75 Comments
User's avatar
David's avatar

Having local PD help with crowd control is sorely overdue. It was local politicians choosing to refuse that aid, plus their sanctuary policies of releasing criminal detainees into the community rather than directly to ICE, that created all that chaos that resulted in 2 deaths.

No such chaos happening in areas where the locals actually cooperate.

Optimist's avatar

Watching how evasive Minn Atty General Ellison was today in the Congressional hearings was a window into how the insurrection he and other officials encouraged was possible. Lots of evidence was presented that showed how, despite receiving actionable reports of fraud and promising to look into it in 2021, he met with the accused. No investigation took place, but a few days after the meeting, he received a donation of $10, ooo to his campaign from these accused fraudsters. connecting the dots isn't hard.

Jeff Keener's avatar

Ellison is a punk. His smirking and laughing at the victims of the horrendous crimes committed by his "neighbors of color" during the hearing today makes him the most punchable face of the lot of them.

Pamela Christiansen's avatar

Frey isn’t any better. Minnesota passive aggressive.

Outis's avatar

The responsibility for the chaos -- and the deaths of Good and Pretti -- lies squarely with Walz, Ellison and arguably most of all, with Frey.

If these local politicos had cooperated with ICE -- by notifying ICE when they [the locals] already had people in custody for various offenses and by providing police support to maintain a buffer between the feds and the "protestors" [sic!!! activists], there's a very good chance (cripes, what a horrible pun) that Good and Pretti would be alive.

I still view Good as the real tragedy. Just seemed to be a out-of-town ditz who thought it would be fun/cool to go be a pain in the @$$ with her girlfriend. Just didn't think it through...at all. Pretti seems a different matter. Just seems very odd to me that a nurse at the VA -- who presumably works with people damaged by the stress of conflict -- would be so militant as to bring a weapon, extra ammo and a sight to a protest. I worked and taught up there. I knew some people who worked at the VA. Not particularly left-wingers if you know what I mean.

This entire affair seemed, to me at least, a transparent attempt to deflection attention from the colossal fraud crisis.

I don't like saying this but it sure seemed to me that Walz, Ellison and Frey couldn't have cared less if people were hurt and property was damaged as a result of their faux-noble (i.e., hypocritical) refusal to do their jobs.

The real villains are Walz, Ellison and Frey.

Oh, here's a thing to remember: as I recall, Keith Ellison prevented the release of the bodycam footage of the arrest of George Floyd until things were completely out of control.

VanishingTribe's avatar

“No stalking, impeding, or obstruction here, but the filming will continue!” Fischer replied on X. “Every federal agent swore an oath to protect and defend that right.”

I don't know, this comment seems a little "activist-adjacent" to me for a reporter working under the supposedly non-partisan and objective new Racket Regime.

Chris's avatar

I thought the same; what's the point following them; just to be there when the inevitable situation goes sideways? Immigration agents do their job all over the country without any trouble, so is the story enforcement or what the rioters are hoping will happen - for it to blow up and have more casualties?

PassingThru's avatar

Fischer is antagonizing law enforcement.

Andrew Dolgin's avatar

If following and filming is antagonizing then I predict these crybabies will be antagonized indefinitely since that is legal and constitutionally protected activity.

Andrew Dolgin's avatar

Stating our first amendment rights as a journalist isn’t “activist” behavior. It’s a patriotic American right. Very third world of you to accuse a patriot exercising their rights as an activist.

DEBRA O MADDRELL's avatar

How is dogging federal agents "patriotic?"

Andrew Dolgin's avatar

Journalism and exercising free speech is patriotic. Filming Feds who are threatening you for legal and constitutional activity is patriotic. Not bowing down to the government when they stomp on your rights is patriotic. Doing otherwise is communist.

Outis's avatar

But it does involve understanding the difference between "free speech" and "documentation" versus "interference". That gets lost in a lot of the hoopla.

Andrew Dolgin's avatar

That’s totally fair and I agree. The difference to me is one side are a bunch of civilians and the other is the federal government. Citizens who violate the law should and in many cases will be punished for their crimes. Where’s the accountability for the federal government threatening a reporter who was doing absolutely none of that illegal activity but was just following and filming?

I’d like to see both “sides” punished for wrong doing. People who block agents should be arrested. Agents who tell people who are only filming that they are now a domestic terrorist on a list and publicly post videos about those people in an attempt to intimidate them need to be fired.

There are going to be plenty of arrests of citizens even if there should be more. But there’s essentially no accountability for the feds.

Foggy's avatar

Stomp on whose rights? The illegals? The people interfering with law enforcement?

DEBRA O MADDRELL's avatar

The people who were not engaged in obstructing federal agents - a felony - were not exercising 1st Amendment rights.

Andrew Dolgin's avatar

Those not engaged in obstruction were not exercising their rights? Did you make a typo?

Mtu_wa_kweli's avatar

A "patriotic" American

does not support illegal alien criminals

read the definition

a person who vigorously supports their country and is prepared to defend it against enemies or detractors.

Andrew Dolgin's avatar

A person who defends the inalienable and constitutionally enshrined rights of Americans by exercising them in defiance of a federal government that’s trying to interfere with those rights and publicly intimidate them into ending legal and constitutional activity is a patriot. Those who side with the government in trying to suppress or suspend American’s exercise of such rights are communists who must be thrown out of helicopters.

Outis's avatar

The protests in Minnesota have had nothing to do with, in your terms, "defiance of a federal government that’s trying to interfere with those rights."

The feds were there to arrest people who are illegally in the United States. The feds are enforcing immigration law which was flouted under the (O)Biden administration.

It also appears to be the case that there's a nontrivial amount of overlap with an ongoing investigation of large-scale fraud. Fraud that may well involved the leading municipal officials: Walz, Ellison and Frey/.

Yes, the First Amendment protects our right to express our opinion. It does not grant us the right to interfere with law enforcement -- agents of the Executive Branch -- and prevent them from doing their job enforcing laws passed by a congress of democratically-elected representatives.

There are lines to be observed.

I don't see the feds as interfering with people's right to express themselves; I see municipal officials ostensibly purposefully preventing local law enforcement from ensuring there is a buffer between the "protesters" and the federal agents. The chaos clearly benefits Walz, Ellison and Frey (yes, I know I consistently mention them not in alphabetic order) as it is a distraction from the fraud investigation and putatively buys them time.

Andrew Dolgin's avatar

I’m not talking about the protests. You are. I’m talking about the author of this piece and the federal agency trying to publicly intimidate him.

Outis's avatar

And it's tricky! Fischer has a right to document matters but not to interfere.

The authorities do hold a right to claim that their efforts are being hampered.

Also, I thought Fischer was mainly focused on the protests, hence the name "Activism Uncensored".

It's a fine line but the feds to have a right to complain if they feel like their efforts to enforce the law are being infringed upon!

We have the right to express our opinion, not to interfere. If the feds think Fischer is following too closely, then they can complain.

I don't see Fischer as being meaningfully impaired in his ability to document matters.

Ha! What we are doing here -- debating -- is really what the First Amendment is about.

:-)

Mtu_wa_kweli's avatar

illegal aliens

are not Americans

bring your Helicopter by

my Ma Deuce

will be ready

Andrew Dolgin's avatar

I didn’t say they are Americans you fucking retard. Take your Ma Deuce and put it to use by sucking it dry. There won’t be any brain matter on the wall behind you.

Outis's avatar

I have to admit that that exchange -- while maybe a little "extra spicey" -- did crack me up!

It's been a long day. Shoot it's been a long several years of lots of work and I reserve the right to get entertainment where I can.

But, at the risk of using a hackneyed expression, I'd say we all could use to "lower the temperature".

No-one's getting their helicopter or John-Browning-designed 50 cals.

But that was a pretty funny exchange. I needed it.

PassingThru's avatar

Ur lack understanding of freedom of the press. It doesn't give you no-jail card. In fact, try claiming that shit on the front line of a war.

Andrew Dolgin's avatar

Freedom of the press is one aspect of American constitutionally enshrined inalienable rights. Following and filming feds in public places is protected free speech activity. Those who try to interfere with that activity on behalf of the government, trying to publicly intimidate those Americans exercising their rights legally, are communists who should be thrown out of a helicopter.

Foggy's avatar

Show me in the Constitution where it says that chasing law enforcement around filming is a protected right.

Mark Nockleby's avatar

Is filming or photography not part of journalism?

Indecisive decider's avatar

100% it is. When tailing LEOs, where is the line crossed? To Chris' point, why are the problems happening in some cities and states and not others?

Outis's avatar

Spoiler alert: when local politicos prevent the police from doing their job and maintaining order -- what a surprise -- chaos ensues.

Mark Nockleby's avatar

journalism can happen where-ever the story is? Or where-ever local police or doing one thing or a different thing?

Indecisive decider's avatar

Wherever is one word. Also, your wording is a bit jumbled. I think you're trying to say that it's fine for journalists to follow LEOs as they are covering a story, right?

That's true so long as they're not actively helping suspects move to avoid capture and/or are coordinating efforts to impede in LEO business.

Mark Nockleby's avatar

yeah, just go where the story goes... follow the LEO's or follow the whistles. This doesn't really look different than what Ford Fischer has done before.

As for why something is happening in some places and not others.... that's a different question. https://www.racket.news/p/from-the-old-editor-we-care-if-its

Todd Davis's avatar

Agree. Dispassionate objectivity?

reel life's avatar

Has FF done video of the protesters, such as how they get equipped, coordinate, get food and shelter, payment, etc. Are they local or coming in from elsewhere (including other protests)? Asking seriously, as I have not seen everything FF has done.

FLGenX's avatar

Those are great questions and I too would like to see FF document that. So far I’ve only seen the chaos scenes (and now pizza and dildos)

steven t koenig's avatar

If local cops would have arrested Good and Pretti for their interference they'd still be alive. But that's not what the insurrection party wanted. They wanted martyrs

Mark W's avatar

Fisher, or anyone, has the right to document and observe law enforcement while they are doing their job. But don't get snide with comments about them using a variety of tricks to lose their tails. Fisher might be fully on the side of not interfering or obstructing, but I've seen too many self reported videos from activists bragging about how they are interferring or obstructing. I would hope Fisher would understand that since he is in the convoys with the activists. To lose the activists means to lose Fisher.

P.S. if you are tracking or following someone's movements in order to call in another group that will actually do the harassment and interference...you are part of the interference.

Jeff Keener's avatar

It was a complete dereliction of duty on the part of Mayor Frey to stand down MPD from controlling hostile crowds attempting to interfere with federal LE operations. ICE is not trained for crowd control. They're trained to seek and arrest fugitives from the law. MPD and Sheriff's depts. are trained and outfitted for crowd control. Should have been close co-ordination between local, state, and feds from the very start and practically all of this moronic sturm and drang would have been avoided. Renee Good's kids would still have a mom and the VA would still have Pretti.

So, glad that FUBAR is finally settling out.

Truk Leppur's avatar

I read the article expecting the long awaited reporting on the ‘activist/insurrectionists’ groups impeding lawful arrests and their financial backers. Instead you are complaining them complaining about your inept tailing tactics giving away their impending raid. The lack of cooperation of state and city law officers in controlling crowds was mentioned. But the turnovers resuming not. The obvious link to government officials not providing that assistance not mentioned or reported on at all. That’s not ‘not having a take.’ That’s incomplete reporting.

Optimist's avatar

In a transparenty disingenuous attempt to appear as a balanced report of FF's work, the author deflates the importance of the critical change in Minn now that local law enforcement has become involved ,with a month old X exchange from FF. Why?

Outis's avatar

That really is the headline: "Chaos diminished when local police allowed to do their job!"

Too late for Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

Indecisive decider's avatar

Can we have a discussion about sanctuary cities and states and how their laws contradict federal immigration law?

I'll start. In 2024, California spent $9.5 billion of the state's budget on illegal alien healthcare. Services paid for by taxpayers that illegals paid zero to receive. (sources: politico and legalclarity).

According to Visaverge, another $22 billion was spent in CA for housing, education, food, legal services, etc for illegal aliens.

This is not sustainable.

Jeff Keener's avatar

One of the revelations in the recent congressional hearings on fraud was the testimony given by one of the witnesses about why sanctuary cities exist. He pointed out that sanctuary jurisdictions are magnets for illegal immigrants and recent migrants, since there is so much welfare available to them. It becomes a self-feeding monster where the more of them there are, the more welfare money the state gets. Couple this with a work force that is operating on the black market (illegal labor force) and migrants from low-trust cultures with practically no vetting along with dishonest native criminals and politicians and in just a few years, you have multi-billion-dollar fraud schemes to steal our money. Further, these sanctuary cities become dependent upon stolen money circulating through their economies. Consider this: If it's true that at least $500M per year is stolen in Minneapolis welfare fraud schemes and just 10% of it was spent in local businesses, that's a $50M (illegal) annual subsidy to these businesses. Political campaigns become dependent upon these fraud communities for donations, but more importantly, for voting blocs to keep returning the corrupt ones in power in order to protect the fraudsters. See AG Keith Ellison and Mayor Frey and their criminal patronage. Across the nation, we're talking tens of billions of public funds going to sanctuary cities that are designed to accommodate the astounding levels of fraud we're discovering.

Indecisive decider's avatar

The scariest word to any scammer is audit. Sure we need LEOs doing some of this work, but accounting forensic specialists are needed as much as guns and handcuffs.

Jeff Keener's avatar

It's usually the paperwork that gets you.

dancingtime's avatar

Since when is it the taxpayers responsibility for illegals? They are not our problem to feed and house. Just end it.

dancingtime's avatar

That's the point that it is not sustainable....to break the system...that's a feature....Cloward- Piven....

Kathy Barkulis's avatar

The activist press, and the obstructionist protesters who use their vehicles to block streets, spit at ICE officers, kick ICE cars, are not peaceful. They aren’t even protesters. They are perpetrators of chaos porn. They are supported by dishonest politicians who want to keep as many illegal aliens in Minnesota as possible. I’m glad ICE is leaving this hell hole. Now any illegal in America who hasn’t been deported yet should move to Minnesota. Let them commit crimes there. Let them commit fraud on the taxpayers of Minnesota. Let them break into the homes of the activists and take over their residences. Unleash them. Let them drive drunk, rape, murder, and assault Minnesotans. Have at it.

Jeff Keener's avatar

And let the rest of the states stop supporting Minnesota's fraud culture. No more federal funds for the state to manage. Strict oversight and federal audits of all federal funds going to "sanctuary" cities.

Dale D's avatar

You seem to be a bit of an activist Mr. Ford, with an agenda.

dancingtime's avatar

I am sorry but these people are seriously mentally ill...paid or unpaid...listen to them....unhinged...

Outis's avatar

Super-sized (spoiled) children.

Gary Edwards's avatar

More of the same? Not news.

Daniel Cvijanovich's avatar

Brats like Ford arent made to contend with natural consequeces like they used to be. "Duh duh I'm not impeding, just doing highly important first amendment shit."

Fuckin' idiot. I hope he gets roughed up.

Andrew Dolgin's avatar

You’ve upset a lot of Trump cult and MAGA zealots but the work you’re doing is quite good and valuable. It’s not your fault people in this nation are so brainwashed to worship government that so much as following and filming federal agents, and then sticking up for your right to do so when the federal agency tries to publicly intimidate you, is viewed as “activist” partisan behavior.

It’s actually sickening to see so many people who are partisan fools calling that activity partisan activism.

Jeff Keener's avatar

If that's all the activists did, it would be fine. But you know that's not all they are doing. They are actively interfering with and impeding LE operations, which is a felony and violation of 18 U.S. Code § 111 - Assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees.

Andrew Dolgin's avatar

You’re not talking about the author of this piece and I am.

Jeff Keener's avatar

I'm talking about the situation in Minneapolis.

BTW, journalists are subject to the same law. There is no exemption from the law for the press.

Andrew Dolgin's avatar

Fischer violated no law and has an absolute right to follow and film these agents in any public place. Anybody trying to interfere with that legal, constitutionally protected activity is a communist who should be dropped out of a helicopter.

Matt L.'s avatar

Why do you want to kill people by pushing them out of helicopters? Didn’t that happen during the Vietnam conflict?

Andrew Dolgin's avatar

It was Pinochet’s method of disposing of those who would challenge his government. I figured it would be an appropriate allusion to the hero of many right wingers.

Bill Shannon's avatar

You're using loaded language like "Trump cult" and "MAGA zealots" and it's pretty clear your sympathies lie with these pro-illegal alien insurrectionists and this obviously biased Ford Fischer.

Andrew Dolgin's avatar

My sympathies lie with the inalienable and constitutionally enshrined rights of American citizens to film federal agents without fear of interference or intimidation. Those who try to interfere with such rights are communists who should be stopped from helicopters.

Han's avatar

It was edgy, once. For the last twenty times it’s looked stupid.

Andrew Dolgin's avatar

I find it hilarious every time, so sorry you’re missing out.

DaveL's avatar

Getting rid of Sturmbannführer Bovino, with his Sam Brown belt, was a wise move. Much better this way.

Seems like there’s little indignation to Biden for allowing the situation to develop in the first place. And now we get an ugly wall along the Rio Grande, cutting off access to the river from the US side. What a mess, totally avoidable.