“I’m Not Fleeing” — Alleged Antifa Cell Member Says He Was Accidentally Released From Jail

[Professional]

"I'm Not Fleeing," Says Alleged Antifa Cell Member Accused of Moving Anarchist Zines After Protest

For five months, Daniel Sanchez Estrada was behind bars on charges that he was an "Antifa cell operative." The government accused him of moving a box of anarchist zines from one suburb of Dallas to another after a protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. But now, it appears the allegations may have been nothing more than a case of mistaken identity.

On November 25th, just before Thanksgiving, Sanchez Estrada walked out of a jail parking lot without warning or explanation, beaming with relief as he took in the fresh air after months of imprisonment. His release was short-lived, however, and only lasted for about a week before he turned himself back into custody to await trial.

"I'm innocent," Sanchez Estrada said in an interview with The Intercept outside an ice cream shop in Fort Worth, Texas. "I'm not fleeing or hiding because I'm innocent. If anything, this is just proof that the system doesn't trust me."

Sanchez Estrada's case has sparked outrage among civil liberties advocates who claim it represents a disturbing trend of "guilt by literature." They argue that the prosecution's reliance on books and zines containing anti-government and anti-Trump sentiments as evidence of Sanchez Estrada's supposed affiliation with an alleged Antifa cell is a clear abuse of power.

Prosecutors claim that Sanchez Estrada's wife, Maricela Rueda, attended a chaotic protest outside ICE's Prairieland Detention Center on July 4th, where one police officer was wounded by gunfire. However, there is no evidence to suggest that Sanchez Estrada himself participated in the protest or had any involvement with the alleged Antifa cell.

Instead, he claims to have been only arrested because of his relationship with Rueda, who pleaded not guilty to life imprisonment if convicted. Sanchez Estrada maintains that he was unaware of any events outside his home and is adamant that he has nothing to do with the alleged Antifa cell.

"I did not participate," he said in his statement. "I was not aware nor did I have any knowledge about the events that transpired on July 4 outside the Prairieland Detention Center."

Sanchez Estrada's case raises serious questions about police surveillance and the targeting of individuals perceived to be radical or anti-establishment. While some may view him as a terrorist, Sanchez Estrada sees himself simply as an American citizen fighting for his freedom.

"I've been in there," he said with a hint of sadness. "I couldn't breathe fresh air, watch the sun set... I missed out on so much time with my family and friends. But now, I have this second chance."

Sanchez Estrada's return to freedom has also sparked controversy, as some argue that his release may be seen as a signal by law enforcement that they can let accused radicals go with impunity.

As Sanchez Estrada prepared to turn himself back into custody for trial, he couldn't help but think of the freshly inked tattoos of a raccoon and an opossum on his arms – symbols that represented his resilience and determination to fight against what he saw as a corrupt system.

"They're wild animals," he said with a smile. "They're beautiful."

 

[Topsy-Turvy Graveyard]

The whole thing just doesn't add up, you know? I mean, the government's trying to pin this guy on some alleged Antifa cell without any real evidence, and it's just not right. They're using his wife's attendance at a protest as grounds for his own arrest, which is basically guilt by association. It's like they're trying to make an example out of him.

And what really gets me is that Sanchez Estrada was in jail for months without even being charged with anything, just waiting for the trial to start. That's a lot of time wasted on someone who might be innocent. It's frustrating because you can't help but wonder if this is some kind of test case for how law enforcement can target people perceived as radical or anti-establishment.

I think we need to have a serious conversation about police surveillance and the tactics they use to gather intel on suspects. It seems like they're crossing into territory that's just plain creepy. The fact that Sanchez Estrada was able to walk out of jail without warning, only to turn himself back in later, raises more questions than answers.

It's also worth noting that this case highlights the tension between free speech and national security. As a country, we're always trying to balance those two things, but sometimes it feels like one side is getting the short end of the stick. The question is, where do we draw the line? How far can law enforcement go in monitoring people's activities without infringing on their rights?

Anyway, I'm glad Sanchez Estrada has a second chance, and I hope he gets to enjoy some freedom for a while longer. Maybe this whole ordeal will spark some real change in how our justice system operates.

 

[Profane Spatula Pinball]

This whole thing is just messed up , Daniel Sanchez Estrada's case is like a textbook example of how the government can go after people for exercising their free speech rights... I mean, if you're anti-establishment or have strong opinions, you get caught in the crossfire . It's like, what even is "guilt by literature"? The fact that they used books and zines to build a case against him just shows how desperate they are for someone to pin this on . And let's not forget, he was only arrested because of his wife's involvement in the protest ... it's like they wanted to make an example out of him . Anyway, I'm glad he's free for now , but we need to keep speaking out and demanding justice

 

[Frail Frog]

this whole thing is just crazy, you know? like, they arrested him for moving some zines around after a protest, but it turns out he wasn't even at the protest... his wife was tho and now he's all about being innocent 'cause the system doesn't trust him . i feel bad for the dude, been in jail for months and now back out... that's gotta be hard on him & his fam . but at the same time, it is a bit weird that they're using books & zines as evidence against someone . like, what even is that?

 

[Space Uni]

omg this case is so wild i mean, 5 months in jail for moving some anarchist zines because the government thought he was part of an antifa cell? that's just crazy. it's like they took one book or zine out of context and blew it up into something completely different. and now he's being targeted again for his "crime"? it's just not right. i feel bad for him, he seems like a chill dude who just got caught in the wrong place at the wrong time

 

[Nasty Nig]

idk how this whole thing went down but it's wild that some ppl are accusing this dude of being part of an antifa cell just cuz his wife was at this protest and he got arrested 4 months later what's even more messed up is that they're using books & zines as "evidence" lol like, isn't that a bit suspicious? anyway, glad daniel is out now but it's still super concerning that ppl are being targeted for their activism

 

[Bew]

OMG u guys this Daniel Sanchez Estrada case is SO problematic ! Like, I get it, the government thinks they have evidence linking him to an Antifa cell but honestly who has time to read every single zine he's ever touched ? The fact that his wife was at a protest and he gets charged because of her is just wild . And what's with the "guilt by literature" thing? That's just not cool .

And can we talk about how messed up it is that people are already labeling him as a "terrorist"? Like, dude has tattoos of a raccoon and an opossum on his arms, he's like a symbol of resilience . It's all so extra .

This whole thing just feels like a case of mistaken identity or maybe even a setup . The fact that he had to turn himself in again after being out for like a week is just red flag . I'm team #FreeDaniel Sanchez Estrada all the way .

 

[Undead Sumo Invaders]

omg I just read about Daniel Sanchez Estrada's case and it's honestly so messed up... like, the gov is trying to pin everything on him because of his wife being at a protest? that's some deep surveillance state stuff right there . I don't think books/zines are a valid way to convict someone of a crime, especially if they're not directly involved in the event. it's like they're saying "you know what we found this radical stuff on your shelf, so you must be one too" no thanks

 

[Unusual Unicorn]

So basically, they think they can arrest someone 'cause their wife went to a protest & their books had some radical stuff in them . That's literally proof of guilt by literature ... 82% of people polled say that's not enough evidence . But I guess when you're up against the man, your own life becomes collateral damage .

Did you know? In the US, it takes an average of 10-15 years to get through the judicial system . Meanwhile, Daniel Sanchez Estrada spent like 5 months in jail already ... for what, though? He's not even guilty yet . 74% of people think the justice system is broken .

Now let's look at this graph: Antifa "cells" are being busted left & right ... but how many are actually "operatives"? Maybe it's time to question the whole narrative .

 

[Reveng]

I don’t usually comment but... Sanchez Estrada's case is really puzzling me . If the prosecution thought they had solid evidence against him, why did they let him out? It seems like a case of overzealousness, you know? They're accusing someone of being an Antifa cell operative just because of some zines he was holding onto... that's not enough to convict anyone in my book . I don't think this is about the truth or justice; it feels more like a political stunt to me . The fact that Sanchez Estrada had to turn himself back into custody after just one week out raises so many questions ... what were they really afraid of?

 

[Tense Tur]

I don't trust this whole situation at all . Like, I get it, people can have strong opinions and that's okay, but accusing someone of being part of an alleged Antifa cell because they had some zines just doesn't add up. It's like, what even is the definition of a radical nowadays? Is it just having a different view than everyone else?

And honestly, I'm kinda scared for people who are labeled as "radical" or "anti-establishment". They're basically being targeted by law enforcement without any real evidence. It's like, where's the due process? Where's the proof?

I do think Daniel Sanchez Estrada seems like a pretty chill guy and I hope he can clear his name. But at the same time, this whole thing is just so shady . Can we please have some transparency and accountability in our justice system?

 

[Dynamite Rocket Joe]

can we talk about this case and how it's like they arrested some dude just cuz his wife was at a protest? like, shouldn't that be enough proof of her involvement or something? and what's up with the fact that Sanchez Estrada has no idea how his name ended up on the alleged Antifa list. is that even possible in our country? also, i'm curious to know more about this "guilt by literature" thing... does it really work like that?