We are told these days to believe that rights are not universal, that they are not unalienable, that they can be selectively erased by the whims of people who wish to wield power without restraint. 

Some of these assertions are subtle, like the Speaker of the House saying agents must wear masks, or they would face certain danger. 

• This is a veiled assertion that the American public would otherwise be a threat to them. 
• It also ignores the fact that police face less danger when they have strong, trust-based relations with the community. 
• And, it ignores completely the role masks play in fostering impunity and aggression. 

This is a man sworn to serve, speaking about others sworn to serve, adopting the view that those they serve are enemies not to be trusted.

In the rare cases where extreme violence is suspected of specific individuals, where agents must carry out a raid on a fortified compound held by actual criminal gangs, judges can review the facts and authorize more aggressive operations. 

No one should have to fear that masked paramilitaries will attack them at random as they go about their day.

The government answers to the people; every agent of government should consistently demonstrate that they not only respect but will honor that standard, with words and actions. 

In other cases, the assertion that rights can be voided is glaring and shocks the conscience outright: Violent assaults, tear gassing of children and whole communities, summary executions, the disgusting arrogance of killers who fully expect they will never be held accountable.

A federal judge wrote, this week: 

“statements made by DHS (Department of Homeland Security) officials and senior federal executives show that the culture of the agency and its employees is to celebrate violent responses over fair and diplomatic ones.”

The judge is describing an atmosphere of criminal intent. Diplomacy instead of violence is not a style choice, or a matter of personal preference of the agent in question, or the culture an agency chooses to adopt; it is an absolute legal obligation that is always operative, in all moments, across all cases.

Those who hold power must defer to, show respect for, and treat with dignity, and ultimately report to, every human being they come across.

As the President knows well, even those accused of the most serious crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty. 

The people are sovereign. Rights are paramount. Power serves lawfully, honorably, with deference to all people and all human rights, or It is illegitimate.

We used to know this. This was just below the surface in all of the pretty words we recite about founding ideals. 

Now, people feel afraid to make this assertion. What if the government takes offense at that idea? What could they do? We have seen them kill people for being witnesses, then lie to deny them justice.

We cannot allow this debasement of the human spirit.

Resist debasement with dignity. 

An example of that dignity is the brave testimony from U.S. citizens brutally abused by rogue federal agents, who acted as if the Bill of Rights did not exist, aggressors who made clear they wanted their victims to believe their death was imminent, before taking actions that could (and sometimes did) end lives.

The words of Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara shine a warm light on the road ahead: 

“The Minneapolis Police Department is committed to honoring the human dignity of every person in our community… Our mission is to keep everyone in this town safe, and we cannot accomplish that if a huge segment of this community is too scared to call us when they need help…”

We must insist, every one of us, that our founding core principle—that all human beings are created equal and so government must act as if their spirits, rights, and freedoms, are of inestimable worth—never be violated or put aside.

No one voted to have their children, or their children’s friends, or nurses and neighbors, murdered or disappeared. No one voted for paramilitary abductions of innocent people on local streets.

Insist on freedom. Insist on rights. Insist on decency. Insist peacefully that it is always lawful and appropriate to bear witness and to require government honor its debt of service to every human being. 

Violence is failure. Kindness is freedom.