MAGA Reporter Attacked at ICE Protest in New Orleans, Raises Questions on Free Speech

Journalist Nick Sortor was allegedly attacked at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protest in New Orleans on December 6. A video circulating online shows Sortor engaging in a physical confrontation with a person wearing a fluorescent jacket before being swarmed by others. According to Frontlines TPUSA, Sortor was asking a speaker at the protest why they believed the National Guard was racist when he was swarmed by protesters. Sortor, a 27-year-old reporter who has appeared on various conservative news outlets, spoke to the news organization after the incident, stating that he was surprised by the protesters' inability to answer his question. The attack on Sortor comes months after he was arrested in Portland for a fight. Sortor had received support from President Donald Trump, who called the arrest 'unlawful.' Sortor was arrested on suspicion of second-degree disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor. The ICE protest in New Orleans was one of several that have taken place in recent days, with some protesters accusing ICE of racial profiling. Rachel Taber, an organizer with Unión Migrante, told The Guardian that the protests are an example of 'psychological warfare' aimed at people who have not committed any crimes. Sortor's bio on Instagram describes him as a journalist 'on the ground covering stories mainstream media won't.' The incident has raised questions about the limits of free speech and the potential for violence at public protests.