Redmond , Wash. Councilmember Appears to Encourage Literal ‘Fighting Back’ Against ICE, Doubles Down Despite Police Chief’s Warning

NUEVACAMINA: “Thank you. Chief, so just very directly and very plainly, so while your department will not do anything to cooperate with ICE, there’s also nothing that your department can do to intervene?”
LOWE: “Correct. They are operating under federal law and federal authority, and federal law and authority supersedes that of a local jurisdiction, so we would not be able to interfere or intervene in their particular operations.”
NUEVACAMINA: “And we’ve seen in other communities where it’s been the community then taking it upon themselves to essentially fight back against ICE in their communities, so basically what we’re letting our community know is, hey, from a city perspective, we really can’t do anything, and it’s upon you then to stand up and fight back against ICE in our communities.”
LOWE: “I can’t support or advocate for that. We are here to keep the peace. Individuals have a right to, I’ll say, conduct themselves in, you know, the manner they see fit, but we cannot support or advocate for, you know, I’ll say, violence or, you know, fighting against federal agents. Our role is to keep the peace.”
NUEVACAMINA: “But the peace has already been broken, chief. Thank you.”
CHAIR: “Thank you. Thank you, Chief Lowe.”