Prairieland 8
What happened
-On the 4th of July, 2025, a group of 11 held a noise demonstration with fireworks outside of the Prairieland ICE detention facility in Alvarado, Texas to show solidarity with those detained inside.
-Some attendees were wearing black clothing and covering their faces, a style of attire referred to by the prosecution and repeatedly in the media as "military style".
-Demonstrators had brought guns and body armor--all legally owned and registered.
-According to the defense, the guns were meant to be a deterrent against counter-protesters. When the demonstrators saw that there were no counter-protesters present, all but one person (Song) left their firearms in their vehicles.
What happened
-The protesters set off fireworks and graffitied some government property.
-Less 20 minutes after the demonstration commenced, Alvarado police arrived at the scene. The protesters fled.
-Lieutenant Thomas Gross arrived moments after two other officers. He was shot near the collarbone and promptly evacuated from the scene. He was released from the hospital hours later.
-Federal prosecutors claim that Gross drew his weapon upon hearing someone shout, "Get the rifles!" Bodycam evidence shows that someone did indeed shout, but Gross's weapon cannot be seen in the footage.
What happened
-The defense of Benjamin Song, the convicted shooter, claim that Song was acting in defense of a third party because Officer Gross had drawn his weapon on an unarmed civilian. Gross confirmed this on cross examination by the defense.
-The prosecution initially claimed that several shooters had fired up to 30 rounds.
-An FBI investigation was only able to find evidence that 11 rounds were fired by one shooter.
-In the months after the incident, 22 individuals were arrested in connection with the event, many of whom were not even at the 4th of July demonstration.
Who are the 8?
8 Prairieland defendants were sentenced on June 23, 2026
These were just the first 8 sentences
Who are the 8?
Daniel Rolando Sanchez Estrada
Elizabeth Soto
Meagan Morris
Zachary Evetts
Savanna Batten
Autumn Hill
Maricell Rueda
Benjamin Song
Daniel Rolando Sanchez Estrada
a.k.a. Des Revol
-Poet
-Immigrant
-Husband of Maricela Rueda
-Doxed by ICE
-Convicted of concealing documents (for moving a box of zines for his wife)
-WAS NOT AT THE DEMONSTRATION
Sentenced to 30 years
-Faces deportation
Elizabeth Soto
-Mother of 3
-Pictured here with husband, Ines, who was also arrested, leaving their children without their parents
-Convicted of riot with intent to to commit violence, providing support to terrorists, conspiracy to use and carry explosives
Sentenced to 50 years
Meagan Morris
-Carpooled people to the demonstration
-Deadnamed and misgendered in court filings
-Convicted of riot with intent to to commit violence, providing support to terrorists, conspiracy to use and carry explosives
-WAS NOT AT THE DEMONSTRATION (remained in the van playing Nintendo)
Sentenced to 50 years
Zachary Evetts
-Convicted of riot with intent to commit violence, providing support to terrorists
Sentenced to 50 years
Savanna Batten
-Ran the Emma Goldman Book Club
-Convicted of riot with intent to commit violence, providing support to terrorists, conspiracy to use and carry explosives
Sentenced to 50 years
Autumn Hill
aka Lady Hell
-Enchanted materialist
-Into CK3 and tabletop gaming
-Deadnamed and misgendered in court filings
-Convicted of riot with intent to commit violence, providing support to terrorists, and conspiricy to use and carry explosives
Sentenced to 50 years
Maricella Rueda
-Wife of Daniel Rolando Sanchez Estrada
-Asked him to move zines after she was arrested
-Convicted of riot with intent to commit violence, providing support to terrorists, and conspiracy to use and carry explosives, conspiracy to conceal documents
Sentenced to 70 years
Benjamin Song
aka Champaign
-Former marine reservist
-Fed the unhoused, provided first-aid and self defense training
-Their partner, Rowan Gibson (pictured), was also arrested
-Convicted of attempted murder, discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime, riot with intent to commit violence, providing support to terrorists, conspiracy to use and carry explosives
Benjamin Song
Sentenced to 100 years
These were just the first 8 sentenced.
8 more have been sentenced since June 23, 2026, including Ines Soto, husband of Elizabeth Soto and father of 3, and Rowan Gibson, partner of Benjamin Song.
The longest sentence handed down for a January 6 rioter was 22 years
Why this matters
-First ever federal terrorism case associated with "antifa"
-Establishes a precedent that:
-If you are involved in a protest that becomes volatile because of the actions of a single individual, including law enforcement, you could be caught in a dragnet and have your life ruined by federal charges.
-Minor destruction of property could be classified as "terrorism".
-Providing any support AT ALL--including giving them a CAR RIDE, or MOVING A BOX FOR THEM--to someone convicted of "terrorism", could result in a "providing material support to terrorists" conviction.
-This could include your family.
What happens next?
At least 4 defendants have appealed the case
to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
here in New Orleans
right across the street from Lafayette Square
Excerpts from Benjamin Song statement June 23
My beliefs are composed thus: First, that we should help each other. And second, that we should protect one another.
I never want to see anyone get hurt. I never want to see good people, standing up for what they believe in, gunned down in the street. What we all saw happen to Renee Good and Alex Pretti is my worst nightmare.
When I saw Lieutenant Thomas Gross stop pursuing and point his gun at the back of a running, unarmed protester, like he testified, I was terrified . . . I knew what it meant for someone to lean forward into a gun, like he testified, to prepare for recoil.
I am so grateful for what didn’t happen. I am so grateful that we are not here mourning another death and tragedy.
Now, 22 people have been arrested, have been persecuted, have been tortured, for what? For nothing. None of these people really did anything. And none of these people have anything to do with what happened with me.
It may be these 22 strangers now, but it will be you tomorrow.
What will you do in this time of great failures and great injustices? What will you do? How will you help each other? How will you help yourselves?
FREE OUR PRISONERS
FREE THEM ALL
Information
Support the Prairieland Defendants - DFW Support Committee
https://prairielanddefendants.com/
National Lawyers Guild Statements
https://www.nlg.org/prairieland-defendants-sentencing/
Solidarity: Solidarity with the Prairieland Defendants
https://solidarity-us.org/solidarity-with-the-prairieland-defendants/