Bernie Sanders Condemns ICE and Warns of Trump's Authoritarianism

Condemnation of ICE Actions

• 🚨 Senator Sanders denounced ICE as a “domestic military force” and an “occupying force” in Minneapolis, terrorizing residents and violating constitutional rights.
• ⚠️ He asserted that actions like federal agents shooting citizens, breaking down doors, and detaining children are characteristic of dictatorships, not democracies.
• 🛑 Sanders demanded that ICE “get out of Minnesota now” and “get out of Maine now,” calling for an immediate halt to their terrorizing of American people.
• 💰 He insisted that not another penny should be given to ICE or Customs and Border Patrol without fundamental reforms and new leadership at the Department of Homeland Security.

Trump's Authoritarian Movement

• ⚡ Sanders warned that Trump’s push toward authoritarianism extends beyond immigration, encompassing a broader effort to concentrate power and undermine democratic institutions.
• 🌍 He criticized Trump for attacking long-standing alliances with European nations, Denmark, and Canada, while simultaneously cozying up to autocratic friends like Saudi Arabia and Benjamin Netanyahu.
• ⚖️ The Senator highlighted Trump’s threats to attack the courts, intimidate the media and universities, and criminalize political opponents as dangerous moves toward an authoritarian society.

Undermining Democracy Through Lies

• 💬 Sanders condemned Trump’s “big lie” and the constant barrage of profound falsehoods coming from the White House, stating that democracy cannot function when the president lies daily.
• ❌ He refuted specific claims, clarifying that Renee Good was not a domestic terrorist, Alexander Petty was not an assassin, the attack on Ilhan Omar was not staged, and the January 6 insurrectionists were not peaceful demonstrators.
• 🗳️ Sanders emphasized that the 2020 election was not stolen, and expressed concern that Trump’s actions, including raiding election offices and demanding voter rolls, raise questions about the future of free and fair elections.

Call for Republican Accountability

• 🤝 Sanders urged his Republican colleagues to speak out against Trump’s dangerous movement toward authoritarianism, emphasizing that protecting the nation’s values should transcend political disagreements.
• 👏 He applauded Chris Maidell, a Republican candidate, for ending his campaign due to his inability to defend the National Republican Party in the face of these actions, particularly regarding citizens of color living in fear and being asked to prove citizenship.