Written by: Robert Means
From the start of the Trump administration’s term, experts have warned that we are on the road to fascism. Fascism isn’t just about the merger of oligarch and state interests; it also requires a repudiation of the rule of law and the institutions of democracy itself. With the murder of Renee Nicole Good, I say we’ve arrived.
While the right-wing media portrays the killing as justified, legal scholars and videos like this one show an ICE agent who wanted to cause harm. Whether PTSD, Trump’s OK by pardoning over a thousand due-process and criminally-convicted Jan. 6 insurrectionists, or a desire to do something that justifies his lucrative pay, Ross felt compelled to kill someone with 3 bullets instead of just 1.
Yes, people go wacko, and do things outside the norm. At ICE, it’s becoming the norm. The real problem is that instead of following due-process norms by investigating and prosecuting criminals, the regime stopped the legal process. Worse still is the half-million dollar reward the perp is getting. Other ICE mercenaries who joined for the money must be thinking this opportunity to rake in cash from people who support violence.
Now that fascism is here, complete with enforcement thugs (called Gestapo in Nazi Germany), what will we do? What will you do? If you feel afraid to do anything that might attract attention from this violent regime, that’s normal. That is what the regime is creating with their violence and total lack of compassion or empathy – they want you to fear them, and fall in line. Will you? Will you simply watch as your country is turned from the Land of the Free into a violent police state like those in Russia, Iran, North Korea, and Venezuela?
What will our elected representatives do? How will our highly-professional police force respond when confronted with ICE crimes in Milpitas?
The regime is playing for keeps, and will do anything to maintain power. We are at a tipping point when our country will succumb to the will of the Republican regime, or We the People will demand a return to democracy, rule of law, and compassion for our fellow Americans.
Trump’s mentor, Roy Cohn, emphasized 2 rules: never admit a mistake, and always attack. Both rules are on display in this case. How each of us responds is a personal choice.
Robert Means is a 50-year resident of Milpitas, podcar advocate, and political activist.
When I learned about the murders in Minnesota, I was angry. When I learned about the subsequent cover-ups and victim blaming, I could feel the fury in my body that had me wanting to hurt the perpetrators. Then, my mindfulness training kicked in, and I realized that my own violent thoughts were not helping.
What we need is more opposition to the unlawful and unconstitutional actions of the *rump regime. So, I put some energy in that direction. The result is a petition that I invite all Milpitas residents to sign: https://sign.moveon.org/petitions/milpitas-will-not-be-complicit
According to Merriam-Webster – complicit is helping to commit a crime or do wrong in some way. A legal maxim is “silence implies consent”. Thus far, I’m unaware of any statements made or actions taken by the City to oppose the regime. When will our elected representatives stand up to the regime?
“He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.
Why are people trying to interfere with the police or Ice doing their job? I know that if a Milpitas police officer is doing something I am not going to go over there if I do I could get shot. I pray all the church’s get together and have people pray for peace and stop all this fighting and crazibess.