๐จBREAKING: In Queens, New York, ICE agents were caught on video violently shoving, and threatening, U.S. citizens because they dared to stand on a public sidewalk.
The U.S. citizens werenโt blocking traffic.
They werenโt interfering.
They werenโt even yellingโฆ
They were filming, while another agent stood right next to them, without issue.
Then, out of nowhere, an ICE agent came charging from off camera, screaming, โBACK THE FUCK UP,โ and then violently shoved one of the men multiple times.
Even as the U.S. citizens backed up, the ICE agent continued to violently shoved one of them, held pepper spray inches from his face, as the other agent threatened the second man with a taser.
When youโre walking down the street, observing a traffic stop from the sidewalk, normally police officers donโt sprint over, scream profanities at you, assault you, and then threaten you with weaponsโฆ
And thatโs because watching law enforcement activity, from a public place, is protected by the First Amendment.
Recording law enforcement performing their duties, in public, is constitutionally protected.
The law generally only allows officers to use force when theyโre facing an actual safety threat, active physical resistance, or someone trying to fleeโฆ not because U.S. citizens are standing on a public sidewalk, watching and filming.
And the most telling part?
If these U.S. citizens, standing on a public sidewalk, were really a threatโฆ the ICE agents wouldnโt have instantly turned their backs to the threat, and walked away.
Because that just proved they were never a threat at all.
So, why did ICE agents violently shove U.S. citizens, and threaten them with weapons?