UMVA has learned that three determined activists, known as the “Spokane 3,” were found guilty on federal conspiracy charges after a dramatic protest against ICE operations in Washington state.
The trio—Jac Archer, Justice Forral, and Bajun Mavalwalla II—were accused of trying to halt federal officers from moving two detained immigrants from Spokane to Tacoma in June 2025.
Their actions followed a viral social media call from a former city council president who urged supporters to block the transfer bus, an appeal that ignited a mass demonstration.
That councilman was later arrested with nine other protesters on conspiracy charges, and he and five others pleaded guilty to secure lighter sentences.
After the verdict, a state representative slammed the councilman for his absence, saying, “You started this and you couldn’t even show up to finish it.”
She urged others to honor the promise of standing up for their communities, insisting the struggle was far from over.
The councilman later admitted that attending the trial would have violated parole, expressing deep regret for the guilty verdict and sympathizing with the families of the convicted.
He also reaffirmed his commitment to supporting those wrongfully removed by the government, vowing to finish what he began.
Bajun Mavalwalla Sr., father of one of the convicted and a congressional hopeful, claimed federal prosecutors aimed to set a harsh example, warning that protests, dissent, and assembly are now under threat.
He argued that similar cases elsewhere have been dismissed, hinting that this conviction could be part of a broader strategy to silence opposition to immigration enforcement.
