It is a gesture, a simple and symbolic one. But it is the right one.
When most of the Chula Vista City Council during a special meeting on Monday approved a resolution condemning the violence and the apparent abrogation of civil rights by federal officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota lately, they demonstrated they are on the right side of history.
Mayor John McCann did not vote. He was away with the U.S. Navy Reserve.
The Trump Administration has sent federal agents storming into cities across the country to detain, arrest and ultimately deport people they determine are in the country illegally.
Along the way, however, agents with Immigration Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Patrol have trampled on the constitutional rights that are guaranteed everyone in this country.
Agents have stopped people on the street for appearing to be in the United States without the right paperwork. They have arrested people who presented proof of citizenship and legal status. They have abused the rights of bystanders and protestors with pepper spray and physical violence. And in Minneapolis they have killed two Americans, after having reportedly fired their weapons in more than a dozen cases across the country.
They do so while wearing masks and with impunity and the full-throated support of Department of Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem.
In seeing this abuse and terror and turmoil brought down on cities throughout the country, with specific attention paid to Minneapolis, the Chula Vista City Council has effectively said No, that is wrong. We do not condone that behavior.
It is a gesture. A small one. An important one. It demonstrates to others what Chula Vista stands for, even though there are some who unwaveringly support ICE and CBP during their current reign of terror.
But gestures can only go so far for so long and there will come a time when there will need accompanying action.
The Chula Vista City Council and Chula Vistans must work together to ensure that everyone in a position of authority or influence is committed to protecting from harm the residents of this city, regardless of their citizenship status. What happened in Minneapolis should not be allowed to happen here.
