In an unprecedented federal trial that offered a rare glimpse into Russian influence operations in the United States, four members of Black power groups were convicted of conspiring to act as agents of the Russian government. The trial, held in Tampa, Florida, concluded with the defendants acquitted of the more serious charge of failing to register as Russian agents.

Over the course of a week, prosecutors argued that the defendants had engaged in a seven-year conspiracy aimed at sowing division in American politics. They claimed that the defendants were involved in pushing Russian propaganda and were directed, and in some cases paid, by Russian individuals associated with the F.S.B., a Russian intelligence agency, between 2015 and 2022.

However, the defendants maintained that the government's accusations were an attempt to criminalize their support of Russian ideology, which they argued was protected political speech. They considered the acquittal on the more serious charge a victory, emphasizing that the verdict indicated they were only working for Black people and their cause.

Omali Yeshitela, the chairman of the Uhuru Movement, the activist arm of the African People's Socialist Party, expressed his perspective on the courthouse steps after the verdict. He stated, "The most important thing is they were unable to convict us of working for anybody except Black people. I am willing to be charged and found guilty of working for Black people."

The other defendants in the case included Penny Joanne Hess, a leader of the Uhuru Movement; Jesse Nevel, a member of the Uhuru Movement; and Augustus C. Romain Jr., the founder of Black Hammer, a radical Black separatist organization based in Atlanta.

The trial, initially expected to last for four weeks, concluded more swiftly than anticipated. While the defendants face a maximum sentence of five years in prison for the conspiracy conviction, no sentencing date has been set. They have expressed their intention to appeal the conviction on the lesser charges.

This trial not only shed light on the inner workings of a Russian influence operation, but also underscored the ongoing tensions around issues of race, ideology, and political affiliation that continue to permeate American society.