Chris Powell: Minneapolis Incident Distracts From The Big Underlying Issues

Analysis and Comment8 Comments

OIB media partner Chris Powell shares another take on the ICE shooting.

By CHRIS POWELL

Seven years ago a Wethersfield police officer shot and killed a motorist who drove straight at him after evading a traffic stop. While police video of the incident indicated that the officer could have gotten out of the way in time and didn’t have to stand his ground, the state’s attorney concluded that the shooting was justified because the officer reasonably feared for his life.

If those who already have decided that the immigration agent who last week shot and killed a woman at an enforcement scene in Minneapolis was wrong — among them Mayor Jacob Frey, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont and Attorney General William Tong, and most other Democratic officials — and those who already have decided that the agent was right — among them President Trump, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and most Republican officials — will drop their partisan hysteria and let the issue be decided through regular legal procedure, it likely will hinge on the standard in the Wethersfield case.

That is, did the agent reasonably fear for his life?

Video of the Minneapolis incident suggests that the driver, leaving the scene, was trying to turn enough to avoid striking the agent, but her car may have touched him. It was close. The agent might or might not have had time to jump aside, but he might not have been obliged to.

The video also shows that the driver had parked her car sideways across both lanes of the street, blocking traffic; that she refused an order to get out of the car; and that she was trying to avoid apprehension — just like the driver shot and killed in Wethersfield seven years ago.

The driver in Minneapolis and many others on the scene seem to have been trying to obstruct immigration law enforcement. The New York Post reports that the driver was a member of a group that does just that. If she was looking for trouble, she found it.

As for the immigration agent, if he was too fast on the draw, in a previous enforcement action he had been dragged and injured by the car of another fleeing motorist. Of course this might have affected his judgment of what constitutes reasonable self-defense, and in turn might affect a jury’s judgment, though as a “sanctuary city” Minneapolis might not be able to supply an impartial jury.

Sad as the Minneapolis incident is, it shouldn’t distract from the big underlying issues — whether federal immigration law is to be enforced, whether the country is to have open borders again as under the previous national administration, and whether states can nullify federal law. Until recently the latter issue had been thought settled since Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox in 1865 and again since the civil rights struggles of the 1950s and ’60s.

Mayor Frey and the immigration law enforcement protesters in Minneapolis, Connecticut, and elsewhere explicitly favor nullification. Their signs call for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement and prohibiting deportations, and they even carry the flags of other countries. Making himself even more vulgar than the president he detests, the mayor used an obscenity on national television as he proclaimed that he wanted ICE to get out of his city, as if it could secede.

Connecticut’s Democratic officials are barely more subtle. The General Assembly and governor keep enacting laws to hinder immigration law enforcement in the state.

Responding to the Minneapolis incident, Connecticut U.S. Rep. John B. Larson said he would introduce legislation “allowing states to prevent ICE from operating in their borders without full coordination with state and local law enforcement agencies.”

“Full coordination”? Connecticut law prohibits it, and officials in the state’s “sanctuary cities” surely would betray ICE enforcement actions to local illegals. The nullifiers would love that.

Connecticut U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal wants to provide all illegal immigrants with a “path to citizenship” — a euphemism for another mass amnesty.

It’s crazy but maybe anything can happen politically now that the cause of open borders has gained a martyr.

1+
Share

8 comments

  1. Jesus, you people really do love the words. 🙂

    A few words come to mind. ‘White Privilege/Supremacy” and “recklessness”

    Let’s start with “White Privilege/Supremacy”. A theme, a mantra, my comrade John L., used to involve back in the day, but has now turned to “civic engagement,” 🙂

    How White Privilege/Supremacy might have played a role in this incident. This White Liberal, who engages in coordinated criminality to obstruct law enforcement, perhaps thought her “privilege” would have protected her even if she engaged in “reckless” criminal behavior with law enforcement, which would put her life in harm’s way, and wouldn’t suffer any consequences for such actions. (Meaning Cops will only shoot a black or minority.)

    https://www.facebook.com/reel/1520416015743773

    1+

    1. Dude, I can Imagine how many OIB readers are as sick of your stupid posts. It bothers me most when the commentary are about very serious issues. You really need to see your doctor about higher doses of your medication. Don’t make send Danny Roach to throw you out the window. 😀

      0

  2. Was this incident avoidable, without a doubt, on many levels of judgment and actions?

    It is “disingenuous” to say that criminally reckless behavior holds no consequence or accountability, primarily based on a political Point of view/mindset,

    Did this mother intend to drive over this cop and try to kill him? No, not in my mind, nor any rational-minded person. Does that change or absolve her of the fact that her criminally reckless behavior and actions didn’t contribute to the circumstances that took place? No

    Example:

    Take Sen Gomes, who was killed by a person who was driving recklessly. He didn’t intend to kill him, but his recklessness behind the wheel did. Is anyone going to say that because the driver didn’t intend to hit Gomes or harm him, the driver doesn’t hold any responsibility? JS

    Since this piece conjures up the black sentiment.

    “Until recently, the latter issue had been thought settled since Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox in 1865 and again since the civil rights struggles of the 1950s and ’60s.”

    With regard to that “White Supremacy,” and black sentiment, and this incident with ICE’s law enforcement activities. I am betting they, Black Americans, really don’t give a shit about a white person being shot by another white officer outside any entrenched Liberal democrat political position. As well as Latinos here illegally being deported. Just my opinion, but I’ll take that bet.

    The latter, perhaps, is a more concerning issue to Black Americans, but only because, well, let’s just say it’s the thought of things being settled in America since Lee surrendered and the enactment of the Civil Rights Act, and that White Supremacy isn’t quite so settled in the minds of Black Americans. SMH

    To be fair, on some levels, some things surrounding Black “American” slavery of the Black “Africans” before the Muslim “Conquest” of “conversion” of the Black African people.

    For some reason, I don’t think that the Caliphate, Arab-Muslim military campaigns of conversion revolved around the Christian missionary concept.

    Perhaps more in line with the Spanish Conquistadors’ conquest/ conversion of, well, you know, Ironin, No?

    https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1AGmKLadBE/

    I say some things and some level because if Black African Muslims, Somalians, want to come to America, things can be all that fucked up in America for Black “African” No?

    To be fair, fair, is anything ever really settled in Democracy’s politics? 🤣

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTEpHeN8jhE

    1+

  4. To be fair and clear, something up. When I say “Black Americans, really don’t give a shit about a white person being shot by another white officer outside any entrenched Liberal democrat political position. As well as Latinos here illegally being deported.”

    I mean, they generally don’t, but neither do white people. We know half of the white people, let’s call them Trumpsters. Don’t give a shit about this, Renee, and the other half, let’s call them Bideners, who are protesting in support of Renee, really don’t give a shit. They are just some decietful fake asses. Like a White mayor crying over the casket of a black American who was killed by the police that he was in charge of, JS

    I don’t know about you, but there may be some “disingenuousness” disingenuous.” Why are they protesting a Home Depot that represents ‘hard-working’ immigrants? 🙂 Perhaps a Federal building would have been more Genuine. What say, Malcolm? 🤣

    I wonder if Gen Now’s Gemeem felt unsafe in the sea of white people and disappointed that the Anti-ICE protest didn’t reflect the diversity of the city’s residents. 🙂

    https://www.facebook.com/share/r/19xgniTrNY/

    At any rate, try to play nice, Breath of Fresh Air 🙂

    Teh Prophet.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfobiCq0YUc

    1+

Leave a Reply