This madness must end
A tribal nation strikes back at ICE
A news rime for today
Not a year ‘round the bend
past time for the madness to end
Trump and MAGA push cruelty and hate
the very antipathy of a democratic state
Madness. Hard to describe the outrage about the murder of Renee Nicole Good that took place in Minneapolis yesterday. It’s a moment that we will all remember because we saw it with our own eyes. That hollows the lies that come from the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The New York Times analysis of the video is compelling: “Our analysis of bystander footage, filmed from different angles, appears to show the agent was not in the path of the victim’s SUV when he fired three shots at close range.”
Even worse is the Times’ fact-based conclusion:
“The SUV crashes into a white car parked down the road. A bystander runs toward the collision. The federal agents on scene do not appear to rush to provide emergency medical care. Eventually, the agent who shot the motorist approaches the vehicle. Seconds later, he turns back around and tells his colleagues to call 911. Agents blocked several bystanders who attempt to provide medical care, including one who identifies himself as a physician. At the same time, several agents, including the agent who opened fire, get in their vehicles and drive off, apparently altering the active crime scene.”
The problem starts with the mind set of the federal (Trump) security forces, including ICE. Then it compounds because Noem is incompetent. At her news conference she said: "Our officer followed his training, did exactly what he's been taught to do in that situation.”
Unfortunately ICE might be trained that way. Substituting aggression and intimidation for common sense.
The National Policing Institute has a different strategy. “De-escalation in policing is a critical strategy for safely managing high-stress, potentially volatile interactions between law enforcement officers and the public.”
The best practice training suggests thinking through multiple options — and firing into a moving vehicle is not one of them.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey wasted no words. Federal immigration authorities should “get the fuck out of the city.”
"We do not want you here. Your stated reason for being in this city is to create some kind of safety, and you are doing exactly the opposite. People are being hurt, families are being ripped apart."
So many policy questions ahead. How much authority do state, local and tribal governments have to limit a destructive federal presence? Most Minnesota politicians were on the same page. Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, White Earth Band of Ojibwe, was on several news channels, including MS.NOW making the human case. She talked about Good’s six-year old who had toys in the car. (A subtle but important reminder about the why police don’t shoot into a moving vehicle.) She talked about the non-violent resistance going on.
And her conclusion:
“It is so clear that ICE being in our community has made us so much less safe, and the fact that they’re trying to spin in this story is, frankly, disgusting. And ICE has to get out of Minnesota.”
Turns out there is also a really interesting perspective coming from a tribal leader.
President Jon Greendeer of the Ho Chunk Nation said ICE is not welcome on tribal lands.
He posted on Facebook:
“Our tribal nation doesn’t have a lot of land. Of which you do see on it are businesses and governmental facilities where people work so they can take care of their families and contribute to our local economies. You’ll see homes in communities where we work every day to keep safe for our littles and elderly. Across the way, you’ll see forests and fields where many of us still gather as we’ve done for thousands of years.
“This is our life and although it isn’t perfect, it’s our love and it’s worth protecting at all costs, just like I’d expect anyone to protect their homes. ICE is not welcome on ANY of our lands much less in our communities or in our homes. We have every right to protect both our land and ourselves. It’s clear, immigration is the least of their priorities as their actions continue to reflect a mission to create unrest and incivility until they can justify lethal force onto American citizens. The people aren’t scared. They’re pissed.
“ICE are savages and should be treated as such. I have no compassion for them and will never give them the respect of a human being. That extends to anyone who supports them and their mission because none of this is about immigration. It’s just a war on American citizens.
“As mentioned, we do not have a lot of land but what we do is ours. You’re approaching a people who’ve seen worse who fought more with less. ICE and this Administration are the alchemists of the fuel raging against them so I don’t want to hear them cry victim.
“I hold a position which requires me to work with government and find solutions. I will not be found sitting anywhere with ICE at the table. When my family is threatened like so many have been by them, don’t expect me to preserve any type presidential decorum. I’ll be with our Bears and Warriors. In short, ICE stay out of Ho-Chunk lands. Stay away from Ho-Chunk people. I will support any and every measure to ensure this is followed.
“Until then, I can only hope for swift and uncompromising justice to be served for Ms. Good and her family.”
This is powerful. It also raises legal questions. Immigration enforcement is not included in the Major Crimes Act, so tribes have not ceded any authority to the United States. In the words of Neil Gorsuch (writing in the McGirt case) … “Because Congress has not said otherwise, we hold the government to its word.”
Congress has not said otherwise.