When Speaking Truth to Power is 'Demonic': Newsweek's Convenient Labeling of Anti-ICE Protests
📰 THE STORY: Newsweek reported on Erika Kirk's assertion that anti-ICE protests are 'demonic,' framing it as a statement from a right-wing commentator. The article presents Kirk's provocative language as a point of contention but refrains from deep analysis into the implications of such rhetoric on public discourse about state violence and dissent. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical
Context: The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency was formed in 2003, post-9/11, consolidating immigration enforcement with national security. Its creation marked a significant shift towards more aggressive, militarized tactics, leading to increased deportations and family separations. The 'cages' and child detention centers that sparked widespread protests long predate the specific
condemnations but intensified dramatically after a 2018 'zero tolerance' policy, which human rights organizations globally condemned as inhumane. The US has a long, brutal history of treating non-white immigrants as less than human, from Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) to Operation Wetback (1954), where nearly 1.1 million people were deported, often violently. Double Standard: When governments or
their allies face dissent, the language often escalates to 'demonic,' 'terrorist,' or 'anti-national.' For example, Israel, backed by massive US aid ($3.8 billion annually), routinely labels Palestinian resistance as 'terrorism,' even when protesting land theft or blockade. Yet, pro-Western movements, often with dubious backing, are celebrated as 'freedom fighters.' Think of the 'White Helmets' in