Regardless of where you sit on the political spectrum, we cannot afford to look away.
What’s happening in our country right now is being witnessed by the world: U.S. citizens killed by federal immigration agents in major American cities.
Tuning out may feel easier — but silence only deepens the divide. Privilege allows some to tune out. This moment demands we don’t.
Our lives and our country’s hard-fought democracy are at stake.
— Glenn Eden, Chicago
We see the lies
Paper tigers line the streets, faces obscured, eyes filled with indifference and rage, fingers twitching to make a point. Lives are stolen before our eyes, followed by a barrage of excuses by those who dare to blame and deny others their right to have their name cleared.
We see the lies, we hear the lies, we know the lies, as the president and his inner circle, itching to rule, take a hatchet to our democracy.
But history has shown that people have a breaking point; they tolerate only so much. And inner circles erode, leaving tyrants exposed and shedding mediocre tears before they topple.
— Laura Schmetterer Thill, Arlington Heights
Wake up, America
From Silverio Villegas González in Chicago to Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis to homicide victims in Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers, the Department of Homeland Security continues a sick and twisted playbook: Kill, defame and blame the victims, block investigations and take no responsibility.
Wake up, America. To add to the imbecility of it all, we the people are paying for soldiers to cut us down.
— Kelly Shannon, Chicago
Who has our backs?
We have a federal government that is selectively employing violence to create an atmosphere of terror among Americans.
Thankfully, the U.S. has not become like Germany and Italy of the 1930s. We still have a free press, judges who issue injunctions and politicians who are speaking out. But we also have an administration that is using forces, as Benito Mussolini employed the squadristi, to terrorize with impunity populations in cities that oppose them.
This is what should concern all of us: The violence by federal officials has been committed with impunity in Democrat-controlled cities. We are not a fascist country, but Germany and Italy became full fascist countries because no one in the capitals held accountable those who committed the targeted violence.
Trump officials have said Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have “absolute immunity” and cannot be investigated by local law enforcement. ICE agents have behaved brutally and will continue to do so because they see themselves as essentially above the law. If this continues, more Americans will certainly die, and our country will divide into two camps facing each other with hostility, leading to more dire consequences.
The administration says to ICE: We have your back. Citizens who are only filming ICE’s actions are being arrested, beaten and killed. Who has lawful citizens’ backs?
We may not be a fascist country, but we certainly are on the road to becoming one. To stop the escalating violence, members of Congress should use their powers to hold the federal government accountable.
The whole world is watching. Act. Have our backs. Be for all the people.
— Ian Kelly, former U.S. ambassador to the OSCE and to Georgia, Highland Park
Change this tragedy
There is a democratic foundation here that passively allowed collapse. We are now a failed experiment in freedom, human decency, laws and courageous action.
We can still change this tragedy going forward.
— Elynne Chaplik-Aleskow, Chicago
Treatment of protesters
Watching the videos from Minneapolis, I have to wonder: When did protesting violence become “violently resisting”? (And punishable by being shot to death.)
— Richard Wetzel, Chicago
Figure out solutions
It has become popular to demonize federal immigration agents and to make them responsible for the recent unfortunate deaths of two protesters in Minneapolis. Rather than blaming these agents, perhaps the political leaders in Minnesota should be the ones held responsible. Their rhetoric has been bombastic.
It’s time for all parties to stop placing blame and figure out how things could be made better. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is not the enemy, and no one wants to see innocent immigrants demonized or deported.
There must be a reasonable solution.
— Dan Schuchardt, Wheaton
Where is Congress?
I just watched the video of another killing in Minneapolis. The victim is lying on the ground, surrounded by federal agents. He is defenseless. Then he is shot, and from what I read, there could have been up to 10 shots fired. Why?
Good Lord, what is happening in what is supposedly the greatest country on this earth? Arrest these agents and put them on trial. All members of Congress, regardless of party affiliation, should be on their feet screaming to end the Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol intrusions on the safety of our citizens.
— Richard Dreger, Batavia
Fear of being shot, killed
I am extremely angry about the killing of the intensive care unit nurse in Minneapolis by federal agents. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has said these agents were trained. Some are saying that they didn’t get enough training.
These agents do not have the temperament to carry a gun or wear a uniform. Anyone who shoots someone four times, 10 times, has too much anger to be on the street. They seem to have a lot of hatred toward immigrants and anyone they see as different from themselves. These men are no different in nature than the German Gestapo, who also claimed to be only following the law.
I think we need to have a singing revolution as the Estonians did against the Russians. It’s the only way (I hope) that we can protest without the the fear of being shot and killed.
— C. Huber, River Forest
Mayor’s stance on ICE
I’m certain Mayor Brandon Johnson has no clue on how Immigration and Customs Enforcement was formed.
Congress, which makes our laws, is the only governmental body that can repeal them. Johnson should consult with U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul to begin the process of repealing the Homeland Security Act of 2002.
— Joseph A. Murzanski, Orland Park
Take our country back
Don’t we all want the same thing? Don’t we all want practical and humane immigration policy? Don’t we all want sensible and safe gun policy? Don’t we all want intentional energy policy that focuses on saving the planet rather than destroying it for money? Don’t we all want crime policy that focuses on rehabilitation and prevention by meeting people’s basic needs, addressing mental health and trauma, and working with marginalized communities instead of against them? Don’t we all want geopolitical policy that focuses on uniting, rather than dividing? Don’t we all want our hard work to allow us to take care of our families? Don’t we all just want to be able to keep our families safe? Don’t we all just want the freedom to take care of ourselves and our loved ones?
Why is this so hard if we all want it? Could it be because we are being lied to by people who just want to hoard resources, and so they have us demonizing each other? Can we commit to stop listening to the lies and instead listen to each other?
Our humanity binds us. Can we please take our country back from the liars and cheats?
— Abby Gagerman, Deerfield
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