"Palestinians have long drawn parallels between such violence and the oppression they endure under Israeli occupation. In both contexts, lethal force is justified as a “threat,” official narratives often contradict video evidence, medical care is delayed or denied, and entire communities are criminalized." Ikram Mezghani

 

Minneapolis ICE killings expose global pattern of militarized enforcement | PennLive letters

Feb. 22, 2026 

Ikram Mezghani, Derry Township, Pa. 

Americans pushing back against aggressive Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minneapolis are finally confronting a truth long familiar to many oppressed communities: unchecked state power has devastating consequences.

The recent killings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti have sparked outrage. But for Black, Indigenous, Brown, and immigrant communities, this reality has existed for decades. These deaths join those of George Floyd, Philando Castile, Daunte Wright, and Amir Locke, whose killings were framed as “necessary” or unavoidable, revealing systemic patterns of criminalization and lethal force.

Palestinians have long drawn parallels between such violence and the oppression they endure under Israeli occupation. In both contexts, lethal force is justified as a “threat,” official narratives often contradict video evidence, medical care is delayed or denied, and entire communities are criminalized.

Militarized tactics—surveillance, intimidation, and lethal enforcement—normalize control, whether in Minneapolis or occupied Palestine. U.S. federal forces, including ICE in Minnesota, have participated in exchange programs with Israeli forces, exporting occupation-style policing, U.S. federal forces, including ICE in Minnesota, have participated in exchange programs with Israeli forces, exporting occupation-style policing—a practice that many human rights organizations have documented and condemned... READ MORE    https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2026/02/minneapolis-ice-killings-expose-global-pattern-of-militarized-enforcement-pennlive-letters.html?gift=c0483009-a974-43ac-b156-c70e16689e30 

 AS ALWAYS PLEASE GO TO THE LINK TO READ GOOD ARTICLES (or quotes) IN FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and conversations) THAT EMPOWER DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE & PEACE... and hopefully Palestine, or at least fair and just laws and policies]   

Training for peace, progress, and respect for all human beings, regardless of race or religion, does not require urban warfare tactics. #CopCity #America #Israel #Palestine

United Nations 2023

I heard on the TV news of the violence- the protest about "Cop City" down in Atlanta Georgia, and I did not understand who or why. So I searched online for information, and found that the beginning was all about a park and forest land being demolished to make way for a massive training center for police. 

I do respect our police, but I do not support America becoming a Police State, with those already in power doing all they can to gain and keep more power.

Furthermore public parks and nature reserves should not be usurped by local, state or federal governments here in America to further militarize our police.  

This situation sounds so much like Israel as Israel freely usurps Palestinian land, training Zionist soldiers and testing weapons and tactics on the Palestinians in the illegally occupied territories, and then demonizing any and all who dare protest.   

I searched for more information on the people behind "Cop City" to see if Israel was connected to this project. First thing I find is a polished piece of propaganda that points to major American corporations that I won't name because I think that article is a misdirecting smokescreen created to protect Israel. 

Criticize Israel's state sponsored terrorism and you get wrongly accused of being an anti-Semitic.  That accusation silences many people, stifling an honest and helpful conversation, thereby allowing corruption and cruelty to flourish in racist Israel, and here in America as well.

Training for peace, progress, and respect for all human beings (regardless of race or religion) does not require urban warfare tactics.

Protests about police violence in our cities include the plea for money to be spent on the people's needs.  The only way to stop the violence in our cities is with crucial social programs and investments so that all Americans have a better chance to find decent jobs and create good lives for themselves. 

I did find one article from 2021 "Israel and the militarization of Atlanta's police" pointing out that Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange "has been exchanging technology, homeland security policies, and community policing tactics with the IPF through the GILEE program"

https://georgiastatesignal.com/israel-and-the-militarization-of-atlantas-police/

That information should be front and center with all news coverage concerning this situation, not buried away where few see it, because  that very foreign county called Israel really does have undue influence over our elected leaders, our media, our technology (Pegasus) and now our police.  

This is a very scary situation. Our democracy is in danger of imploding thanks to the influence of Israel.

International law and basic human rights should matter, so should the people of Atlanta.

 

"Out of the approx 35 people arrested at the #StopCopCity music festival last night, 22 are still being held and charged with "domestic terrorism," per the DeKalb County jail records website. Yet none are charged with violence, arson or the police claims #CopCity "