DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE: “If you don’t know, now you know” – Minneapolis could have been avoided, but it was not a sore that had suddenly just festered overnight

This week is about Minnesota.

I struggled with writing it because so much has already been said from every right, left and any other human being angle, so what’s left to say?

I offer my comments and accept many will take issue.

If so, that’s your journey.

I’ll not comment on the deceased woman’s background, life choices or who she was as a human.

I also will not be commenting on her wife’s background, choices or who she was as a human either.

We have certainly read enough of that coming from both sides of the paid media to promote the narrative. You can decide for yourself what’s good or bad journalism depending on your politics and level of actual research.

I’ll say for those calling on the ICE agent to be considered a murderer while throwing his name and photo out with deliberate words to create ill-intent remember words and actions always have a way of coming back to haunt you.

Plastering the ICE agent’s face all over social media or wherever else is also toxic and low vibration.

I hope people think hard before deciding to do that. The United States is divided enough thanks to an overload of uncontrolled emotions skillfully manufactured by those you allow into your head and home.

When it comes down to human life, it’s sacred. Any human life, regardless of politics.

Anyone who knows me knows I’m pro-blue and more right-leaning than left.

I do have disagreements regularly with my cop friends from a journalism standpoint and a personal standpoint. In fact, I’m the first one to criticize their actions when I feel the need.

They listen and then say, can we tell you why we do what we do in any given situation.

And I listen and am often annoyed when they’re right.

And yes, they’re often right because they’re walking in those shoes that I’m not walking in with them.

I do know that any human on this planet who has not worn a military or law enforcement uniform has NO idea what they would do in a situation until they’re in it.

I took part in a police department’s active shooter training once. Turns out if I had been a police officer I would have shot the person in the situation I was put into even though every cop in the room said, “Have you lost your mind, that’s not what we would ever do.”

For all my armchair police officers who watch too much television and do not understand the bigger picture, there you go.

I can also say if you’ve not been a protester, you’ve no idea what that entails either.

I’ve never officially protested. I have only covered events with protesters so again, I have no proper experience to comment on that either.

I’ve learned since this incident in Minneapolis that there are different types of protesters. I guess in Minneapolis some are called agitators. The agitator part is apparently what was going on in the case of this most recent shooting – the deceased was an agitator.

I also know from video filmed by a resident on the street where the woman was shot the agitators had been there all day.

In fact, the resident filmed three minutes of the protest up to the point when the shooting incident happened.

Have you seen that video?

It’s fine to have an opinion, but before you start naming names and calling out injustice watch all the videos from that day. Not just the one video mainstream media is pumping out for ratings to get the sheep annoyed.

People did become highly annoyed, even emotional, when the mainstream media video aired. And those people gave their power away, didn’t they?

Go back and watch all the videos from all the angles and then make your comments.

Until that time, you really have no idea what you are talking about pertaining to the situation.

I’ll say, there is no one arguing that this was not a tragedy for everyone involved, including the United States as a country.

I’ve watched all the videos and even now I still do not have a real idea of what happened that day. Therefore, I have no opinion other than RIP and it’s maddening that a person’s life was lost due to circumstances that could have been avoided.

For the record, I’ve been listening to people say over the weekend that after watching all the footage they have changed their minds about the circumstances that led up to the shooting in favor of ICE.

For the blue folks I’ll also ask you – and no need to answer – just think about it. If it had been a Republican killed behind the steering wheel of that car would you still be as angry about the shooting?

And what would you say about the protesters in that case?

One man protesting told a reporter he was there getting paid $20 an hour, which was how he made money.

Who’s paying these protesters?

A Minneapolis native at the protest where the shooting occurred said protesters were blocking streets, “so that normal drivers cannot drive down that road.”

She explained protesters were even yelling at media telling them where they could stand. And she said even more absurdly, the media was obeying. She said protesters wore fluorescent vests barking orders and directing traffic. Some even wore camo and bulletproof vests.

The First Amendment of the Constitution allows for “peaceful protest” defined as “Peaceful assembly” and “The right to gather and protest peacefully in traditional public spaces (parks, sidewalks).”

She said the Minneapolis Police told her they had been instructed to “stand down” and let the protesters do whatever they want to do.

She added “ICE does not follow those same orders. ICE does not give the stand down orders. The reason this is so tragic is because this was entirely preventable. If Minneapolis Police did not let left-wing activists get away with whatever they want to do – block off streets, shut down highways – for the last 10 years, I’m sure yesterday’s outcome would have been different.”

Read the Minnesota law signed by Governor Tim Walz in 2020: 609.066 AUTHORIZED USE OF DEADLY FORCE BY PEACE OFFICERS both Subdivision 1 and 2 (www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/609.066).

Candidate for Governor of Minnesota 2026, Phillip C. Parrish suggested to both Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, “What if a bunch of fed-up Minnesotans started tailing your motorcades every morning? Filming your kids’ school drop-offs, your coffee runs, your late-night nonprofit schmoozing sessions – live-streaming it all with captions like “Just holding our ‘leaders’ accountable”? Would that be brave community oversight, or would you suddenly discover the definition of stalking and scream “domestic terrorism” into the nearest microphone?

And the cherry on top: Local sheriffs decide, “Nah, we’re not cooperating with your state troopers anymore.” They roll up, form human chains around “vulnerable residents” (aka your political cronies), and tell your guys to pound sand when you try to enforce your latest grift-friendly edict. Heroic stand against tyranny? Or straight-up interfering with official duties? Bet you’d have the BCA, the FBI, and every alphabet agency on speed dial faster than Frey can drop an F-bomb.”

That made me stop and think, what if?

What authority do ICE agents have in states? They have broad federal authority for immigration enforcement nationwide. They operate in all states to find, arrest, and remove non-citizens violating immigration laws, often partnering with local police through programs like 287(g) but facing limitations in private spaces without warrants, with specific state laws impacting cooperation but not overriding federal power entirely, as detailed in resources from ICE, the American Immigration Council, and the ACLU.

They can arrest individuals without a judicial warrant if they have probable cause to believe someone is in the U.S. illegally and may flee and they’re allowed to enter areas of workplaces without warrants but need a judicial warrant or employer consent for private, employee-only spaces.

What were they doing in Minneapolis that day on the street where the woman was killed?

They were taking part in “Operation Metro Surge” a large-scale immigration enforcement campaign in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, which began in December. The goal is to arrest undocumented immigrants, particularly those with criminal records or outstanding deportation orders.

As of early January 2026, DHS reported over 1,500 arrests had been made since the operation began, apprehending the “the worst of the worst,” including those accused of murder, rape, and pedophilia.

Critics of the protesters have said, “So the protesters are defending and now dying for murderers, rapists and pedophiles.”

My final observation is ICE is going to do the job they have been instructed to do by the government.

Just like Republicans felt the Biden administration was cringe-worthy, Democrats will feel the same way about Trump.

It doesn’t matter if people do not like it.

I’m worried that we are going to see more of this kind of tragedy if this divided country does not stop feeding into the emotional narrative that keeps people divided.

Humans really do need to get out of their emotions and get back to critical thinking.

Of course, that will require the need to stop listening to the narrative that’s being pushed to get keep the masses agitated and fearful over everything they’re shown.

Remember, the movie script has not been written to favor the bit players who let emotions take away common sense.

Another consideration, when peaceful protests turn ugly the government does have the power to clamp down on the violence. Then you’ll really have something to protest about.

And to that end, I’ll repeat the words of Secretary of State Marco Rubio who was likely quoting the Notorious B.I.G.: “If you don’t know, now you know.”

Rita Cook is a freelance writer for The Ellis County Press. She can be reached at rcook13@earthlink.net.