A “MAGA” Supporter Asked: Why Don’t People Protest Every Homicidal Death?
Let me explain.
There are psychopaths and severely mentally ill individuals among all peoples on Earth who have murdered others. They have carried every label ever applied to human beings, including—but not limited to—Republican, Democrat, Mormon, Muslim, Christian, atheist, White, Black, immigrant, U.S. citizen, soldier, and civilian.
The fact that someone assigns such a label to a murderer, or that the murderer self-identifies with a particular group, does not mean—and never has meant—that all individuals who carry or claim that label are murderers.
Most murderers do not hold positions of authority over organized groups such as the United States security forces, militaries, or other entities that may commit violence as part of their operations. As to those murderers who do not exercise public power, mass protests would serve little purpose.
Public protest becomes meaningful when individuals with homicidal tendencies are placed in positions of governmental authority—such as presidents, senators, police officers, or ICE officers—because public pressure can depose public officials or influence policy, training, and behavior. Many individuals who are prone to commit extrajudicial, cold-blooded killings while working for security forces or governments are capable of conforming their conduct to societal norms when they receive proper training, supervision, and rules of engagement.
The public has the right to determine what level of aggression and force its politicians and security forces may employ. Some countries run by murderous thugs exercise authority in a way that allows security forces to use unmitigated violence against their own citizens. We do not want that to become the norm in this country. This is analogous to mob violence: a mob, or a group of citizens who gather to engage in extrajudicial killings and violence, falls within the same moral category.
Consequently, those who disagree with President Trump and his administration’s militaristic and aggressive extrajudicial deployment of ICE, protest because they reject that approach, as I do. For clarity, I also oppose—and would protest—rioting, mob rule, and overly aggressive informal or formal policing tactics by any government or group, regardless of its label.
Does that help you understand?
I have some knowledge of police procedures and proper police training, and I can categorically state that the ICE officer was, at the very least, reckless in his positioning in this situation. At the same time, the woman who was killed appeared to have acted foolishly in attempting to drive away.
However, I think her actions were relatable and understandable. In her defense, we do not know what was going through her mind, nor do we know what occurred before the video began. A vehicle was blocking her from proceeding down the street. Based on previously released videos showing ICE officers—often unidentified and masked—breaking into vehicles, pulling people out of their cars and beating them up, firing into vehicles, and arresting individuals with little or no provocation, and no probable cause, it is reasonable to conclude that her fear may have been so extreme that she reacted instinctively and reasonably to what she perceived as a threat to her life. So while I may have stayed put, I can’t fault her for her actions.
In support of the ICE officer, I could not see where he was positioned immediately before the vehicle began moving. We do know, however, from videotapes showing that some protesters are aggressive and not peaceful—and that some have echoed President Trump’s similar violent rhetoric against others, they too have urged violence against ICE officers—that he may have genuinely believed he was in danger.
Yet, if his body language was meaningful, and given that it did not appear he attempted to move out of the way but instead stepped forward toward the alleged danger to fire his weapon and continued firing, and given his detached demeanor—showing no apparent concern for the woman and walking away as he did—it could be concluded that he instigated the confrontation and may have harbored a premeditated desire to commit violence. But I do not know what was in his head or heart, and neither do you, because we cannot know that. Regardless, a thorough investigation is clearly warranted to prevent further such incidents both to protect the officers and the bystanders; and if warranted, to exact justice.
For my part, I am convinced that due to poor leadership, inadequate training, and improper rules of engagement and deployment, this death was a disheartening tragedy that was easily preventable by both our government and the ICE officer involved. For that reason, it should be protested. This is particularly important when the aggression and violence is perpetrated by a powerful entity with apparent unlimited resources like the federal government.
And most importantly, the officer was not run over. The woman’s actions were not a terrorist act. It is deeply troubling that those in power feel compelled to lie about what we can all plainly see occurred. As a further consequence of ICE’s improper deployment, it is also unfortunate that people on either side claim certainty about what was in the hearts and minds of both the officer and the victim. Nevertheless what is absolutely clear is that, if the Trump administration acted responsibly, it was a foreseeably, preventable death and it is a terrible tragedy.
Loren M. Lambert©
1/9/2026
