#vote #VoterSuppression #VoterIntimidation #EarlyVoting #VoteByMail
They’re giving fair warning.
They are saying that ICE agents will be at the polling places during the 2026 midterm elections.
They’re hoping to discourage voter turnout, fearing a landslide defeat for the current party in power if too many people vote.
But, if you’re among those who are not happy with what’s going on, the most powerful weapon you have is your vote.
Don’t be afraid to vote. They can’t stop you from voting. It may take courage to vote in some places, but you must summon that courage.
If you don’t want to vote on Election Day, vote early, if you can. Or, if it’s available to you, vote by mail. Visit your local election office well ahead of time to discern your options. If your area has a special election prior to November, vote then, too.
By any means that you have, VOTE!
Take your example of courage from the protesters in Minnesota, Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland and elsewhere.
In Minnesota, they are braving harsh winter weather to stand in the streets, risk their lives and tell the overwhelming contingent of federal agents that they don’t want them there.
They are helping their neighbors who legitimately fear capture and deportation – often illegitimate deportation – stay safe and stay fed.
If we all turn out to vote, we will show that there are more of us than there are of federal agents. They will not be able to stop ALL of us – and they legally cannot stop ANY of us.
You may have to brave long lines at the polls if you have to vote on Election Day. There may even be some lines at early-voting locations on some days.
These are inconvenient, to be sure. But, casting your vote is paramount. Life as you know it could depend on it.
Local and state officials who, by law, run elections, have to stand firm. They have to make sure EVERY legal vote is counted. They also have to protect polling places from the illegitimate presence of federal officials.
They have to protect voters from intimidation from federal officials or others seeking a certain outcome.
You have months to prepare to vote in November. You have months to choose your preferred candidates carefully.
If you want things to change, vote for candidates that will help enable that change.
If you’re among those who like what you see from your federal government, you certainly have the right to elect those who’ll preserve the status quo.
Many people see unnecessary cruelty. Many people see unnecessary injury and even death.
Those people want that to change. Therefore, it’s incumbent on those people to vote by whatever means suits them. Not voting is NOT an option.
The legitimate power of the vote can negate the illegitimate power of those who want to suppress the vote.
Don’t let them. Brave whatever you have to brave to vote.
There is plenty of time to plan. Use that time, and your vote, wisely.
Peter
Tag Archives: Minnesota
SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND TODAY’S CONFRONTATIONS
#SecondAmendment #USConstitution #FederalAgents #AgentsInTheStreets #Resist #ResisWithDiscipline
Proponents of a strong Second Amendment to the Constitution have defended legal gun owners’ rights to protect their homes from invasion.
When masked federal agents patrolling the streets of cities are given carte blanche to knock down doors without judicial warrants, potential tragedy could be looming.
If federal agents kick down the door of a legal gun owner, by mistake or otherwise, and that gun owner chooses to defend himself or herself from masked intruders, the outcome could be something no one wants.
Given that scenario, on whose side would the staunch defenders of the Second Amendment be?
Intrusions without judicial warrants are illegal. Homeowners protecting their turf is legal in most places.
In fact, one of the arguments for a strong Second Amendment is allowing people the right to protect themselves from an oppressive government..
That scenario could be upon us.
When Alex Pretti was killed in Minneapolis by federal agents, he was a legal gun owner permitted to carry. Federal officials say that the weapon on his person was a threat, and that no one should bring weapons to a protest. (He didn’t use his weapon and was disarmed before he was shot, videos show.) Kyle Rittenhouse brought a long gun to a Black Lives Matter protest. Two people were killed. He was acquitted and celebrated by the pro-Second Amendment folks.
Rioters at the Jan. 6, 2021, protests in Washington, D.C., also had guns, reports say. They were pardoned.
The Second Amendment is enshrined in the Constitution. So are protections against illegal searches and seizures.
What is occurring on U.S. city streets is NOT law enforcement. It is the opposite of law enforcement. These agents are actually arresting people at courthouses who are complying with the law.
Law enforcement follows the Constitution. Those doing law enforcement always properly identify themselves. They follow the procedures enshrined in the Constitution that govern how they should conduct themselves.
Those federal agents patrolling city streets today cannot be given immunity by executive order. If THEY break the law, someone, someday will prosecute them.
Those protesting the actions of federal agents on their streets have the constitutional right to assemble and state their opposition in non-violent ways.
Federal agents do not have the right to harm these people for peacefully protesting the agents’ behavior.
Government officials themselves, many far away from the action, should not be describing altercations in the streets without proper investigation. In fact, publicly available evidence very often conflicts with their descriptions.
As government officials create these narratives, they are building a credibility problem for themselves.
No one – hopefully including the highest level federal officials – wants to see violent confrontations of any kind. But, their inaction to stop the confrontations is telling.
But, as they occur almost daily, they raise the specter of what could happen next.
It’s incumbent upon the protesters to remain disciplined. Resist non-violently, despite human temptation to fight back.
Only with this discipline will they get their streets back.
Citizens, businesses and anyone affected by these confrontations should resist with any legal means at their disposal.
The strength and discipline of the people and their institutions is the only way to get the streets, and their lives, back to normal.
Peter
Proponents of a strong Second Amendment to the Constitution have defended legal gun owners’ rights to protect their homes from invasion.
When masked federal agents patrolling the streets of cities are given carte blanche to knock down doors without judicial warrants, potential tragedy could be looming.
If federal agents kick down the door of a legal gun owner, by mistake or otherwise, and that gun owner chooses to defend himself or herself from masked intruders, the outcome could be something no one wants.
Given that scenario, on whose side would the staunch defenders of the Second Amendment be?
Intrusions without judicial warrants are illegal. Homeowners protecting their turf is legal in most places.
In fact, one of the arguments for a strong Second Amendment is allowing people the right to protect themselves from an oppressive government..
That scenario could be upon us.
When Alex Pretti was killed in Minneapolis by federal agents, he was a legal gun owner permitted to carry. Federal officials say that the weapon on his person was a threat, and that no one should bring weapons to a protest. (He didn’t use his weapon and was disarmed before he was shot, videos show.) Kyle Rittenhouse brought a long gun to a Black Lives Matter protest. Two people were killed. He was acquitted and celebrated by the pro-Second Amendment folks.
Rioters at the Jan. 6, 2021, protests in Washington, D.C., also had guns, reports say. They were pardoned.
The Second Amendment is enshrined in the Constitution. So are protections against illegal searches and seizures.
What is occurring on U.S. city streets is NOT law enforcement. It is the opposite of law enforcement. These agents are actually arresting people at courthouses who are complying with the law.
Law enforcement follows the Constitution. Those doing law enforcement always properly identify themselves. They follow the procedures enshrined in the Constitution that govern how they should conduct themselves.
Those federal agents patrolling city streets today cannot be given immunity by executive order. If THEY break the law, someone, someday will prosecute them.
Those protesting the actions of federal agents on their streets have the constitutional right to assemble and state their opposition in non-violent ways.
Federal agents do not have the right to harm these people for peacefully protesting the agents’ behavior.
Government officials themselves, many far away from the action, should not be describing altercations in the streets without proper investigation. In fact, publicly available evidence very often conflicts with their descriptions.
As government officials create these narratives, they are building a credibility problem for themselves.
No one – hopefully including the highest level federal officials – wants to see violent confrontations of any kind. But, their inaction to stop the confrontations is telling.
But, as they occur almost daily, they raise the specter of what could happen next.
It’s incumbent upon the protesters to remain disciplined. Resist non-violently, despite human temptation to fight back.
Only with this discipline will they get their streets back.
Citizens, businesses and anyone affected by these confrontations should resist with any legal means at their disposal.
The strength and discipline of the people and their institutions is the only way to get the streets, and their lives, back to normal.
Peter