This is Fascism
Just the latest example.
It has become impossible to open social media and not see videos showing abuse by ICE, and here is a case wherein Reuters provides full reporting on such an incident, ICE broke into Minnesota home, dragged barely clothed man into snow.
A Minnesota man told Reuters on Monday he felt fear, shame and desperation a day after ICE officers broke down his door with guns drawn, handcuffed him and dragged him into the snow wearing shorts and Crocs.
ChongLy Thao, 56, a naturalized U.S. citizen who goes by the name Scott, was returned home later on Sunday without explanation or apology, he said.
I recommend clicking through and watching the video.
This should be unacceptable, and yet here we are, complete with DHS’s chief propagandist providing cover to explain the injustice.
Many will see the words “sex offender” and just default to the notion that any and all actions are necessary and proper. But was it necessary to break down a door? (I am sure that DHS isn’t going to pay to fix the damage.) To not serve a warrant? To point guns at people? A wanted poster for the wanted men was provided. They are two Asian males, but I guess they all look alike, and hence the detention of Thao. A check of an ID might have helped.
From the Reuters write-up.
DHS published wanted posters for two men targeted in the investigation who were still at large, describing each as a “criminal illegal alien” from Laos who is subject to deportation orders. One of the men in the wanted posters previously lived at the house but moved out, according to relatives close to the situation, who described him as the ex-husband of a member of the Thao family.
I am unaware of the constitutional principle that a US citizen who is not the target of an investigation can be dragged from their home and forced to be fingerprinted and facially identified. By this logic, any one of us could be so detained just to make sure.
But, of course, “target” appears to have acquired a new meaning as far as ICE is concerned. This clip is chilling.
I remember that as a kid, if in a movie or television show an authority figure asked for your papers, it was a signal that they were the bad guy in the piece. Nazis and Communists asked for papers, not good Americans. And yet, here we are. Worse, it seems that even having valid papers isn’t enough to stop you from being dragged from your home half-naked and detained while ICE satisfies itself that you are who you say you are.
This is the stuff of totalitarian nightmares, not what we should expect as Americans.
This is force over right.
It is arbitrary and lawless.
It is fascism, pure and simple.
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Gosh, I wonder if Tricia McLaughlin is lying.
@wr: If I were in the news business, I would demand evidence before reporting anything these people say. And I would tell them that to their face, in public.
Too many lies have been told.
Gee… If only someone, anyone, had warned the American people….
Trump likened to a ‘fascist’ by General John Kelly, his former chief of staff
Trump’s latest speech echoes fascist rhetoric
To those on this very site, who told many of us our beliefs [that Trump was ac actual fascist] were overwrought and fantastical, go fuck yourselves.
@EddieInCA: I have been trying….
And I think that the person with whom you are the most frustrated abandoned the site back in September.
@wr: I find her to be especially unnerving.
But, remember, according to Dr. Joyner, it is the protestors in MN who are causing problems because “…the nature of the protests is not helpful. Interfering with law enforcement personnel while they are carrying out their official duties practically invites confrontation and escalation.”
Thao is also a family friend of the new mayor of St. Paul, who is Hmong, and she now feels she has to carry her passport with her.
https://www.startribune.com/st-paul-mayor-livid-after-ice-wrongly-targets-family-friend-escorts-him-undressed-into-cold/601566974?utm_source=gift
This little nugget is in that piece from the Star Tribune:
“His daughter-in-law grabbed a blanket and threw it over Thao “as they’re dragging him out the door,” Her said. “And had that not happened, he would have been dragged out there in those shorts, in the cold, in the Minnesota winter.”
Oh, and to add another interesting tidbit, the police chief of Brooklyn Park (a suburb of the Twin Cities) held a press conference (here: https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3mcuopvhabn2r) where he talks about off duty police officers being threatened, stopped, and asked for papers by ICE (in addition to all the calls they get from citizens about it). And all the officers who have been stopped are persons of color. Hmmmm.
One of the anecdotes about an officer being stopped sure reminds me of the video of a woman being stopped, her camera being knocked out of her hands and the ICE/CBP thug saying something to the effect of “haven’t you learned anything after the Good shooting.”
@Steven L. Taylor:
Dr. Taylor. With all due respect, there was much more than one person who thought many of us were overreacting. You have done a great job showing the creeping authoritarianism in this administration, but you – and the fact based community – is losing due to the propoganda being put out by the Administration and it’s various influencers.
I’ve recently began posting on Rod Dreher’s site because that group over there is living in a completely different universe than I am. Many on that site are in such media bubbles that they had no idea American Citizens are being detained and/or arrested. Many have no ideas that ICE has gone into Churches, Schools, and Hospitals looking for “illegals”, and harassing US Citizens instead in the process.
It’s gonna get worse. I finish my gig in NM in about five weeks, then looking forward to getting back to the DR, where I’m not worried about someone smacking me in the back of the head for speaking Spanish with my mother on my cell phone. Yes. This happened to me.
@EddieInCA: Agreed–there were multiple folks who were downplaying–I was just thnking about one specific interlocutor. I actually wish he would come back, as I am curious as to his views.
I, sadly, believe it. And I am very sorry to hear that that happened.
That’s pretty much the administration’s goal. Full-on “ihre Papiere, bitte.”
@EddieInCA: Sorry to hear about your head-smacking incident, but NM is at least one of the more blue states with a good number of spanish-speakers. I hope your stay here is otherwise pleasant. (I’m in Santa Fe.)
@reid:
I’ve had zero issues in NM. The head smacking took place in Santa Clarita, about 45 mins north of Los Angeles, about three months ago, as I was exiting a Lowes, with two potted plants. Along with the smack to the back of my head, I got the usual “This is America motherfucker, we speak English here.” comment. Fortunately, Lowes had cameras. Two women witnessed it and tt was all on video. The guy was arrested for assault. No idea as to the disposition of the case. I frankly don’t give a shit.
Love Snta Fe. I had breakfast this morning at Sage Bakehouse, which I highly recommend in Santa Fe. Also, if you haven’t been, try “La Boca” near the Plaza for amazing Spanish Tapas in Santa Fe. Tell Gino, the bartender, that Ed sent you.
I’ve loved my time in ABQ and Santa Fe. Hoping we get another season so I can come back. But I’ll be happy to get back to the ocean and the DR.
@EddieInCA: It can be difficult to sort out the motivations of a person making posts like yours.
First, though, I really don’t want this stuff to happen. I want you to be able to speak Spanish on the phone with your mother, regardless of what state you are in.
Ok, now… You could be using what I might call “activist language”. Which is “Everything is on fire and we need to DO SOMETHING!!!!” It is an exaggeration sort of rhetoric, meant to motivate people. When I see someone doing that, I usually ignore them.
OR, it could be “language of despair”. I respond to that because despair is one of the enemy’s weapons. Do not despair. Stay in the game. Speak up. There are reasons to hope.
So, I am in a dilemma. We are getting kicked around hard, but we aren’t actually losing, that I can see. Trump is not gaining ground in the polls. ICE and immigration is under water. He’s flailing around with stuff like Greenland which has massive, massive disapproval. I’ve never seen a policy advocated by the president have so low approval. Never.
The people of the Twin Cities are responding in about the best way humans respond to this kind of thing. I’m sure it’s not ideal, because humans. Still, very good.
The ICE goons are bullies. They are predators. They don’t want a tough fight, they run away from it. Just like Trump. They want easy wins. The best thing we can do is not give them easy wins.
I don’t know that I am all that interested in what exactly to call things. This is not a criticism of Steven, just an indication that I am more interested in facts and patterns than names. I think people have a huge built-in resistance to something being called “fascist” or “nazi”. I would prefer to bypass that argument, and just show them the video above and recite the facts.
Peace and love to you, regardless of whatever you decide to do.
@jehrler: Just for completeness, here is the video of the woman having her phone knocked out of her hand. Likely not the off duty officer, but definitely consistent with that anecdote:
https://bsky.app/profile/kenwhite.bsky.social/post/3mc3z3o4u7c2c
@Steven L. Taylor:
Also, I’ll be in ATL and Auburn mid-march, before I head back. Still wanna grab that lunch or cocktail with you in AL. Will email and let you know the exact dates as it gets closer.
@EddieInCA: I haven’t actually been to Sage, though I’m sure it’s good. Radish and Rye next door is considered excellent. We often go to Chomp next-next door.
Boca is a bit upscale for us. There are lots of places like that, especially near the plaza. (I live about a mile south of the plaza, a stone’s throw from Sage actually.) Too bad El Farol closed down; you’d surely like it. More our speed is Tomasita’s and Choza.
Whatever the case, I’m glad to hear you’ve had no difficulties in our fine state!