The tail will wag the dog as long as it’s allowed

Our political and law enforcement leaders are reaping the results of years of leadership that has tried to appease the activist voices in Minnesota. This effort has done nothing to appease, while it’s done everything to embolden activists.

Yesterday’s protest at the scene of a joint law enforcement operation on East Lake Street and Bloomington Ave So. was the most recent event to illustrate this point.

Despite the operation having nothing to do with immigration enforcement, activists, with no desire for the truth, descended upon the scene and quickly worked to establish the narrative that the operation was an “ICE raid.”

Of course, it didn’t help when the local newspaper jumped the gun and amplified this false narrative — even using an apparent stock photo that doesn’t appear to be related to yesterday’s incident.

Nor does it help when we have activists who have taken on leadership roles spread false information, such as Minneapolis City Councilperson Jeremiah Ellison.

The activists have worked for years to demonize immigration enforcement. This work has led our leaders to incrementally fold on the issue, and in many cases come out in support of the activist message that any immigration enforcement is somehow unjust.

Leaders over the years have worked to figuratively paint themselves into a corner on the issue. Once Minneapolis and Hennepin County adopted various “sanctuary” polices, the activists effectively seized control of the issue and have done nothing but strengthen their position ever since.

As a result, it now takes very little effort on the part of the tail to wag the entire dog.

And it sucks in other leaders who should know better — like this apparent female pastor who felt justified, based on false info, to scream in the face of the Minneapolis Police Chief. Sadly, this is the behavior we have fostered for years.

The irony is that local law enforcement probably wouldn’t have been a significant part of the operation if the activists didn’t represent a threat to disrupt the federal investigators carrying out the investigation. The irony is also that this kind of emboldened disruption of legitimate law enforcement activity is not seen in areas that have avoided the appeasement trap.

Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey did an admirable job trying to correct the false narratives that spread yesterday. But I couldn’t help recoiling a bit at their continued effort to also appease the unappeasable.

Both put out timely messages on social media informing those open to the truth, that the operation was not an ICE raid, but rather a criminal investigation into human trafficking and drug dealing. But then both felt compelled to ensure we all knew that the Minneapolis Police Department and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office do not conduct immigration enforcement.

Unfortunately, but predictably, the effort was lost on many. Sheriff Witt’s clarification was dismissed by the Chair of the Hennepin County Board, no less. But in a sign of true leadership, the Sheriff appropriately has stood her ground.

While I’m sympathetic to the need for clarification, and happy to see Sheriff Witt, for example, call out other leaders who have added to the false narrative, continued attempts at appeasement will only continue to empower the activists.

The time has come to cut the cord on appeasement.

The sooner our leaders come to this realization and get back to focusing on the wants and needs of responsible and reasonable citizens, the better — better for the community and better for leadership going forward.