A protest at 14 and U streets in Washington, D.C., stopped traffic for roughly an hour on the evening after an ICE agent killed Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis.
Americans should remember that we have been here before. As we acknowledge the 250th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence, we also should acknowledge that this very kind of murder, this very kind of cover-up, this very kind of violation of laws and charters in American colonies were at the heart of our 1776 Declaration. See https://declaration.fas.harvard.edu/resources/text.
“He has obstructed the Administration of Justice . . .”
“He has erected a Multitude of new Offices, and sent hither Swarms of Officers to harrass our People, and eat out their Substance.”
“He has kept among us, in Times of Peace, Standing Armies, without the consent of our Legislatures.”
“He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.”
“He has combined with others to subject us to a Jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution, and unacknowledged by our Laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation [including]:
For quartering large Bodies of Armed Troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from Punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all Parts of the World:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us, in many Cases, of the Benefits of [the] Trial by Jury [of people responsible for killing Americans]”
As they should be. When we think about this killing, it's important to think about what the killer thought and when he thought it. People who have been in this kind of situation--an obviously predictable situation--know what the killer thought. Even the average person who uses a gun for work knows what the killer thought. Even the average hunter knows what the killer thought.
The killer's decision--not only to take that shot, but, specifically, to kill--wasn't made (as some misrepresent) "in a split second" any more than most other hunters' shots are the result of a split-second decision. The killer's decision to take that shot--his decision to kill--was made long before he killed. His decision was made even long before he decided to stand in front of that car. His decision was a decision that is made routinely (by law enforcement officers) far in advance of the shot by officers who make the decision to stand in front of cars. The ability to purport to justify taking a shot is why some stand in front of cars.
What we can see with our own eyes of the shooting and what we are seeing with our own eyes of our purported public servants is illuminating. They're lying, and we all can see it as plain as day. As tragic as it is for the victims, this incident illustrates an important truth that requires no special knowledge or esoteric legal insights to grasp. Too many people in power lie to cover up for egregious, even blatant, violations of our rights and our Constitution.
We must always stand up peacefully against fear corruption and extortion the president is behaving like a Mafia Don just because his name is Donald that is no excuse.
I was out in Minneapolis last night in rain and so baby people showed up to march for Renee Good. We aren't stopping anytime soon. I hope everyone marches this weekend in solidarity!! ❤️
This killing--this murder--by a federal employee, who some people are contending is protected by "absolute immunity," should spark a flame. It should (as it has) spark a flame of controversy. It also should spark a flame of thought that spreads like wildfire, not merely burning, but also illuminating.
Too many people are blinded by hate. Too many are too blinded by hate for Trump and hate for some SCOTUS justices. They are so blinded that they cannot see straight. Their hate keeps them from thinking straight. They hate (so they cannot think straight about) how six SCOTUS justices deceitfully pretended that they had the power to grant the President "immunity" from prosecution for crimes that our representatives in Congress (and a prior President) enacted (as our Constitution emphasizes in because such "Laws" were "necessary and proper" (Article I) and because such "Laws" were "made in Pursuance" of our Constitution (Article VI).
When we consider the purported immunity of our public servants (including the President) we should think about prior SCOTUS precedent. We should--we must--think of the greater significance of parts of our Constitution that too often are ignored or misrepresented by our purported public servants (to serve themselves, not us or our Constitution). We must think of the true meaning and power of the Preamble, Article VI (the Supremacy Clause and the Oath Clause), and Amendment X. We must think of the sovereignty of the people and the supremacy of the legal authorities that the people (the supreme (the only) legislative body for the U.S.) in 1788 declared in Article VI of our Constitution.
The sovereignty of the People and the supremacy of our Constitution were addressed in considerable detail by SCOTUS justices in 1999 in Alden v. Maine in both the majority and the dissenting opinions and a crucial opinion of a crucial SCOTUS justice (James Wilson) that the justices in Alden analyzed.
Highly relevant here, the Alden dissenters also emphasized a crucial aspect of the sovereignty of the people and the Supremacy Clause of our Constitution that governs when our purported public servants violate our Constitution. When any “action” of any public servant “is unconstitutional,” it “is not the word or deed of the” sovereign people. It “is the mere wrong and trespass of those individual persons who falsely speak and act in [their] name.”
The dissenting justices in Alden were quoting SCOTUS precedent in Poindexter v. Greenhow (1885). In Poindexter, SCOTUS was even more emphatic:
“The government is an agent [of the sovereign people], and, within the sphere of the agency, a perfect representative; but outside of that, it is a lawless usurpation. . . . [T]he maxim, that the king can do no wrong, has no place in our system of government. . . . That which, therefore, is unlawful because made so by the supreme law, the Constitution of the United States, is not the word or deed of the [the sovereign people], but is the mere wrong and trespass of those individual persons who falsely speak and act in [their] name. It was upon the ground of this important distinction that” SCOTUS already had decided very important cases.
“This distinction is essential to the idea of constitutional government. To deny it or blot it out obliterates the line of demarcation that separates constitutional government from absolutism, free self-government based on the sovereignty of the people from that despotism, whether of the one or the many, which enables the agent of the State to declare and decree that he is the State; to say [as the French king famously did] ‘L’Etat c’est moi.’ ”
Our Constitution was founded on the foregoing principles. Alexander Hamilton, himself (the purported progenitor of the so-called theory of the Unitary Executive) emphasized this fact (these principles) in The Federalist No. 83: “Wilful abuses of a public authority, to the oppression of” the people “are offenses against the government” (not actions of the government) “for which the persons who commit them may be indicted and punished” (criminally) “according to the circumstances of the case.”
The historical thread here is powerful. That detail about 14th Street being an incubator for different thinking ties the current ICE protests to D.C.'s civil rights legacy in a way most coverage misses. I walked through that intersection last year and had no clue about Drum & Spear or what it represented. The layering of local activism with federal presence in a city where residents don't even have full voting rights adds another edge to everything happening there.
These aren’t organic protests. They’re funded operations with matching chants, timing, and media choreography. Someone paid for the buses, the signs, the logistics, and the legal backup. When agitators shut down streets after an ICE shooting, that’s not grief—it’s coordinated pressure designed to intimidate law enforcement and provoke escalation. The foot soldiers are disposable. The real culprits wear suits, write checks, and hide behind nonprofits. If we’re serious about stopping the chaos, stop arresting protesters and start subpoenaing bank records. Follow the money. Charge the financiers with conspiracy and material support for obstruction. Cut off the funding, and the street theater collapses overnight.
Richard, what's your real point? Do you think that exercises of the freedom of expression, communication, association and assembly ("the freedom of speech" and "press" and "the right of the people" to "assemble" that are expressly secured by our First Amendment) somehow doesn't exist if exercises of the foregoing rights are not motivated by mere "grief"? If that's what you think, why do you think that?
They sure are “organic” in the sense that they are fueled by the hearts and souls of those who feel moved to do something visible, not just pile on more rhetoric. What “funding are you talking about? They aren’t paid by anyone to support humanity and they rule of law!!! Funding? Have you heard what Trump is doing with taxpayer money to bomb foreign countries/ boats and tankers? Do you have any idea what all this ICE CIRCUS IS COSTING? Housing, food, transportation in addition to all these miscreants getting sign on bonuses??? Follow all THAT $$$$
Protests are spreading to every major city tonight.
Americans should remember that we have been here before. As we acknowledge the 250th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence, we also should acknowledge that this very kind of murder, this very kind of cover-up, this very kind of violation of laws and charters in American colonies were at the heart of our 1776 Declaration. See https://declaration.fas.harvard.edu/resources/text.
“He has obstructed the Administration of Justice . . .”
“He has erected a Multitude of new Offices, and sent hither Swarms of Officers to harrass our People, and eat out their Substance.”
“He has kept among us, in Times of Peace, Standing Armies, without the consent of our Legislatures.”
“He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.”
“He has combined with others to subject us to a Jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution, and unacknowledged by our Laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation [including]:
For quartering large Bodies of Armed Troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from Punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all Parts of the World:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us, in many Cases, of the Benefits of [the] Trial by Jury [of people responsible for killing Americans]”
This is a telling comparison.
As they should be. When we think about this killing, it's important to think about what the killer thought and when he thought it. People who have been in this kind of situation--an obviously predictable situation--know what the killer thought. Even the average person who uses a gun for work knows what the killer thought. Even the average hunter knows what the killer thought.
The killer's decision--not only to take that shot, but, specifically, to kill--wasn't made (as some misrepresent) "in a split second" any more than most other hunters' shots are the result of a split-second decision. The killer's decision to take that shot--his decision to kill--was made long before he killed. His decision was made even long before he decided to stand in front of that car. His decision was a decision that is made routinely (by law enforcement officers) far in advance of the shot by officers who make the decision to stand in front of cars. The ability to purport to justify taking a shot is why some stand in front of cars.
He was in front of the car but not in its path. Noem/Trump paint a different picture of the event than the one WE ALL SAW!!
What we can see with our own eyes of the shooting and what we are seeing with our own eyes of our purported public servants is illuminating. They're lying, and we all can see it as plain as day. As tragic as it is for the victims, this incident illustrates an important truth that requires no special knowledge or esoteric legal insights to grasp. Too many people in power lie to cover up for egregious, even blatant, violations of our rights and our Constitution.
We must always stand up peacefully against fear corruption and extortion the president is behaving like a Mafia Don just because his name is Donald that is no excuse.
Mobdonnie is no Mamdani
Thank You, Chris Geidner. Needed to see this, especially tonight.
Thank you Chris, amidst all that has happened in the last few days, this brought a feeling of hope.
Resolve. Resist. Daily.
Thank you very much for this info, Chris-- easy to miss this "good trouble" news amongst the very dismal news. I needed to see this tonight.
So poignant and powerful. Thank you.
This country was built on protesting
It maybe time for well regulated Militias , being necessary to the security of a free State.
Since the federal government is deciding to disregard the free states of this country!
The overreach of the federal government is one of the reasons the second amendment was put into place !!
I was out in Minneapolis last night in rain and so baby people showed up to march for Renee Good. We aren't stopping anytime soon. I hope everyone marches this weekend in solidarity!! ❤️
This killing--this murder--by a federal employee, who some people are contending is protected by "absolute immunity," should spark a flame. It should (as it has) spark a flame of controversy. It also should spark a flame of thought that spreads like wildfire, not merely burning, but also illuminating.
Too many people are blinded by hate. Too many are too blinded by hate for Trump and hate for some SCOTUS justices. They are so blinded that they cannot see straight. Their hate keeps them from thinking straight. They hate (so they cannot think straight about) how six SCOTUS justices deceitfully pretended that they had the power to grant the President "immunity" from prosecution for crimes that our representatives in Congress (and a prior President) enacted (as our Constitution emphasizes in because such "Laws" were "necessary and proper" (Article I) and because such "Laws" were "made in Pursuance" of our Constitution (Article VI).
When we consider the purported immunity of our public servants (including the President) we should think about prior SCOTUS precedent. We should--we must--think of the greater significance of parts of our Constitution that too often are ignored or misrepresented by our purported public servants (to serve themselves, not us or our Constitution). We must think of the true meaning and power of the Preamble, Article VI (the Supremacy Clause and the Oath Clause), and Amendment X. We must think of the sovereignty of the people and the supremacy of the legal authorities that the people (the supreme (the only) legislative body for the U.S.) in 1788 declared in Article VI of our Constitution.
The sovereignty of the People and the supremacy of our Constitution were addressed in considerable detail by SCOTUS justices in 1999 in Alden v. Maine in both the majority and the dissenting opinions and a crucial opinion of a crucial SCOTUS justice (James Wilson) that the justices in Alden analyzed.
Highly relevant here, the Alden dissenters also emphasized a crucial aspect of the sovereignty of the people and the Supremacy Clause of our Constitution that governs when our purported public servants violate our Constitution. When any “action” of any public servant “is unconstitutional,” it “is not the word or deed of the” sovereign people. It “is the mere wrong and trespass of those individual persons who falsely speak and act in [their] name.”
The dissenting justices in Alden were quoting SCOTUS precedent in Poindexter v. Greenhow (1885). In Poindexter, SCOTUS was even more emphatic:
“The government is an agent [of the sovereign people], and, within the sphere of the agency, a perfect representative; but outside of that, it is a lawless usurpation. . . . [T]he maxim, that the king can do no wrong, has no place in our system of government. . . . That which, therefore, is unlawful because made so by the supreme law, the Constitution of the United States, is not the word or deed of the [the sovereign people], but is the mere wrong and trespass of those individual persons who falsely speak and act in [their] name. It was upon the ground of this important distinction that” SCOTUS already had decided very important cases.
“This distinction is essential to the idea of constitutional government. To deny it or blot it out obliterates the line of demarcation that separates constitutional government from absolutism, free self-government based on the sovereignty of the people from that despotism, whether of the one or the many, which enables the agent of the State to declare and decree that he is the State; to say [as the French king famously did] ‘L’Etat c’est moi.’ ”
Our Constitution was founded on the foregoing principles. Alexander Hamilton, himself (the purported progenitor of the so-called theory of the Unitary Executive) emphasized this fact (these principles) in The Federalist No. 83: “Wilful abuses of a public authority, to the oppression of” the people “are offenses against the government” (not actions of the government) “for which the persons who commit them may be indicted and punished” (criminally) “according to the circumstances of the case.”
I refer to immigration control as a buncha ice-holes!
The historical thread here is powerful. That detail about 14th Street being an incubator for different thinking ties the current ICE protests to D.C.'s civil rights legacy in a way most coverage misses. I walked through that intersection last year and had no clue about Drum & Spear or what it represented. The layering of local activism with federal presence in a city where residents don't even have full voting rights adds another edge to everything happening there.
Thank you Chris. We all needed this.
These aren’t organic protests. They’re funded operations with matching chants, timing, and media choreography. Someone paid for the buses, the signs, the logistics, and the legal backup. When agitators shut down streets after an ICE shooting, that’s not grief—it’s coordinated pressure designed to intimidate law enforcement and provoke escalation. The foot soldiers are disposable. The real culprits wear suits, write checks, and hide behind nonprofits. If we’re serious about stopping the chaos, stop arresting protesters and start subpoenaing bank records. Follow the money. Charge the financiers with conspiracy and material support for obstruction. Cut off the funding, and the street theater collapses overnight.
Richard, what's your real point? Do you think that exercises of the freedom of expression, communication, association and assembly ("the freedom of speech" and "press" and "the right of the people" to "assemble" that are expressly secured by our First Amendment) somehow doesn't exist if exercises of the foregoing rights are not motivated by mere "grief"? If that's what you think, why do you think that?
They sure are “organic” in the sense that they are fueled by the hearts and souls of those who feel moved to do something visible, not just pile on more rhetoric. What “funding are you talking about? They aren’t paid by anyone to support humanity and they rule of law!!! Funding? Have you heard what Trump is doing with taxpayer money to bomb foreign countries/ boats and tankers? Do you have any idea what all this ICE CIRCUS IS COSTING? Housing, food, transportation in addition to all these miscreants getting sign on bonuses??? Follow all THAT $$$$