ICE Bullies: Is this really who we are, now?!

ICE: Bullies coming to a city near you.

No one likes a bully. We create anti-bullying campaigns in schools, condemn workplace bullying, and even write anti-bullying legislation.

Many organizations work hard to educate society on the true harm of bullying, motivating more people to take positive action. All states have anti-bullying legislation, demonstrating a formal societal rejection of the behavior.

There's even a growing awareness that bullying isn't always visible, leading to a heightened awareness of nonverbal behaviors and even cyberbullying.

Why, then, is it okay for the federal government to regularly, aggressively, and publicly their perceived political opponents? Why is it acceptable to the MAGA crowd to completely eliminate the other side of the 

In Chicago, a few months ago, in the dead of night, ICE bullies raided an apartment complex they determined was the site of drug and gang activity. These bullies, these ICE agents, covered their faces, carried big guns, used flash bangs, tanks, and even a Blackhawk helicopter, all in the dead of night. They destroyed property, zip-tied children to each other, and marched everyone, some unclothed, outside to wait for hours in restraints while they continued to destroy personal property, punch holes in walls, and doors, and perform illegal searches.

Of all of those disturbing descriptions, perhaps the most striking and unsettling was the utter inhumane and criminal way they treated the children. The images of the raid are disturbing and show the utter lack of humanity and common decency of these government-sanctioned ICE bullies. Children as young as three were zip-tied to each other and marched into the streets with the other residents, also without benefit of warm clothes or coverings of any kind.  

“But, but, but, they might have arrested a Venezuelan gang member! Also at least one person in the raid had an outstanding warrant. We are catching criminals!” 

Before you get carried away with your self-righteous support of what is now becoming a terrorist government regime, imagine for a moment that you are a five year old child living in a poor neighborhood who is yanked from his bed in the dead of night, zip-tied to his three year old sister, roughly marched outside by masked men with guns and gruff voices, separated from your adult family members, and detained for hours with no explanation, no coverings, so sense of security.

How likely are you to EVER trust police or adults in power. What future do you see for yourself in this scenario? What hope? 

Do you still think everyone has a chance to thrive in America today? Do you still think Trump and his gangsters are good for this country, are making America great, are modeling Christian leadership?

If you answered yes to any of those questions, I call bullshit on your flag-flying, pledge-proclaiming, MAGA-mongering, “new American way.”