John Earle Sullivan

John Earle Sullivan (born July 18, 1994), also known as Activist John, is an American political activist, convicted felon, and self-identified photojournalist who participated in the January 6, 2021 United States Capitol attack. In November 2023, he was convicted by a jury of felony obstruction of an official proceeding, civil disorder, and five misdemeanors.

Before the January 6 attack, Sullivan organized and participated in protests relating to the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, though a few other BLM organizers explicitly disavowed him, even expelling Sullivan from rallies and warning fellow activists to avoid associating with Sullivan.

On January 6, Sullivan entered the Capitol wearing Trump/MAGA hat and attire and broke a window. Using a bullhorn, he repeatedly shouted encouragement to fellow rioters. Sullivan captured footage of the attack, his own interactions with law enforcement, and the shooting of Ashli Babbitt.

Following Sullivan's participation in the Capitol attack, Rudy Giuliani accused Sullivan of being affiliated with Antifa. By May 2021, Sullivan was facing eight federal charges for his involvement in the January 6 events.

On November 16, 2023, Sullivan was convicted of five felonies and two misdemeanor charges. On April 23, 2024, he was sentenced to six years in prison.

On January 20, 2025, the first day of the second presidency of Donald Trump, Sullivan was pardoned along with nearly every other participant in the Capitol attack.