Last Saturday's murder of Alex Pretti by ICE agents who shot him in the back 10 times has shocked the nation. The blowback has reached Donald Trump; will it stir the Congress?
The only comparison to societal discord of this magnitude in my lifetime would be the Vietnam protests. Though no police or national/state guardsmen were killed during that period, six protesters were killed at Jackson State and Kent State, and numerous protesters were injured around the nation. I don’t know whether those protests, over half a century ago, were less widely supported, but they seem to pale in comparison to what is happening today. The use of mobile phone cameras have much to do with the broadcasting of information of today's discord. Nevertheless, in response to your excellent article, I must say that I fear the minimal effect trump’s adjustments to tactics in Minneapolis will have on his broader strategy of building his own Gestapo to ensure his continued enthronement.
Guess I didn’t see the big Trump picture until you pointed out that orange Mussolini probably wants an ice agent or border patrol dead so he can expand his “army”. Chilling
"A year ago, speculation like this would have struck me as unrealistic, if not paranoid." - This is what is hard to believe from people, hearing this, when there is ample evidence this was unfolding for the last decade to get to this point. He had enough people to semi-put checks on him during the first term, Biden idiotically didn't get rid of some of these people, and it was laid out there before the election that this was where it was going. I think too many people really thought (and still think! I listen to moderate Dems on podcasts every week twiddle their thumbs like this is normal politics) something would check all of this.
RE: two people killed without accountability---I haven't had a chance to look up news articles until now because all I'd seen were Instagram graphics/reels but most people are counting 8 people killed by ICE (or that are at least known at this point in time), including Keith Porter who was a citizen. The others outside for Renee and Alex were immigrants/legal residents. But even Keith Porter's is a bit fuzzy because it appears he was shooting a gun in the air NYE because NYE but then was killed by an off duty ICE officer. I wish we knew more to that story but it seems like no accountability is coming for that death either.
Unfortunately we have three more years of this unless Dems take midterms and all I have to say most Dem/left voters are about to clean house within the party, too. No one is taking moderate crap anymore.
1) I personally confess to a failure of imagination. Somehow I thought "America," whatever that is, would limit his authoritarianism, his patrimonialism, and his corruption. And it did nothing. And the American people have to own up to the fact that they did this to themselves, and to the world.
2) I am sure the death count is higher than eight. The detention centers are magnets for death, and the stories will eventually come out about the mistreatment and murder of people there.
3) It is past time for the Democrats to stop tying one hand behind their back. The Democratic Party can preserve American values and still rise to meet the moment. No more pussyfooting around.
I could’ve lived my entire life without reading a single headline that leads “ Murder in Minnesota “ even less Chapter 2.
Thank you Deece. Your words provide a factual, balanced account of these avoidable tragedies. Only World War III can stop the madness now. IMHO
The only comparison to societal discord of this magnitude in my lifetime would be the Vietnam protests. Though no police or national/state guardsmen were killed during that period, six protesters were killed at Jackson State and Kent State, and numerous protesters were injured around the nation. I don’t know whether those protests, over half a century ago, were less widely supported, but they seem to pale in comparison to what is happening today. The use of mobile phone cameras have much to do with the broadcasting of information of today's discord. Nevertheless, in response to your excellent article, I must say that I fear the minimal effect trump’s adjustments to tactics in Minneapolis will have on his broader strategy of building his own Gestapo to ensure his continued enthronement.
Guess I didn’t see the big Trump picture until you pointed out that orange Mussolini probably wants an ice agent or border patrol dead so he can expand his “army”. Chilling
"A year ago, speculation like this would have struck me as unrealistic, if not paranoid." - This is what is hard to believe from people, hearing this, when there is ample evidence this was unfolding for the last decade to get to this point. He had enough people to semi-put checks on him during the first term, Biden idiotically didn't get rid of some of these people, and it was laid out there before the election that this was where it was going. I think too many people really thought (and still think! I listen to moderate Dems on podcasts every week twiddle their thumbs like this is normal politics) something would check all of this.
RE: two people killed without accountability---I haven't had a chance to look up news articles until now because all I'd seen were Instagram graphics/reels but most people are counting 8 people killed by ICE (or that are at least known at this point in time), including Keith Porter who was a citizen. The others outside for Renee and Alex were immigrants/legal residents. But even Keith Porter's is a bit fuzzy because it appears he was shooting a gun in the air NYE because NYE but then was killed by an off duty ICE officer. I wish we knew more to that story but it seems like no accountability is coming for that death either.
Unfortunately we have three more years of this unless Dems take midterms and all I have to say most Dem/left voters are about to clean house within the party, too. No one is taking moderate crap anymore.
Thanks for your insights, Misti.
1) I personally confess to a failure of imagination. Somehow I thought "America," whatever that is, would limit his authoritarianism, his patrimonialism, and his corruption. And it did nothing. And the American people have to own up to the fact that they did this to themselves, and to the world.
2) I am sure the death count is higher than eight. The detention centers are magnets for death, and the stories will eventually come out about the mistreatment and murder of people there.
3) It is past time for the Democrats to stop tying one hand behind their back. The Democratic Party can preserve American values and still rise to meet the moment. No more pussyfooting around.