The Uhuru Movement, the activist arm of the African People’s Socialist Party, founded by 83-year-old Omali Yeshitela, declared victory today in their legal battle in Florida with the FBI and federal prosecutors, according to media. Supporters packed a courtroom in St. Petersburg, Florida, and burst into sustained applause when U.S. Judge William Jung announced no fines and no prison time. Three leaders, Yeshitela, Penny Hess and Jesse Nevel, will have three years of probation and 300 hours of community service. This is the penalty after a jury in a September case found these leaders guilty of “conspiracy,” but not of acting as Russian agents.
Scott Ritter, an international leader against the nuclear war threat, and a target of the FBI, was in St. Petersburg to rally before today’s sentencing hearing, and celebrated at the result.
In late July 2022 the FBI raided the Uhuru House and several other properties based on claims that the group was working with a Russian man, Aleksandr Ionov and his “Anti-Globalization Movement of Russia,” to spread pro-Russian propaganda and sow political discord in the U.S.
