The events of the past week continue to depress. Or is that press. It has definitely ignited my flight or fight response. I did not join any of the protests in my area, as I became seriously ill just before the weekend. The cold and wind would not do me any favors, and the minimum of time I was outside my eyes watered like a mourner in a December funeral. The fear and anxiety watching this horror show unfold in real time has triggered a period of depression or melancholy. Like stages of grief… this tragedy continues to unfold.

A colleague of mine wrote these words. “White people are not angry enough.” No truer words have been written. The keyboard warriors on social media criticizing the protestors this last weekend included comments such as: “Her wife is why she is dead.” “Carrying that sign doesn’t change anything.” “Law and Order delivered as it should be.” These comments are working class white people. What in world? Who made them so callous, sexist, racist, and afraid of being empathetic? I’m furious with all of this. Where is your humanity?

I remember during my first year of teaching watching the Rodney King trial work through its process. Rodney King was brutally beaten by several Los Angeles Police Officers. Rodney was injured so severely during that arrest that it affected his quality of life thereafter. Rodney had drug and alcohol issues his entire life, but no one deserved the beating he received. When the police officers were found innocent of brutality racial unrest and fighting happened at my school. Full blown riots occurred in Los Angeles. Fights broke out between white and black students. This experience lifted the privilege from my eyes. I had a front row seat for how governance treats the poor, the minority, and the immigrant. I will never forget Rodney King. He opened my eyes. I still say his name.

Now here I am 34 years later seeing events that make the Rodney King brutality look tame. The UFC culture has arrived in uniform, mask, and full on weapons. The brutality being used on immigrants, citizens with brown or black skin, and indigenous citizens with more rights to this land than the officers is unconscionable. These officers have no idea who they are talking to. They have no understanding of culture or history. They don’t understand what a Tribal I.D. is or what Lakota means. These officers see brown skin and since they have a weapon that makes them superior… This is very much like the German SS with the Jewish, Gypsy, and LGBTQ population in the 1930’s. Then we add Renee Good’s name to this list, along with Keith Porter (Northridge, CA,) Nenko Gantchev (Michigan-Bulgarian,) Delvin Rodriguez (Nicaragua,) Fouad Saeed Abdulkadir (Ohio-Eritrea) and countless others. Here is more info: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/jan/04/ice-2025-deaths-timeline

No medical care, food, water, phone calls, or civility. No humanity. Our country is safe when this version of ICE is not around. 2025 was a deadly year for ICE. All because of an irrational fear of the immigrant. I find this Homeland Security Department being led by Kristi Noem intolerable. The treatment of these people is the equivalent of a war crime. The atrocities are worthy of a trial at The Hague. I want Noem arrested for human rights, and civil rights violations. Then I want every death from here rule brought down on her.

Meanwhile, to my white friends…. Where is your anger?? Where is your melancholy?? Where are your feelings?? These men and women have families. They love others… They have connections… We are all HUMAN!!! If you’re scared, I get it. I am too. I worry everyday… when will they be here next… Stay Safe… Hug your loved ones… the fight goes… on….

Thank you for reading… I feel better for having articulated my feelings in something tangible. I’m not as depressed… I found my courage.