Within the span of one week, Americans watched as an immigration officer shot and killed a mother of three, federal agents deployed chemical irritants into a crowd of high school students, and border patrol agents shot a married couple. For months the Trump administration has continuously disparaged immigrants– endangering them through targeted legislation and mass deportation efforts. Now, we’re witnessing first hand how his hateful rhetoric emboldens the agents of these organizations to act with impunity while endangering the communities they’re sworn to protect.
On January 7th an ICE officer fired at least two shots at a Minnesota woman, taking her life. 37-year-old Renee Good was a mother of three and was on her way home prior to the encounter with ICE agents. Several videos have surfaced, documenting the entire incident, which lasted no more than 15 seconds, but clearly show the agent’s unwarranted use of deadly force. Within an hour of the murder, the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, had already blamed Good for the shooting. Noem claimed that ICE officers were stuck in the snow and were attacked by Good, unprompted, while trying to dislodge their car. Trump then said in his first statement about the incident that Good “viciously ran over” the ICE officer who shot and killed her. Footage of the event and eye witness accounts debunk these claims.
Hours later, just a few miles away at Roosevelt High School, Border Patrol agents tackled several people and deployed chemical irritants after being led to the school during a five-mile chase. DHS says that they would have never been at the school if they had not been in pursuit of the alleged criminal. They maintain that their actions were warranted, claiming that a teacher “proceeded to assault” them while a crowd “threw objects and dispersed paint” onto the officers. Several parents, as well as several members of the staff expressed their disdain–condemning the agents’ behavior. In the aftermath of the incident, the Minneapolis Public School system canceled classes for the following week “out of an abundance of caution.”
And just one day later, about 1700 miles away, in Portland, Oregon, border patrol agents shot a married couple as they attempted to flee the scene. Sources reported that the couple attempted to use their vehicle as a weapon against the officers, however these claims have been met with skepticism and condemnation following the shooting that happened one day prior. DHS has stated that the couple illegally entered the United States a few years prior and have ties to the Venezuelan terrorist organization ‘Tren de Aragua.’ The details of the case are still being uncovered, but above all else, it is abundantly clear how dangerous it can be when elected officials perpetuate prejudiced rhetoric.
People have said for years now that unchecked, Trump would run rampant–wreaking havoc on our democracy. And now, like a prophecy fulfilled, we’re witnessing firsthand as he undermines our constitution and flippantly disregards our system of checks and balances. The lack of concern over his actions coupled with a laissez-faire attitude towards politics will be the demise of this country. When liberals warned of Trump’s rise to power and America’s descent into a fascist state, they were called exaggerative and crazy–dismissed as radicals. And when they drew parallels between Trump’s agenda and that of several other fascist leaders, they were told “it’s not that deep.”
But when elected officials are dishonest and disregard public opinion, it quite literally is that deep. When we look back at history and question the truths of our dark past, we can only learn once we acknowledge that complicity has been a key contributor. As an adult, it’s not acceptable to disengage from politics and as a citizen, you affect change–whether through direct action or the lack thereof. When we look back on history, those who turned a blind eye to injustice will bear just as much guilt as those who welcomed it to begin with. There’s no room for apathy, no excuse for apathy, and absolutely no time to waste. Together, we can all do our part to protect our democracy and hold our leaders accountable.
