AMY GOODMAN: But I wanted to ask Jenipher to stay with us for one minute so I can also ask you about the federal jury verdict in Florida that’s found members of the pan-Africanist group — Uhuru Three — guilty of conspiring with the Russian government to sow discord and interfere in U.S. elections, activists with the African People’s Socialist Party facing up to five years in federal prison — they’re going to appeal — prosecutors arguing the group’s activities were not protected by the First Amendment since they were done, they say, at the direction of a Russian operative, the defense arguing the government aimed to censor the group after members criticized U.S. foreign policy. Jurors acquitted three of the activists, known as the Uhuru Three, on a more serious charge of acting as agents of a foreign government. Jenipher Jones, the significance of this verdict?

JENIPHER JONES: Yes, absolutely. The trial of the Uhuru Three is proving to be one of the most important First Amendment cases thus far in the 21st century. And though the verdict appears to be inconsistent in some ways, it demonstrates that the First Amendment is a viable defense to such accusations of being foreign agents when exercising First Amendment rights. And it should signal to the government that juries will not so easily leap to convict Americans or anybody else in these political or politicized prosecutions.

But at the same time, because the Uhuru Three was found guilty of the lesser charge, it also shows it isn’t necessarily penalty-free and that conspiracy laws, which are often broad and confusing to juries, are still being used to traffic folks who are not guilty of the underlying offense, yet, via conspiracy convictions, are on the road to prison or punishment nonetheless. And so, it is a bittersweet verdict, which everyone should be aware of, because it remains clear that when covert government repression tactics fail against activists, the government will use the overt means of charges and cages against folks who simply they disagree with.

AMY GOODMAN: Jenipher Jones, part of the legal support committee for the Uhuru Three and also lead counsel for Leonard Peltier.

Coming up, “How We Do Freedom: Rising Against Fascism.” We’ll speak with V, the playwright formerly known as Eve Ensler, about the day at the Judson Church planned for Saturday. Stay with us.