OUTRAGE OVER BORDER
PATROL RAIDS IN
CHARLOTTE
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
Masked agents with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) descended upon Charlotte last Saturday, purportedly doing what President Trump has boasted their mission has been since federal authorities have conducted raids in other Democrat-run cities this year:
“…to do all in their power to achieve the very important goal of delivering the single largest mass deportation program in history.”
Thus, according to published reports, federal Border Patrol agents were seen going to a shopping center, a church and other locations, chasing people down by foot, arresting people they suspected to be illegal immigrants in the country. The operation was dubbed “Charlotte’s Web.”
Members of an east Charlotte church reported ran into the woods to escape CBP officers, who then proceeded to arrest one of their members in front of children.
In at least one case, CBP agents were videotaped breaking a car window in an attempt to apprehend the occupant. At that shopping center, agents were seen dragging a woman out of a business and she struggled to get free.
Businesses there allowed their employees to slip out the back door so that they could elude masked CBP officers.
A published report about this raid stated that “Agents parked just outside a closed gate leading to the church parking lot and ran into the yard, said the pastor, who did not want to identify himself or his church. The agents asked no questions and showed no identification before taking one man away, whose wife and child were inside at the time, the pastor said.”
“Americans should be able to live without fear of violent criminal illegal aliens hurting them, their families, or their neighbors,” Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. “We are surging DHS law enforcement to Charlotte to ensure Americans are safe and public safety threats are removed.”
None of the people of Hispanic heritage taken into custody are known to have broken any laws, local officials say.
Charlotte officials expressed outrage at the actions of the CBP agents.
“I think they need to stay home!,” Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC-12), declared to reporters the day before the CBP raids began. “We don’t need that kind of disruption, and we don’t need them coming in here and antagonizing our citizens.”
“I’ve heard from a lot of people who are concerned about this. When I look at what has happened in other cities, how people have been treated, abused even in physical ways, we don’t want that in Charlotte, we don’t need that in Charlotte….I’m opposed to it, I’m against it, and I just want our citizens to be safe.”
A joint statement from Charlotte Mayor Vy Lyles, Mecklenburg County Board of commissioners Chairman Mark Jerrell and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education Chair Stephanie Sneed, also issued before the Saturday CBP raids, said in part, “The expected U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (commonly called “Border Patrol”) operations are causing unnecessary fear and uncertainty in our community as recent operations in other cities have resulted in people without criminal records being detained and violent protests being the result of unwarranted actions.
“We want people in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County to know we stand with all residents who simply want to go about their lives, contributing to our larger community. Each of our organizations have made commitments to the people we serve to protect their rights and dignity. We are committed to following the law and to protecting the rights of all people who call Charlotte and Mecklenburg County home.”
The joint statement also made clear that neither the Charlotte Police Dept. nor the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Dept. had anything to do with the CBP raids.
Anderson Clayton, chair of the NC Democratic Party, also weighed in with her outrage.
“Since being elected, Donald Trump has used federal law enforcement as political props for reality TV-style stunts. This has only caused unnecessary chaos and sown fear in our communities, and has done nothing to create trust with law enforcement.”
“Everyone deserves to feel safe in their community, including the hundred thousand plus immigrants that live and work in Charlotte,” Clayton continued. “Our community, our state, and our nation are stronger for them. Now is not the time to give in to fear and division. Now is the time to build community, and the North Carolina Democratic Party stands with all its neighbors in Charlotte.
Regarding the mass protest against CBP agents, NCDP Chair Clayton cautioned, “ I know there are a lot of people who are rightly pissed off about these intimidation tactics being brought to their home town. I urge everyone who is exercising their first amendment rights to remain peaceful and follow the law. We cannot allow ourselves to be provoked.”
Adrian Maldonado Jr., president of the NCDP Hispanic-American Caucus, also had words for his community.
“What we are witnessing is political tyranny at its core, it is no mistake Donald Trump chose the city that thousands of immigrants call home. Now is the time more than ever to stand with our immigrant neighbors. We are a nation of immigrants, and we must continue to work until every person in our state, regardless of their status, is safe.”
The NC Republican Party defended CBP’s operation in Charlotte, saying that they were after “violent criminals.”
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DEMOCRATS CHOOSE BROCKMAN’S
HOUSE SEAT REPLACEMENT
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
The Guilford County Democratic Party wasted little time Nov. 15th selecting High Point City Councilwoman Amanda Cook to serve out the remaining time in former House District 60 Rep. Cecil Brockman’s term in the NC House.
Cook was already planning to challenge Brockman for his District 60 seat next year.
Councilwoman Cook currently serves in an at-large seat on the High Point City Council. She was the highest vote getter during a Saturday morning county executive committee meeting last weekend, beating out education administrator Angie McMichael, former Guilford County Democratic Party Chairman Joe Alston, and former Guilford County Commissioner Bruce Davis.
“I congratulate Amanda Cook on her win," said Kathy Kirkpatrick, chair of the Guilford County Democratic Party. "We had four excellent candidates, and I’m proud of all four who ran. I look forward to having a person in the seat who will vote for her Democratic values.”
“I congratulate Amanda Cook on her win," said Kathy Kirkpatrick, chair of the Guilford County Democratic Party. "We had four excellent candidates, and I’m proud of all four who ran. I look forward to having a person in the seat who will vote for her Democratic values.”
Councilwoman Cook will serve out the remainder of Brockman’s term until January 2027, and is expected to run for election in District 60 in 2026.
By state law, Gov. Josh Stein had seven days to approve of Cook’s nomination to the District 60 seat. At the time of this writing, he had not done so. If for some reason he does not, Cook can still serve out the remainder of Brockman’s term in office.
Brockman, 41, decided last month to relinquish his long held seat in order to focus on defending himself against serious statutory rape and indecent liberties with a minor charges, stemming from an alleged sexual relationship with a 15 year-old teenager last summer.
He has had his original $1.05 million bond reduce to $250,00, and while out on bond, was ordered to reside with his mother wearing an ankle bracelet. Brockman, who is also required to stay away from the alleged victim in the case, is due back in court in January.
Democratic Party leaders, including Gov. Josh Stein, NCDP Chair Anderson Clayton, and House Democratic Leader Robert Reives, among others, all demanded that Brockman, who had served six terms since 2015, resign his post so that his constituency could have unfettered representation in the NC General Assembly.
Brockman stepped down just as Republican House Speaker Destin Hall choose a select bi-partisan committee to review the charges against him and decide whether to recommend removal from office.
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