Virginia Commonwealth University Police announced on Thursday that a nurse, who was recently fired, is under criminal investigation after she encouraged healthcare workers to use drugs on ICE agents in a TikTok video.
Malinda Cook lost her job on Tuesday night following a short inquiry by VCU Health. This came after three videos she had posted on TikTok were compiled and shared on X by the account LibsOfTikTok, which sparked considerable public outrage.
The ensuing controversy resulted in Cook losing her position and now facing scrutiny from law enforcement.
In one of the videos, she urged fellow healthcare providers to use anti-paralytic medication on ICE agents, labeling it simply as “#ice #resistance #sabotage.”
In another part of the video, Cook suggested using syringes filled with substances like saline and succinylcholine, which causes temporary muscle paralysis, as a means of intimidation. “Just fill up the syringe… I think that’ll be a deterrent. Be safe,” she mentioned.
Moreover, she recommended creating a mixture of poison ivy and oak with water, then using a water gun to spray it on ICE agents. “Aim for the face and hands,” she advised.
Cook also proposed that single women might consider interrupting the meals of ICE agents, even suggesting to poison their drinks in a way that would incapacitate them but not cause any fatalities.
“Let’s make their lives miserable,” she remarked, expressing a rather aggressive stance on her tactics.
Critics have condemned her actions, suggesting that terminating her employment was simply the minimum response needed.
Christina Rasmussen from the organization Do No Harm stated that VCU has a troubling history of promoting extreme political ideologies. She emphasized that when medical institutions allow such beliefs to influence their training, they cultivate activists instead of skilled healthcare professionals, raising questions about patient safety in the future.
