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DEEP CHILL IN MINNEAPOLIS

I respect local law enforcement. I would call them immediately, if I or someone were in danger. I trust our police. I count on our officers to be trained appropriately. The misuse of power and weapons by the police has a long history in the United States.

Remember the images of police, aided by German Shepherds, aiming hoses at protestors during the civil rights demonstrations of the 1960's? Recall the tear gas used during the anti war protests a few years later? In my lifetime, police aggression has been common. Over the last 60 years law enforcement has become more militaristic.

The armed forces have sold instruments of war to local police departments, with little or no monitoring. After 9/11, due to the 1033 program, police departments easily acquired surplus military-grade equipment at little or no cost. Though international and national terrorism is a real threat, the idea of a hidden, evil element permeating our society was promulagated for political reasons. Politicians drummed up fear to obtain votes. Gun lobbies used zenophobia to support their view about gun ownership. The federal government encouraged and profited from the sale of weapons. Local police departments could acquire sophisticated equipment without incurring extra costs to taxpayers. The concept of a war on just about anything justified the use of grenades and other tactical gear.

As local departments acquired camouflage uniforms, armored vehicles, and sniper rifles, local police viewed themselves as military. Due to the acquisition of these items, military style tactics were justified for any situation deemed unsafe, including serving warrants, protests, and civil unrest. SWAT teams have been used in the United States since the 1960's, to combat street gangs. The anti-drug campaign, publicized as a "war," further established the use of SWAT teams in our cities. As time went on, police departments relied more on SWAT teams for any situation they deemed necessary. Contemporary police have evolved from peace officers to soldiers. Police engaged in normal duties now appear dressed in full battle gear with assualt rifles. Dressing the part of a soldier has influenced the police to see themselves as warriors. I must say it is quite intimidating.

The militarization of local police departments has extended to all types of police forces, sheriffs, security guards, and now the Department of Homeland Security. I have long felt that civilians are weaponizing themselves with bigger and more powerful vehicles on our roads. The camoflage pattern has found its way into our clothing; the fashion industry sensed the popularity of the look. There are retail stores that sell special clothing--ostensibly for hunting--that mimics uniforms.

What started as a war on terror has morphed into a war within our cities to rid devious and menacing aliens from harming citizens. Monitoring possible terrorist activity in our country has been extended to hunt for undocumented and documented individuals with minor or no history of criminal behavior. Before the recent focus on immigrants, people of color, in their neighborhoods, were targeted far more than citizens from non minority groups. It is well known that people of color are more likely to be killed by the police.

But who are these undocumented criminals? Older men in their underwear and children?  What is their crime? One of the so-called justifications for storming into Minneapolis was the fraud committed by some Somalis. Fraud is typically considered a white collar crime, albeit serious, but not violent, best litagated in the courts. Statistics show that violent crime rates are now lower than ever. Obviously, the characterization of liberal cities as hell-pits of horror is a political ploy to instill fear, obedience, and acquiescence to the regime, all hallmarks of authoritarianism. The current leader of our country and his syncophants conceal retribution against their political enemies as immigration enforcement. It is no coincidence that overly aggressive ICE tactics are occurring in Minneapolis, Minnesota: a blue city in a blue state, with a governor who ran on the Democratic ticket and openly criticized the opposing one now in power.

The history of the Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) is long and mixed, including barring people from Asia in the 19th century and limiting refugees in extreme danger prior to World War II. Who the United States allows into the country has always been political and racial. The most significant change for the purposes of this piece came in 2003 when INS was incorporated into the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This dramatic change from a beauracratic to a law enforcement agency occurred after 9/11. Border control and removing criminal "aliens" from the country became the priorities of the new DHS. The original INS is gone; in its place are Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration services (USCIS).


So if you are surprised by Minneapolis, do a simple Google search, and you will learn that the militarization of law enforcement has been criticized, documented, and pondered for at least 25 years. We have been warned of the perils countless times. The history of Immigration and Naturalization is also interesting to read. What is going down in Minneapolis is a manipulation of justice and a conscious determination to interpret regulations and strategies for highly questionable purposes.



David Wallace-Wells. (2026 January 26). As ICE cracks down on liberal cities, the war on terror continues to haunt America. New York Times Magazine.Pages 18-19.


©Karen Levi 2026





 
 
 

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