ICE agents “dressed like clowns, with the rough fabric with rancid stench.”
The American government’s terror campaign against brown people and the murder of white American protesters in Minneapolis are as terrifying as they are wholly wrong and morally indefensible.
No matter your political stripe, there’s no longer any way to deny that cruelty, the expression of raw power as violence, and dehumanization have been revealed as key elements of the MAGA platform and ethos.
And watching the horrific, tragic events unfold in Minneapolis, there’s no doubt that the seeds of a (soon to be hot) civil war are taking root.
I’m reminded of Pasolini’s letter to student protesters after the 1968 Battle of Valle Giulia (wiki it) where Italy’s paramilitary police (the Carabinieri) and protesters clashed violently.
And then, look at them, Pasolini wrote, referring to the Carabinieri with their black and red uniforms:
And then, look at them: dressed like clowns,
with the rough fabric with rancid stench
Worst of all, naturally, the psychological state
to which they are reduced
for about forty liras a month:
without a smile,
with no more friendship with the world,
separated, excluded (in an exclusion that has no equal)
humiliated by the loss of human qualities
in exchange for those of a policeman
(being hated makes you hate).
They are twenty, dear young men and women, your age.
(Translation from https://t.co/c9yZiPP55F.)
Reading the letter (a poem published at the time as opinion piece), it occurred to me how ICE agents are also victims of our government’s awful policy — not unlike the way U.S. soldiers were victims of U.S. policy in Vietnam (or Afghanistan or Iraq).
But then you look at the agents’ abject violence against U.S. citizens and rightful residents: it’s hard not to see MAGA’s hateful, emotionally-driven cruelty in the heart of their actions.
I pray for them just as I pray for the victims of MAGA’s sadism. I pray for us all.
I’m honored to earn the endorsement of the San Antonio Express-News. They’re right. I bring the experience, the policy depth, and the fight this moment demands. I didn’t come this far to play it safe. I came to win for working people across this state. Let’s get to work, Texas! #JasmineForUS #TexasTough
Mid 20s in Houston, water turned off to protect pipes, but at least we have power and no one is threatening to shoot us for standing up for immigrants’ rights. Praying for Minneapolis and all the vulnerable among us. Stay warm people. We have plenty of water, food and heat (as long as power stays on). Let us know if you need support.
Shanah tovah! May your year ahead be filled with light, health, and joy. The world seems to be changing at breakneck speed these days. We know we are fortunate to count so many blessings at home while so many others are struggling. Never have Dickens' words hit home so powerfully: "It was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness." Happy new year. G-d bless us all. https://t.co/Bw2OTRzm9I
"Especially concerning has been the involvement of a number of high-ranking government officials, who... have used Kirk’s murder as a pretext to crack down on speech in clear violation of the First Amendment." https://t.co/kkZF131C9D
Every Houstonian should reject immigration raids that terrify children into asking whether the people with badges are “good," and forces their older sister to say not right now. https://t.co/fMm0KrEbii
Buying and controlling media platforms.
Firing commentators.
Canceling shows.
These aren’t coincidences.
It’s coordinated. And it’s dangerous.
The @GOP does not believe in free speech.
They are censoring you in real time.
💛 We stand with the Caxaj family.
After his deportation in May, his wife and children are facing enormous challenges. Together, we can lighten their load. 🙏
FIEL is asking our community to come together whether through a donation or by sharing this link to show them they are not alone. ✨
🔗: https://t.co/xfL33jRDVP
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💛 Apoya a la familia Caxaj.
Tras la deportación de his en mayo, su esposa e hijos enfrentan enormes desafíos. Juntos podemos aliviar su carga. 🙏
FIEL pide a nuestra comunidad que se una ya sea con una donación o compartiendo este enlace para mostrarle a esta familia que no están solos. ✨
“It is Biden’s and Zelenskyy’s war” is so morally blind and factually wrong. Mr President, Putin is the one who is the invader. And, now this war is on your watch and you’ll be judged in the history books in the decades to come by your actions or lack thereof.
Today, we honor the memory of the thousands of civilians, first responders, and volunteers tragically lost during and in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attack.
We must always honor their memory and the resilience of the American spirit during our country’s darkest hours.
Condolences to the Kirk family for the loss of a father, son, and husband. His views were not uncommon today or yesterday or tomorrow. Now is not a time to deride him or his followers. He was a human who worked and loved and cried and hoped as any one of us might. G-d bless his family, G-d bless America, G-d bless us all.
Texas Prof. Fired After Accusations of Teaching ‘Gender Ideology’
Moves by Texas A&M represented “the death of academic freedom in Texas, the remaking of universities as tools of authoritarianism that suppress free thought,” said PEN America's @jonfreadom
https://t.co/7MGHcnhNXz
Wondering if you qualify for in-state tuition in Texas? It’s all about legal presence, not legal status! DACA, TPS, asylum cases, or pending adjustment of status all count.
If your school says otherwise or you’re struggling, call us at FIEL. We’re here to help you navigate it all! 💛
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¿Te preguntas si calificas para la matrícula estatal en Texas? Todo se trata de presencia legal, ¡no del estatus legal! DACA, TPS, casos de asilo o ajustes de estatus pendientes cuentan.
Si tu escuela dice lo contrario o estás teniendo dificultades, llámanos a FIEL—¡estamos aquí para ayudarte a resolverlo todo! 💛
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#texas #houston #texaseducation
#FIELHouston #InStateTuition #ImmigrationSupport #CommunityMatters #immigranteducation #daca #tps #houstoneducation