PROTESTS in Dallas in February 2025 (Wikipedia).

Unsolicited Advice Dept.: As a licensed and bonded purveyor of unrequested counsel, recent events have compelled me to step forward to offer assistance in … how shall I put this? … not looking like a hooplehead (see “Deadwood” TV series)

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For those wishing to protest the crackdown on immigration, one clearly wrong approach is to wave Mexican (or Venezuelan or Costa Rican, etc.) flags, unless you’re just stopping by on your way to watch a soccer game at your neighborhood sports bar.

The whole point of such a protest is – or should be – to make the statement that you (or your friends and/or relatives) want to stay in America because it is worlds better than where you/they came from.

Waving around El Tri is exactly the wrong message. It will lead some people – otherwise on the fence – to conclude that “Well, if you really love the old country, I guess that’s where you should go. Now.”

Moving on to the individuals who are grabbing people off the street (or in front of Home Depot) as suspected unlawful migrants, many of you are playing it wrong, too. First off, it appears that instead of a professional appearance, you’ve made the fashion choice of dressing up like Jan. 6 warrior-wannabes.

No name tags, no standard uniforms and masked faces. The argument is that it’s to protect the ICE guys from retribution. If that’s a valid argument, then every police officer, meter-maid, security guard, basketball referee and high school vice-principal should adopt that style.

And some of them are wearing baggy blue jeans and sporting labels like ERO, which is an acronym subject to wide interpretation.

In the court of public opinion, you guys are an object lesson in sending the wrong message. It may lead many people to think both sides are led by those with heads of hoople.

NOT ALL ICE agents wore masks (Wikipedia).