I have been on the verge of tears yesterday and today. It's not going away. This tragedy didn't have to happen. Will a daily call to my Republican congressman do any good? It probably won't but maybe, just maybe, it will make me feel a tiny spark of empowerment. What are y'all doing/thinking?
I feel the same dilemma regarding the Wisconsin congressional delegation. I’ve been laughed at, told a rep is not interested in my opinion because I’m an independent voter who lives three miles outside his district. I’ve encountered “voice mailbox not set up” and no available email contact. It’s frustrating and disgusting. And yet, at 69, physically unable to march at this time, limited money to donate to causes, calling is what I can contribute. I have to believe it helps.
Yes, Annie. Be part of the flood of calls. Republicans need to hear over and over and over that the public does not approve of them abdicating their responsibilities and letting a deranged felon walk all over the US constitution. Please make that call.
I agree with all the previous responses and came to the same conclusion in that calling my congressmen no matter the political party can move the needle. Our senators and representatives can effect a change with the hearings this week with funding for DHS. And if enough people let them know that their silence will be noted at midterms this year 2026 and also in 2028.
As a retired federal agent who went through almost 6 months of training at the Federal Law Enforcement Center, I agree with everything you said. There is no way they were properly trained in 8 weeks. That is what the ICE training was shortened to. However, if the reporting is correct, these were Border Patrol Officers. I don't know how long their training is now, but I know it focuses on stopping people at the border and as a paramilitary agency. Primarily assigned to the Southwest Border, their attitudes tend to regarding all these people as criminals and to be treated as such. When I saw the video of the Alex Pretti killing, my first thought was accidental discharge and then they all just fired. The proof that they do not know how to handle a situation like this is in the outcome. A man attempts to help a woman they had pushed to the ground, and they pepper spray him directly in the face. If you've ever been sprayed, you would know you would react as he did, trying to clear your face. While he was bending over, they saw the gun in his waistband and instead of ordering him to stand with his hands up, they tackled him to the ground with several officers pounding on him, including one using a gun. Whether it was that gun that went off or the one improperly removed from him, only an investigation will uncover. Either way, I am appalled at what has happened to Federal Law Enforcement under this administration and glad to be retired.
Tim Walz said , “Have you no decency?” If only he was our Vice President. “How I am?”is angry about the blindness and stupidity of this horrible administration led by Donald Trump and the thugs he selected to tear our nation apart. I grieve all who have lost lives, money, insurance, freedoms, and the dignity of our country’s reputation in the world from a President who has un American values and priorities! I am disgusted by a Supreme Court who gave Trump immunity and a Republican led Congress that passed a big ugly bill to help billionaires and this whole bloated immigration mess! I want peace and kindness uppermost but I won’t stop protesting until the bad guys are gone!
Thank you for this brilliant heartbreaking piece of writing. Alex will be mourned and remembered as the kind, caring person he was. This administration needs to held accountable for the horrors they have inflicted.
A psychologist noted the futility of arguing facts and reason with MAGA faithful. Better to appeal to emotions they select for: anger and fear.
MAGA politicians play the Trump base for dupes; they betray them with every Trump-commanded move. Objectively, that makes their obedient constituents fools and losers. How can the emotions of the “base” be redirected to the actual perpetrators?
In the light of Noem et al's mendacious justification for the killing - 'Pretti was brandishing a gun' etc.. - the MAGA faithful might like reconsider the meaning of the 2nd Amendment rights: 'being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.'. Except in the exercise of one's 1st amendment rights, apparently: 'Congress shall make no law... prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.' Which also no longer applies, it seems.
I see what you’ve reported. Your conjecture is exactly what I wondered. Or someone yelled. “GUN”. It’s still murder for all who participated. Poorly or untrained staff. How long is the army’s basic training? And soldiers are trained to clear a crowd the easy way, knock down, beat up, spray, or shoot. Or, to try to stir a riot. THEY HAVE TO BE ARRESTED ON THE SPOT. unless the local police force or county sheriffs are tied in by agreement to ice, anything that ice does that against the law within that city that state that county needs to have a cop or a deputy there with the public to immediately arrest those who were breaking the law.
What’s going on in this “whitewashing/smearing/lying” is so reminiscent of reports that surrounded Duterte, former president of the Philippines, and HIS sycophantic bootlickers, “disappearing”, detaining, torturing and murdering “drug dealers”…by the thousands…if I’m not mistaken, Duterte is currently getting to know the folks in The Hague…
I have been on the verge of tears yesterday and today. It's not going away. This tragedy didn't have to happen. Will a daily call to my Republican congressman do any good? It probably won't but maybe, just maybe, it will make me feel a tiny spark of empowerment. What are y'all doing/thinking?
Not making the call will definitely not move them, so better to try and fail than not try at all. Know that we are with you!
I feel the same dilemma regarding the Wisconsin congressional delegation. I’ve been laughed at, told a rep is not interested in my opinion because I’m an independent voter who lives three miles outside his district. I’ve encountered “voice mailbox not set up” and no available email contact. It’s frustrating and disgusting. And yet, at 69, physically unable to march at this time, limited money to donate to causes, calling is what I can contribute. I have to believe it helps.
Yes, Annie. Be part of the flood of calls. Republicans need to hear over and over and over that the public does not approve of them abdicating their responsibilities and letting a deranged felon walk all over the US constitution. Please make that call.
I agree with all the previous responses and came to the same conclusion in that calling my congressmen no matter the political party can move the needle. Our senators and representatives can effect a change with the hearings this week with funding for DHS. And if enough people let them know that their silence will be noted at midterms this year 2026 and also in 2028.
As a retired federal agent who went through almost 6 months of training at the Federal Law Enforcement Center, I agree with everything you said. There is no way they were properly trained in 8 weeks. That is what the ICE training was shortened to. However, if the reporting is correct, these were Border Patrol Officers. I don't know how long their training is now, but I know it focuses on stopping people at the border and as a paramilitary agency. Primarily assigned to the Southwest Border, their attitudes tend to regarding all these people as criminals and to be treated as such. When I saw the video of the Alex Pretti killing, my first thought was accidental discharge and then they all just fired. The proof that they do not know how to handle a situation like this is in the outcome. A man attempts to help a woman they had pushed to the ground, and they pepper spray him directly in the face. If you've ever been sprayed, you would know you would react as he did, trying to clear your face. While he was bending over, they saw the gun in his waistband and instead of ordering him to stand with his hands up, they tackled him to the ground with several officers pounding on him, including one using a gun. Whether it was that gun that went off or the one improperly removed from him, only an investigation will uncover. Either way, I am appalled at what has happened to Federal Law Enforcement under this administration and glad to be retired.
Tim Walz said , “Have you no decency?” If only he was our Vice President. “How I am?”is angry about the blindness and stupidity of this horrible administration led by Donald Trump and the thugs he selected to tear our nation apart. I grieve all who have lost lives, money, insurance, freedoms, and the dignity of our country’s reputation in the world from a President who has un American values and priorities! I am disgusted by a Supreme Court who gave Trump immunity and a Republican led Congress that passed a big ugly bill to help billionaires and this whole bloated immigration mess! I want peace and kindness uppermost but I won’t stop protesting until the bad guys are gone!
Thank you for this brilliant heartbreaking piece of writing. Alex will be mourned and remembered as the kind, caring person he was. This administration needs to held accountable for the horrors they have inflicted.
A psychologist noted the futility of arguing facts and reason with MAGA faithful. Better to appeal to emotions they select for: anger and fear.
MAGA politicians play the Trump base for dupes; they betray them with every Trump-commanded move. Objectively, that makes their obedient constituents fools and losers. How can the emotions of the “base” be redirected to the actual perpetrators?
In the light of Noem et al's mendacious justification for the killing - 'Pretti was brandishing a gun' etc.. - the MAGA faithful might like reconsider the meaning of the 2nd Amendment rights: 'being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.'. Except in the exercise of one's 1st amendment rights, apparently: 'Congress shall make no law... prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.' Which also no longer applies, it seems.
I see what you’ve reported. Your conjecture is exactly what I wondered. Or someone yelled. “GUN”. It’s still murder for all who participated. Poorly or untrained staff. How long is the army’s basic training? And soldiers are trained to clear a crowd the easy way, knock down, beat up, spray, or shoot. Or, to try to stir a riot. THEY HAVE TO BE ARRESTED ON THE SPOT. unless the local police force or county sheriffs are tied in by agreement to ice, anything that ice does that against the law within that city that state that county needs to have a cop or a deputy there with the public to immediately arrest those who were breaking the law.
What’s going on in this “whitewashing/smearing/lying” is so reminiscent of reports that surrounded Duterte, former president of the Philippines, and HIS sycophantic bootlickers, “disappearing”, detaining, torturing and murdering “drug dealers”…by the thousands…if I’m not mistaken, Duterte is currently getting to know the folks in The Hague…
Never forget: Alex, Renee, January 6th, Kent State, Selma...