Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was recently targeted by a protest organized by the Democratic Socialists of America while attempting to eat a meal at a Mexican restaurant in Washington, D.C. New information places Department of Justice employee Allison Hrabar as one of the protesters.
Hrabar, who serves as a paralegal specialist in the Justice Department, admitted that she was at the protest at the MXDC Restaurant, and claimed her activism was not part of her work as DOJ employee. Hrabar advocated for protesting against the Trump administration, saying, “If you see these people in public, you should remind them that they shouldn’t have peace. We aren’t the only ones who can do this. Anyone who sees Kirstjen Nielsen at dinner, anyone who sees anyone who works at DHS and ICE at dinner can confront them like this, and that’s what we hope this will inspire people to do.”
Hrabar has allegedly made anti-Trump comments on her social media profiles, which have since been made private, but welcomed the opportunity to critique public officials in an active manner, saying “It feels really good to confront people who are actually responsible, which is what we have a unique opportunity to do in D.C.”
Hrabar claimed that as her actions were off the clock and not official, she was engaging in protected free speech. Several court decisions have supported the notion that government employees enjoy First Amendment protection from being punished for exercising speech related to matters of public concern if it’s not in the course of their official duties.
[Image via screengrab]