Educate yourself, then go vote

The White House is tone deaf.

Alex Pretti was shot to death by federal agents carrying out immigration enforcement in Minnesota – a state that does not rank in the top 10 for undocumented immigrants, according to PEW and MPI. 

So, when Donald Trump says the federal government – especially the DOJ and FBI – has been “weaponized,” it’s worth paying attention. And it’s fair to ask: why Minnesota instead of California, Texas or Florida, the states with the largest unauthorized immigrant populations?

Some meaningful context: On Jan. 24, Attorney General Pam Bondi urged Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to give the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division access to Minnesota’s voter registration rolls to “confirm” compliance with federal law. 

Yet there has been no allegation of widespread illegal voting in Minnesota – no claims, no evidence of fraud. 

At some point, it’s worth trusting our own eyes and the facts. What stood out to me is that what’s happening in Minnesota and what the federal government says it’s about don’t add up. This doesn’t look like it’s about crime or immigration. It looks like power – and where the federal government chooses to aim it. 

For years, I’ve asked what more I can do beyond voting in presidential elections, speaking with people having different perspectives, fact checking everything (even things I want to believe) and protesting. 

Then I remembered something close to home: Tina Peters, the Mesa County Clerk who was convicted of election tampering and sentenced to nine years in prison. Trump called for her pardon – of course he did. She tried to keep him in power, illegally.

Local elections matter. So does holding Congress accountable to the people, not the president. Constitutionally, Congress answers to us. That means educating ourselves – and showing up to vote. We have municipal elections in April, primaries in June, and general elections in November. Be sure to vote.

– Catherine Boyle, Durango