Why do these cosplay soldiers need defending with military troops, much less deserve defending?

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photo by Ashlee Rezin of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Nancy French @NancyAFrench
A masked ICE agent sprayed David Black, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Chicago, directly in the face during protests outside the ICE processing facility in Broadview, Illinois.

Sept. 19, 2025.
Black told The Guardian newspaper that ICE agents hit him in the head, face, torso, arms and legs with around seven or eight "pepper exploding pellets" while he was in a position of prayer.

He added: "I'm not a political ideologue, but I am very deeply rooted in my faith, in the ways that it calls me to show up in this moment as someone who can proclaim the good news and call these ICE agents into their right mind."

In October 2025, Black joined a lawsuit suing the Trump administration over ICE agents' alleged actions at the Chicago-area protests, accusing the government of violating protesters' First Amendment rights. Black told the American Civil Liberties Union:

I extended my arms, palms outstretched toward the ICE officers, in a traditional Christian posture of prayer and blessing. Without any warning, and without any order or request that I and others disperse, I was suddenly fired upon by ICE officers. In rapid fire, I was hit seven times on my arms, face and torso with exploding pellets that contained some kind of chemical agent. It was clear to me that the officers were aiming for my head, which they struck twice.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/fact-check-real-photo-shows-225600410.html


...they need to step back from their 'mass deportation' drive and lessen their impact on communities. That's the most certain way to reduce both their senseless violence and address the citizens' resistance to that abomination against democracy.


Gregory Bovino and other federal officers march by the Newberry Library in Chicago's Gold Coast as part of an immigration blitz show of force. Photo: Brian Cassella/TNS/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock