USA TODAY National
CHICAGO — Let it be known far and wide that Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, who has called himself “a Bible-believing Christian,” has no problem whatsoever with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents shooting a pastor in the noggin with pepper balls.
The man who, when asked to describe his worldview, once said “go pick up a Bible off your shelf and read it,” also has zero problem with journalists being violently arrested by federal agents.
Is there an updated version of the Bible that I missed? Because I don’t recall anything in my Catholic upbringing that was pro-priest-popping or supportive of masked agents of the government slamming journalists to the ground.
Johnson sees ICE's violent behavior and thinks no line has been crossed?
The House speaker was asked this question on Oct. 14: “We’ve seen images out of Chicago of federal agents shooting faith leaders with pepper balls and arresting journalists. Where’s the limit for you on what’s acceptable conduct by federal law enforcement?”
To which Johnson ‒ the aforementioned Bible fan ‒ replied: “I’ve not seen them cross the line yet.”
Really?
ICE agents shot projectiles at a pastor. How is that not crossing the line?
In September, ICE agents fired pepper balls and hit the Rev. David Black of the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago multiple times in the head and body.
He’s now part of a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and described what happened like this: “I extended my arms, palms outstretched toward the ICE officers, in a traditional Christian posture of prayer and blessing. Without any warning, and without any order or request that I and others disperse, I was suddenly fired upon by ICE officers. In rapid fire, I was hit seven times on my arms, face and torso with exploding pellets that contained some kind of chemical agent. It was clear to me that the officers were aiming for my head, which they struck twice.”
Apparently, that does not cross the line. Maybe Johnson considers this pastor too woke, and thus deserving of being struck with projectiles?
ICE is targeting journalists and grabbing innocent people off the streets
The ACLU lawsuit claims that reporters from the nonprofit news outlet Block Club Chicago were also victims of ICE violence, noting that “at least four Block Club reporters or photographers were hit with pepper balls by federal officers at the Broadview ICE facility and were at risk of enduring other forms of force, despite standing on public ways and apart from the crowd, wearing visible press credentials, and displaying other visible indications they were there as members of the press.”
A WGN employee, Debbie Brockman, was taken to the ground by federal agents on Oct. 10, on her way to work. She was handcuffed and hauled off in an unmarked vehicle where, according to her attorney, she was held for about seven hours. She is a U.S. citizen and has not been charged with any crimes.
In a statement, her attorney said: “Ms. Brockman was taken to the ground, battered, handcuffed and her pants were pulled down exposing her bare buttocks. No one should be treated like that in this city, in this country, or anywhere else in the world.”
Or as the top Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives might call it: No biggie!
Which Bible is Mike Johnson reading? He might need a new one.
Look, I realize this might sound controversial, but I’m firmly on the side of those who consider it bad to shoot priests in the head with pepper balls. The Bible I’ve read sends a clear-as-day message that things like abducting a random person off the street would fall under the “sin” category.
I also recall the Bible that Speaker Johnson says forms his worldview having a few things to say about being kind to immigrants.
Perhaps he forgot about those passages while he was humbling himself before President Donald Trump. Johnson certainly seems to have missed this one: “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”
No lines crossed by ICE yet, Mike? Truly, there are none so blind as those who will not see.
Follow USA TODAY columnist Rex Huppke on Bluesky at @rexhuppke.bsky.social and on Facebook at facebook.com/RexIsAJerk
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ICE shot a praying pastor with pepper balls. Top Republican says it's fine. | Opinion
Reporting by Rex Huppke, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
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