This year we have witnessed a dangerous breakdown of law and order in Minnesota. It has demanded our constant attention, and let’s be clear—the scenes playing out in streets of Minneapolis are not just “protests.” They are a direct assault on the rule of law and the safety of our communities. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity has been happening across many of our states and big cities over the last year, but the radical left has chosen to make Minnesota ground-zero for their resistance.
The left may call it “civil discourse,” but what immigration agents have been met with is violent resistance. They have been physically blocked, threatened, and attacked in the streets while conducting lawful operations. Now, this isn’t simply a disagreement about policy – this is a test of whether we are a nation of laws or a nation of mob rule. This chaos is a purposeful strategy of the left, and the inevitable result of so-called “sanctuary” policies.” When state leaders like Governor Tim Walz and local mayors signal that federal laws can just be ignored, they invite anarchy.
Constitutionally, this is a crisis. While we cherish the First Amendment right to peaceably assemble, there is no constitutional right to violently impede law enforcement, create “zones” where federal law does not apply, or even invade churches and terrorize congregants. Leftist pundits are distorting the concepts of “nullification”’ or “civil disobedience” to protect criminal activity rather than constitutional liberty. While we support decentralized government and uphold the lesser magistrates, the facts here leave little room for interpretation. Enforcing immigration law is squarely in the purview of federal government and it’s far from tyranny.
Instead of restoring public trust, Minnesota officials are fanning the flames. We cannot allow this precedent to stand. If violent resistance is allowed to prevail here, it will spread. We must demand that our elected officials follow the law and respect its enforcement. The Constitution is a protector of peace and order and God-given rights, not a suicide pact that allows mob violence to overrule the law.
As we continue to follow this pivotal moment in American history, stay tuned to the Phyllis Schlafly Report for facts and perspective that will always keep our Christian heritage and our constitutional values at the center. Join the conversation and sign up for our emails at PhyllisSchlafly.com, again that’s PhyllisSchlafly.com. Join us tomorrow for the Phyllis Schlafly Report.
