'Malfeasance in Minnesota' by Vincent

Minnesota, a state once famous for its thousands of pristine lakes and small-town feel, has now become the ultimate case study of how elected officials can utterly fail a constituency.  In this case, Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frye have turned what should have been a collaborative and constructive discussion regarding immigration enforcement and public safety into a perfect storm for violence and anarchy.  The sanctuary policies they ardently support, paired with their incendiary rhetoric, have created an environment where lawful protests escalate into massive violent confrontations daily.   
 
Let’s unpack the sanctuary policies that Waltz and Frey covet.  Ignoring federal immigration laws in not optional, the constitution’s supremacy clause is very clear, as the courts have ruled regarding immigration and customs enforcement.  This clause has been used to uphold federal immigrations laws, ensuring that state laws do not interfere with federal immigration enforcement.  The Supreme Cout has unanimously ruled that state laws cannot preempt federal immigration laws, reinforcing the federal government’s authority to regulate and enforce immigration matters.
 
On the surface, sanctuary policies may sound noble to some, but this misguided empathy does far more harm than good.  First, it undermines federal authority to enforce immigrations laws, but more importantly, it destabilizes the abilities of law enforcement to do their jobs.  It sends a loud and clear message to the bad guys and the agitators that it’s ok to disobey the laws of the land, which is why Minneapolis is in such turmoil.  Walz and Frey will never admit their culpability in creating the current chaos that exists, but they own every bit of it.  The Geroge Floyd riots they championed was simply a practice run.
 
Their reckless tone has inspired a radical fringe within their communities to manifest into violent extremists.  Walz and Frey have officially taken on the roles of instigators, providing a narrative that casts anyone working with federal agencies as villains; using words like “Nazi’s,” “Gestapo agents,” and numerous other vile slurs intended to instigate the angry mob into a violent frenzy.  This is after all, one of the birthplaces of ANTIFA.
 
Almost daily, we witness the fallout from these irresponsible elected leaders, culminating in protests that morph into violent riots.  Just in the last year, incidents involving federal officers have gone from bad to worse; thanks in large part to the violent rhetoric that flows from the mouths of these elected buffoons.  This is not a freedom of speech issue; it’s an encouragement of lawlessness and aggression.  When authority figures legitimize contempt for institutions, they effectively license others to act on that contempt.  
 
When federal officers are shot at, rammed with cars, or have their fingers bitten off during a supposed peaceful protest, it reflects the utter failure of governance that currently exists.  Walz and Frey repeatedly take to social media and press conferences to fan the flames, refusing to acknowledge the consequences of their actions.  This is common in most sanctuary cities and states.  It’s as if they find some sort of sick pleasure in watching their communities spiral into chaos.
 
What’s even more infuriating is the complete disregard for the law enforcement professionals who find themselves on the front lines of this Democrat manufactured immigration crisis.  These men and women signed up to protect and serve their communities and now find themselves vilified as the enemy, simply for performing the jobs they’ve been tasked to do by congress. 
 
An important point that’s missing here is that violence breeds more violence.  As the rhetoric escalates, so does the scale of confrontations.  Border Czar Tom Homan has said from the very beginning, “this is going to end in tragedy if the rhetoric isn’t stopped.”  Each violent protest perpetuates a cycle where people feel justified in their lawless actions, believing they are somehow fighting for a good cause.  Walz and Frey have grossly failed their community and led them straight into a storm of their own making.  And now, two people are dead because of their open-ended invitation to mayhem. 

Editorial comments expressed in this column are the sole opinion of the writer