Minneapolis Protesters Target Churches Amid Anti-ICE Sentiment

Minneapolis has recently witnessed a surge in protests targeting churches, driven by anti-ICE sentiments. This follows a period of heightened emotions where politicians and activists have been calling for resistance against immigration enforcement. It’s a chaotic situation. I wrote an op-ed suggesting what I believed to be a reasonable approach and titled it “Stop the Rhetoric.”

The Columbus Dispatch published this piece after the shooting of Alex Preti, but they altered the title to something more sensational: “Renee Good was not ‘innocent.'” It feels like a deliberate attempt to stir up controversy. Have you noticed how trust in traditional media is fading?

In a comparison of unrest, states like Florida and Texas, which have seen much more ICE activity and deportations, are managing better than Minnesota.

The deaths of Good and Preti are tragic, irrespective of one’s stance on Trump or ICE. Every incident leaves a mark on families and communities, damaging trust in the system. My underlying argument? Rhetoric can lead to real actions. Sure, we have the freedom to speak, but consequences follow, sometimes harshly.

One clear takeaway is that violating others’ rights or obstructing law enforcement is against the law.

When officials promote such “resistance,” it only escalates an already bad situation. Yet, some, like Elliott Forhan, my Democratic attorney general nominee, continue to stir the pot. He recently shared a video where he talked about wanting to “kill Donald Trump.” We should all be opposed to that kind of rhetoric.

It’s crucial to cool down discussions.

People should be able to express their opinions peacefully. Whether you support open borders or oppose ICE, that’s your prerogative. You can even rally peacefully with signs and megaphones. But, let others express their opposing viewpoints in the same way.

Violence is a no-go. Lately, it seems some interpret “unacceptable violence” as “unless it’s justified.”

No kind of violence is acceptable, ever.

Interfering with law enforcement is not “peacefully protesting” or exercising free speech. You can’t justify your behavior just because you think someone’s breaking the law.

Public officials should not advocate for violence or illegal activities. This is part of why Minnesota’s sanctuary policy is so concerning. Arrests of violent illegal immigrants could happen off the streets and collaboratively with local law enforcement.

Contrasting Minnesota’s chaos with Florida and Texas reveals a significant difference. Those states have more ICE actions and deportations, but they collaborate and avoid inciting illegal protests.

A simple piece of advice I taught my kids when learning to drive? Be polite and cooperative when interacting with law enforcement. Just say “Yes, sir” or “No, sir,” and comply with their instructions. If they mess up, the law has ways to deal with that later. Don’t block them or resist their authority.

It’s essential to hold police accountable, just like anyone else. They should be subject to the same investigations for misconduct. In Ohio, for instance, the use-of-force cases are handled seriously by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Attorney General’s Office. Misconduct will face consequences, even if I become Attorney General.

While the shooting of Alex Preti was tragic, I seek truth and justice above all. There’s an ongoing investigation. I support the Second Amendment, but carrying a gun doesn’t mean you’re dangerous—it’s how you act while carrying it that matters.

Protests can escalate quickly, and snap decisions can have deadly consequences. Too often, people make choices without time to think or analyze the situation.

Thus, in my Columbus Dispatch op-ed, I stressed that we need to steer clear of inflammatory rhetoric.