The Justice Department has moved to dismiss charges against an Army veteran who burned an American flag near the White House in protest of President Trump’s executive order on flag burning. Jay Carey was arrested and charged with misdemeanors related to igniting a fire and property damage, not the act of flag burning itself, which is protected by the First Amendment. His attorneys argued that the prosecution threatened constitutional rights, and the dismissal represents a vindication of these freedoms.
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A new state rule restricting weekend permits for Capitol Complex rallies is being challenged by organizers who claim it infringes upon First Amendment rights. State officials assert the rule, implemented last month, aims to reduce costs by limiting events requiring permits to weekdays and business hours, particularly those needing equipment like sound stages. While organizers of the upcoming “No Kings” rally plan to adapt by using a street as a makeshift stage, they argue this restriction hinders free speech and assembly. The rule’s timing and the exclusion of weekend public access are also points of contention, potentially disenfranchising working individuals who rely on weekend events.
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This article argues that American streets are increasingly militarized, with law enforcement agencies utilizing war-grade equipment transferred from the Pentagon and other federal programs. This trend, exacerbated by recent federal deployments, creates an environment where citizens feel treated as enemies, hindering fundamental freedoms like speech and protest. The piece advocates for Congressional intervention through legislation like the Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act to de-escalate the situation and restore liberty.
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Kristi Noem recently found herself in a rather awkward position during a House Judiciary hearing. The topic at hand was the Department of Homeland Security and its potential involvement in creating databases of protesters. Noem, from her stance, was quite adamant that such a thing was not happening. She confidently asserted that the DHS was not engaged in compiling information on individuals participating in protests.
This firm denial, however, ran headfirst into some inconvenient evidence. A congressman presented Noem with a video that showed an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Maine explicitly stating that a protester was being added to a “domestic terrorist” database.… Continue reading
During President Trump’s State of the Union address, Aliya Rahman, a disabled software engineer and guest of Rep. Ilhan Omar, was arrested and forcibly removed from the House chamber. Rahman had silently stood up to clap at one point and later stood again in silent protest, actions which Capitol Police deemed a “demonstration” and a refusal to obey lawful orders. Despite her disabilities and the intervention of others, she was handcuffed, had her cane confiscated, and was later charged with unlawful conduct. This incident is considered by many to be an unprecedented and heavy-handed response to peaceful dissent.
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Data released by Senator Adam Schiff’s office reveals that private arms manufacturers have secured lucrative contracts with the Department of Homeland Security, amassing substantial stockpiles of military-style equipment. This buildup, amounting to at least $144 million in weapons and ammunition during the first year of the Trump administration, indicates a significant expansion of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) firepower. This trend, reminiscent of post-9/11 bureaucratic growth, suggests a future where these agencies become increasingly armed and less constrained, effectively building a heavily-armed domestic police force.
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Two legal observers have filed a lawsuit against the department and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, seeking an injunction to prevent the use of facial and license plate scanning technology against them. The observers claim agents scanned their information and issued threats, including being placed on a domestic terrorist watchlist, during their monitoring of ICE operations in Portland. The suit also references past incidents where federal agents allegedly harassed observers by visiting their homes and issuing warnings, underscoring concerns about intimidation tactics.
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The Department of Homeland Security has reportedly issued hundreds of administrative subpoenas to major tech companies, seeking user information from accounts critical of ICE or that have shared agent locations. This increased use of administrative subpoenas, which differ from warrants and can be issued by DHS itself, has raised concerns about government surveillance and suppression of speech. While companies like Google and Meta review these requests and sometimes inform users, some have complied with the demands. The ACLU is challenging this practice, arguing that it’s being used to silence dissent.
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A Reuters investigation revealed that since October, over 4,400 judicial rulings have declared the detention of immigrants by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to be illegal. This surge in illegal detentions is occurring as ICE custody numbers have dramatically increased under President Trump’s “mass deportation” agenda. The pursuit of a high daily arrest quota has led to numerous immigrants being detained unlawfully, with thousands of habeas corpus petitions filed alleging constitutional violations. Despite court orders for release, ICE has frequently failed to comply, leading to ongoing concerns about systemic violations of the law by the agency.
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In recent months, the Department of Homeland Security has significantly broadened its pursuit of individuals expressing dissent towards Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This expansion involves dispatching hundreds of administrative subpoenas to major tech companies, including Google, Meta, Reddit, and Discord. These legal requests aim to obtain personal data, such as names and contact information, linked to social media accounts that monitor or criticize the agency.
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John Q. Hosedrinker
Noem Denies ICE Database as Video Shows Otherwise
Kristi Noem recently found herself in a rather awkward position during a House Judiciary hearing. The topic at hand was the Department of Homeland Security and its potential involvement in creating databases of protesters. Noem, from her stance, was quite adamant that such a thing was not happening. She confidently asserted that the DHS was not engaged in compiling information on individuals participating in protests.
This firm denial, however, ran headfirst into some inconvenient evidence. A congressman presented Noem with a video that showed an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Maine explicitly stating that a protester was being added to a “domestic terrorist” database.… Continue reading