By Mark Fowler

“So they shouted again, saying, ‘Not this Man, but Barabbas.’ Now Barabbas was a rebel.” —John 18:40 (New American Standard Bible)

Barabbas was also a revolutionary under a sentence of death for murder.

An agitated crowd can be counted on to ignore the moral imperative otherwise held by its individual members. They can be led to ignoble ends with the right combination of grievance-mongering and deception. Just as the chief priests incited the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas, California Democrats have whipped up hate and amplified grievances — and now those deeming themselves aggrieved are making their unhappiness known.

Having arrived illegally, having been fed, clothed, and housed for months at the taxpayers’ expense, they now take to the streets claiming oppression. One protestor claims the movement is simply about retaking property formerly belonging to Mexico. Another claims to hate capitalism and embraces socialism. What we have here is a failure to assimilate.

So, Donald Trump ran on and was elected to address illegal immigration. He chose to enforce the law that allows the federal government to deport criminals and illegal immigrants. A law that was in effect before he came to power. Under that law, Bill Clinton deported 12 million, George W. Bush deported 10 million, and Barack Obama deported five million. Most of these were turned away at the border or through expedited hearings. No meaningful protest was made. Now, Trump and ICE are focusing on the worst of the worst: convicted murderers, child sex offenders, and burglars, otherwise known as Democrat constituents.

There is the usual gaslighting by the partisan media and Democrats describing the “mostly peaceful” protests. Here is a partial list of the activities of “peaceful protestors”:

• Benches and chairs torn from parks and used to make barricades.
• Storefronts broken and stores looted.
• Fires in dumpsters and trash bins.
• Chunks of cinder blocks hurled at police and ICE vehicles.
• Obscene graffiti on public buildings.
• Five Waymo autonomous vehicles summoned and burned.
• Police pelted with frozen water bottles, sticks, rocks, and fireworks.

Rep. Maxine Waters of California, whose intellect is overshadowed only by her ego, claims that no one was shot, no one was killed, and there was no violence.

While the Los Angeles chief of police admitted his officers were overwhelmed, Gov. Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass refused to act. So, Trump did what Washington did to quell the Whisky Rebellion, what Eisenhower did when Little Rock was aflame with racial tensions, and what Kennedy did when James Meredith enrolled via court order in Ole Miss: he sent in the National Guard. (Eisenhower and Kennedy used the Army.) Just as secessionists brayed about states’ rights, Democrats ululate the same thing as Trump disrupts the sanctuary city ruse.

This isn’t about immigrants. It’s about power. Congressional seats are apportioned by the population, not citizens. While California loses taxpayers fed up with the problems of California, the state gains millions of immigrants bribed by free medical care, free housing, and cash subsidies. Democrats maintain the same condescending arrogance toward immigrants that the British Raj held toward the people of India. The sole representative from Vermont, Becca Balint (an LGBT activist), spoke for the Democrat brand when she said, “We’re not gonna have anybody around to wipe our a**es because we don’t have enough people.” Other Democrats would add gardeners, maids, and produce pickers. The only Democrat speaking with the voice of reason is Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania.

The immigration system has been broken for years (one of the few sensible things VP Kamala Harris said). The Biden administration created this crisis. Now it is begging for a solution, and that can only come from Congress. Trump is doing what he can. In the meantime, the crowd calls for the release of Barabbas.

Mark Fowler is a board-certified physician and former attorney. He can be reached at [email protected].