Suspected Antifa professor compares federal agents to Nazis

Professor Arrested at Anti-ICE Protest

A college professor, linked to potential Antifa involvement and suspected of having Nazi affiliations, was arrested in Chicago late last month on charges of bringing a loaded firearm to an anti-ICE demonstration.

So, who exactly is Elias Cepeda? He is listed as a faculty member in the English Department at Northeastern Illinois University. On September 26, during a crackdown known as the Midway Blitz, he was found with a loaded gun and several rounds of ammunition.

The Department of Homeland Security claims that Cepeda took the loaded weapon to a protest outside an ICE facility in Broadview, Illinois, a site previously marked by violence.

Tricia McLaughlin, an Assistant Secretary of State, stated, “Elias Cepeda has suspected ties to the domestic terrorist organization Antifa and has openly glorified violence against law enforcement.” She added, “His actions could have endangered lives, particularly after the tragic events in Dallas.” The comment emphasized the serious implications of his alleged actions and a commitment to safeguarding law enforcement officers.

In addition to his arrest, federal agents recovered the handgun and magazines from Cepeda.

Before being apprehended, Cepeda had made various social media posts casting federal agents as Nazis, expressing alignment with Antifa, and inciting violence against ICE agents. For instance, he remarked in a June post, “[Y]Our Nazi asses are lying,” after responding to a DHS announcement regarding the arrest of an individual controversially involved with federal law enforcement.

In another post, he suggested that society would be justified in using violent measures against perceived Nazis. Oddly enough, he previously expressed support for arming teachers to protect children from ICE raids, saying, “I say no to ICE showing up at schools armed and without a warrant.”

In one of his tweets directed at DHS, he simply stated, “Shut up, Nazi.” This wasn’t an isolated incident; he used the “#Antifa” hashtag multiple times and shared content that praised groups labeled as domestic terrorists by the government. He even mentioned in 2022 his pride in training transgender mixed martial artists.

His biography at Northeastern Illinois University describes him as an experienced journalist, with a history of writing about sports and political issues. He created an online summer course on critical journalism focused on the media’s role in politics and is reportedly considering PhD programs.

Following his arrest, local news reported that Cepeda was involved with a nonprofit called Pilsen Defense and Access, which aims to provide self-defense training to marginalized communities. It was noted that Cepeda was injured by a non-lethal round before being detained.

His mother, Leila Mendez, acknowledged that her son may have armed himself at the protest but insisted he didn’t intend to use the weapon, pointing out that he had his hands raised during the incident.

As of now, it’s unclear if any charges will be filed against Cepeda. A grand jury in Chicago has previously declined to indict two individuals arrested for assaulting a federal officer with a weapon at the same ICE facility, leaving questions about the judicial process surrounding these protests.