Times editor’s words poorly chosen
Faithful TFP readers understand it is the job of the local editors (Sessoms and Cooper) to stir their respective pots, while recognizing that they also have civic duties which embrace the common good. I would offer that Mr. Sessoms has violated the common good and his civic duty by his use of extreme language in urging that Chattanoogans emulate Minnesota in resisting “ethnic cleansing” and “fight[ing] against this rising tide of fascism.” (Times, 01/28/26).
If the editor is going to invoke terms of such historical significance, he should be very careful to pay attention to precedent. While the situation in Minneapolis is troubling on many levels (not the least of which is a border so broken as to allow millions of various nationalities to cross unvetted), there is no evidence that the current ICE enforcement is meant to destroy whole populations of numerous nationalities. Minnesota is not Rwanda or Myanmar. ICE is not the Chinese government versus the Uighurs. Which ethnos is being targeted? Salvadoran? Venezuelan? Kazakh? Those who crossed illegally in recent years represent many groups.
Enough has been written about fascism and Nazism to utterly discredit the continued references to ICE as fascism and “lawless state violence.” The common good is jeopardized by such irresponsible rhetoric.
Gary Lindley
Lookout Mountain, Georgia
Where was TFP coverage of protest?
On Friday, I joined other concerned citizens in Miller Park for a protest against our country’s alarming trend toward fascism. I carried a sign that said, “What makes America great? Democracy. Let’s save it.” Others’ signs denounced ICE and its recent killings in Minneapolis. It was not as large as the No Kings protests in Chattanooga last year, but there were several hundreds of us out there waving our signs. I was wishing it was a march instead of a stationary protest, because standing still we froze.
So. Where were you?
Paging through the newspaper online Saturday, I didn’t expect a big article on the protest, but there wasn’t even an obligatory pic with a cutline (“Freaks freeze fighting fascism?”). I then waited patiently for the Sunday edish, only to find nothing there, either. As far as your newspaper is concerned, the protest never happened, everyone in the metro area is fine with ICE gunning citizens down in the street and the chilblains on my butt are for naught.
For Pete’s sake, Freep, newspapers are supposed to be tools of democracy. Help us out here a little! You could see us from your freakin’ window!
Robin Ford Wallace
Flat Rock, Alabama
Local immigration enforcement needed
I’m bewildered by some of the comments made at this meeting to protest ICE (TFP, 01/29/26). One protester stated that “ICE is terrorizing our nation.” That is simply hyperbole. Actual terror occurs when victims are about to be murdered, raped or trafficked. Also, enforcing U.S. federal immigration law is not an “agenda,” it’s the law. Which laws in this country do these protesters consider optional?
Despite their objection to local law enforcement cooperation, that is exactly what is needed. Honoring ICE detainers would confine most operations to jails versus communities.
These protests are way more than just people exercising their First Amendment rights. They are not peaceful. Peaceful protests do not involve death threats, doxxing and assaults with fireworks, rocks, bottles and cars against federal officers. This is largely driven by irresponsible rhetoric from reckless politicians and paid agitators/anarchists. What happened to Renee Good and Alex Pretti is a terrible tragedy. Nonetheless, it was 100% preventable, as both of them sought confrontation, attempted to obstruct ICE operations and resisted lawful commands.
The U.S. is a nation of immigrants. There is a legal way to enter this county. Millions of unvetted people illegally entered, many with criminal records and many that likely pose a national security risk. I wholeheartedly support ICE enforcing immigration law and praise cooperation by local law enforcement. This partnership is absolutely key in ensuring that it is done efficiently and safely within our community.
Robert Holmes
Apison
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