Another American citizen killed by ICE in Minneapolis.
How many more will it take?
How many more will it take before Congress grows a spine and defunds these brutal, deadly raids on our people?
How many more will it take before our own local officials stand up and call this what it is?
I cheered when Yemi Mobolade won the Springs mayoral race. An immigrant from Nigeria? Mayor of Colorado Springs? Heck, yeah!
But Mobolade’s constant desire to seek the middle ground, play it safe, in the face of a federal government that has declared war on its own people, is simply unconscionable.
When ICE and other federal agents raided a mostly Hispanic underground nightclub in the Springs in April, Mobolade made the New York Times saying we should have more such raids.
When Renee Good was murdered by ICE on Jan. 7, Mayor Mobolade said nothing.
When intensive care nurse for veterans Alex Pretti was murdered by ICE today, the mayor said nothing.
Meanwhile, many of our city leaders seem to either be oblivious to the secret police’s brutal lawlessness or they support it.
The recent “controversy” about councilmembers Kimberly Gold and Dave Donelson belongs in the Jim Crow era, when folks lived in fear of speaking out against racism. They shouldn’t feel that today. Not now.
In case you missed it, some local faith leaders recently spoke out against ICE at a MLK event, as faith leaders have been doing throughout the country and around the world. Donelson walked out, and Gold told people about it. She was reprimanded by the council president and several other members.
SHE was reprimanded.
Where was Mobolade on that? He smiled for the cameras on the proclamation supporting MLK Day. Good for him.
Mobolade has tried to have it both ways, saying he’s an immigrant and supports immigrants, but also three times supported declarations that the Springs is not a sanctuary city.
He recently went out on limb by writing, “I do not support raids on law-abiding immigrants.”
Not to minimize baby steps, but that’s not enough.
Our city leaders must stand with our faith community in supporting basic human rights.
Grab a protest sign. Join me in demonstrating in the streets. If you believe your eyes and ears about the American gestapo and Donald Trump, their enabler, speak out and stand with us!
The Epstein Files is a regular Bulletin column featuring Warren Epstein’s take on politics, food, the arts and whatever else is on his mind. There will always be one mention of President Donald Trump as a confirmation that yes, Trump is in The Epstein Files. As Bulletin board chair, Epstein does not accept pay for his writing here.
Jan 27: Minor edit for clarity, “veteran intensive care nurse” changed to “intensive care nurse for veterans.”