claiming the vehicle she attempted to block held a fellow protester arrested earlier that day.
She accused ICE officials of nearly running over someone during the incident and deploying pepper balls and tear gas to control the crowd.
Federal officials also used riot control smoke at one point to manage the escalating situation.
Three protesters were arrested during the Friday demonstration in Broadview, adding to the day's chaos.
Abughazaleh condemned the actions of ICE on X, stating, "This is what it looks like when ICE violates our First Amendment rights."
She further criticized the response, saying, "What ICE just did to me was a violent abuse of power — and it’s still nothing compared to what they’re doing to immigrant communities."
In a statement to a reporter, she added, "We have no weapons. We have signs and chants and songs, and they are treating us like it's a war zone."
