Bob Schwartz

“ICE thwarted from entering Ecuador’s consulate in Minneapolis by employee”


ICE thwarted from entering Ecuador’s consulate in Minneapolis by employee

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent attempted to enter Ecuador’s consulate in Minneapolis, but was turned back by an employee, prompting an official complaint to the US embassy in Quito, the country’s foreign ministry said….

Video of the incident verified by Reuters showed an employee at the consulate telling the agent: “This is the consulate of Ecuador, you are not allowed to enter.”

“Relax, relax, I didn’t enter,” the agent replies, before telling the staffer: “If you touch me, I will grab you.” The agent leaves shortly after.

The Guardian


Consulates, like embassies, are inviolable. They are literally extensions of their respective nations on foreign soil. On a small scale, entering without permission is an invasion.

This current crop of ICE agents appears to be either poorly trained, or incompetent, or overzealous, or violent, or unstable, or ignorant, or believe they are invulnerable and unaccountable, or some combination. Their bosses appear to be either poorly trained, or incompetent, or overzealous, or violent, or unstable, or ignorant, or believe they are invulnerable and unaccountable, or some combination.

The recent murders by ICE in Minneapolis are explosive high-profile examples of where things are and where they are going. So the attempted forced entry into a foreign nation’s consulate may seem less significant. It is not.

None other than the capo di tutti capi, the big chief, the head man, told the world that the only guardrail and restriction on his actions and orders was his own morality. That tells us all we have to know about the next three years—or more.

American Triple Play: A Change Is Gonna Come (Sam Cooke), Willin’ (Little Feat), This Land Is Your Land (Woody Guthrie)

Nobody living can ever stop me,
As I go walking that freedom highway;
Nobody living can ever make me turn back
This land was made for you and me.
Woody Guthrie, This Land Is Your Land

Each morning is an opportunity to string together a brief soundtrack before the news takes over.

Understanding and responding to this American moment is a challenge. What does it all mean?

A Change Is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke is regarded as the most lyrical theme song of the Civil Rights movement.


Then I go to my brother
And I say brother help me please
But he winds up knockin’ me
Back down on my knees.

There been times that I thought I couldn’t last for long
But now I think I’m able to carry on
It’s been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will.


Willin’ by Little Feat is an irresistible song of perseverance.


Well, I’ve been kicked by the wind, robbed by the sleet
Had my head stoved in, but I’m still on my feet
And I’m still willin’


This Land Is Your Land by Woody Guthrie is the actual national anthem of the United States of America.


As I went walking I saw a sign there,
And on the sign it said “No Trespassing.”
But on the other side it didn’t say nothing.
That side was made for you and me.

In the shadow of the steeple I saw my people,
By the relief office I seen my people;
As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking
Is this land made for you and me?

Nobody living can ever stop me,
As I go walking that freedom highway;
Nobody living can ever make me turn back
This land was made for you and me.