Statement on the Federal Actions in Minneapolis

The Society for the Rule of Law Institute released the following statement regarding the ongoing federal actions in Minneapolis:

The Society for the Rule of Law Institute expresses its deep concern with the developing situation in Minnesota, especially the tragic loss of two lives in officer-involved shootings over the last several days. We condemn administration officials who have, without providing any evidence and in conflict with the manifest evidence that is available, disparaged the Americans who have lost their lives in these events.

Some officials have jumped to vastly premature conclusions and even appeared to tell outright lies about these delicate and tense situations. They have also casually dismissed core Constitutional rights. We reject any suggestion that the important work of immigration control and enforcement should require or even tolerate the militarization of law enforcement or otherwise abandoning the rule of law.

Our government officials must be responsible for de-escalating violence, not thuggishly precipitating and aggravating it. Our people have constitutional rights to protest peacefully and photograph government officials who are enforcing laws, and the officials have an obligation to respect protesters and avoid and defuse potential conflicts. Our officers should be trained to do this and held accountable for not doing it.

It is precisely at times of rising domestic discord that America must hold most fast to our shared constitutional rights and liberties. These include the rights of free speech and protest reflected in the First Amendment, the right to keep and bear arms reflected in the Second Amendment, and our federalist structure respecting the sovereignty of states as reflected in the Tenth Amendment.

All Americans should respect and obey the law, especially those in federal service who have sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution. Federal agents and political leaders who fail to honor that oath should face appropriate consequences. We encourage Congress and Courts to play their critical Constitutional role to ensure that they do.

Responsibility for what is happening begins at the top. President Trump is uniquely responsible for setting an expectation that the Constitution must be obeyed and lawful protesters must be protected. Not to do so is unlawful, immoral and indecent.

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