DEAR EDITOR:

In the past year, I’ve been present at a number of political protests in the Valley, all of them peaceful. Protesters and-protesters have both acted in a non-confrontational and civil manner, allowing everyone to express their views and be counted. Importantly, local police have also shown up and done their jobs admirably. I never felt threatened or intimidated by the law enforcement presence around these events.

In Minneapolis right now, the story is different, but it’s not because the protests are different in nature. People all over the country want their voices to be heard and don’t want to hurt anyone or be hurt. The difference is in the way law enforcement is showing up. Rather than local police who know the neighborhood, masked federal agents are patrolling the streets in military-style gear. They are not there to protect the peace or uphold law and order, but to project force for political ends. They are not trained to ensure public safety. As a result, ICE now has two avoidable deaths on its hands in Minnesota.

As long as people desire to live in safe communities, we will need those who volunteer to defend law and order, but ICE is not doing that. They are, in fact, bringing violence and unrest into our communities. If the president won’t withdraw dangerous, poorly trained federal agents from our streets, Congress should deny funding to ICE in its upcoming government spending package in order to prevent further tragic loss of life.

WILLIAM R. HARNED

Niles