It seems senseless that some still oppose unions. Unions enabled the middle class to exist, without which the economy, most especially small businesses, would barely exist. Unions enabled living wages, health benefits, vacations, better housing through the growth of the construction industry, the rise of the American automotive industry, better education for all children, and so incredibly much more. As a kid in the coal mining area of WV, I watched miners get paid in company script useable only at the company store.

Unions meant miners got paid in US currency spendable anywhere, thus miners able to buy their own houses, cars, and trucks, and even send their children to college. Those opposing unions must be the elite rich and/or corporate owners seeking more wealth, or those who have no, or refuse, understanding of what truly made the American economy what it became during the massive economic growth of the late 40s into the early 70s.

The real reasons there are protests against the immigration “policies” of the current administration enforced by ICE raids, and why there were not such against the Clinton and Obama administrations, are as obvious as the specific factual realities that can be stated.

Neither Clinton nor Obama sent US military personnel and other masked men armed with military weapons in combat gear into American streets.

Neither Clinton nor Obama set arbitrary quotas of deporting 3,000 people a day.

Neither Clinton nor Obama had “agents” injuriously tackle people on the streets followed by 2-5 big men sitting on them.

Neither had “agents” force themselves into homes, workplaces, hospitals, schools, and/or churches to violently push people to the ground.

Neither sent agents into courts to arrest and deport immigrants showing up for their scheduled court procedures for the legal process of becoming citizens.

Neither had agents shoot pepper balls at unarmed peaceful protestors or throw tear gas into protesting groups.

Neither deported a combat veteran with a purple heart citation.

Neither imprisoned a combat veteran’s wife from Ireland for very minor crimes for which she neither received nor deserved any prison time.

Neither deported the father of three US Marines who had lived in the country for 30 years and committed no crimes.

Neither claimed they were deporting the worst of the worst immigrant criminals, then arrested and detained the consistently reported 70% who have committed no crimes whatsoever.

Neither sent, without due process, nearly 300 immigrants to a well-known viciously brutal prison in El Salvador.

Neither took FBI agents away from their essentially necessary focus on terrorism to go after immigrants.

Neither took border patrol agents away from their necessary responsibilities at the borders to go after immigrants.

Yes, immigration laws should be enforced—constitutionally, legally. No, enforcement agents should not be US military personnel, use injurious force, nor be masked, nor have military weapons wearing combat gear. No, enforcement officers should not be shot at. Neither of the last two are ethically, morally, or legally defensible.