This democracy is in danger

Dear Editor,

There is a lot of controversy regarding the murder of Renee Good, a housewife and mother, murdered by a member of Trump’s army. Someone in a letter recently referred to ICE agents as police. Police officers don’t wear masks on duty, they don’t carry machine guns, they don’t wear body armor continually, they don’t shoot unarmed citizens laying on the ground 10 times. Our police officers know the laws and judicial guidelines and function within those parameters to protect us. Do you think these 45-day wonders are qualified to polish the badge and boots of our police officers?

The body camera of an ICE agent talking to Renee through her car window showed the lady speaking in a calm, non-combative voice; her last words were “I am going home, have a nice day”. I only saw this ICE body cam footage once. She drove off at a normal rate of speed, making a hard right turn. The next video footage shown on the newscast was one bullet hole in the windshield next to the column that supports the windshield and the roof on the driver’s side.

If you are trying to run someone over, you would have them dead in your sights, and the bullet would be more in line with the steering column, not the edge of the windshield. I understand why Trump wants no state investigators involved in this investigation. Ice agents received 90 days of training (now reduced to 45 days). They are instructed to never put yourself in front of or behind a vehicle. The shooter was already dragged sometime ago by a vehicle while on duty (he must be a slow learner) but quick on the draw. Not the qualities you want in a law enforcement officer.

Someone in a letter last week suggested protesters take an illegal home to protect him from ICE. I believe the majority of the thousands of protesters are fed up with this administration’s disregard for our laws, judicial guidelines and our constitution. Attitude and morale come from the top down in any organization, Our Felon and Chief’s disregard for our laws have permeated this administration. These weren’t protesters in sub-zero temperatures; these weren’t protesters being tear gassed, beaten and shot by Trump’s private army. These people aren’t protesters – they’re AMERICANS. They believe this democracy is in danger and have the guts to stand up for us. I consider them heroes, not protesters.

Trump is asking for $75 billion for the 2026 ICE budget! ICE will use $45 billion to buy warehouses throughout the country that are to be used as detention centers. Who will be detained in them, illegals or American deserters?

It’s rumored Liz Cheney is considering running for president. A president with brains and a backbone. Both traits we haven’t seen in the White House in 5 years.

— Tom Janicki
Almont