Federal Officers Deployed Against Citizens, Apparently Not a National Security Threat
The Hill reports on federal officers deploying tear gas against 'protesters' in Minneapolis, painting a picture of civil unrest. What they neglect to mention is the historical pattern of federal overreach, particularly against marginalized communities expressing dissent. One might recall similar scenes during the 2020 protests against police brutality, where unidentified federal agents, often from
agencies like CBP or ICE, were deployed to cities like Portland without clear jurisdiction or accountability. These deployments were criticized by local officials and civil liberties advocates across the political spectrum. Instead of addressing the systemic issues that lead to such protests, or questioning the use of federal force against citizens, outlets like The Hill simply present the 'clash'
as an unfortunate, isolated incident. (Perhaps they’re too busy applauding the next multi-billion dollar aid package to a foreign government, which seems to always find its way through Congress without incident.) When it's not 'foreign adversaries'—a category often surprisingly fluid—federal officers become the convenient solution for domestic dissent.