Disregard that inflammatory memo. SLO County’s anti-ICE protesters aren’t a threat | Opinion
Just like that, protesters — even the peaceful ones — are the enemy.
Or at the very least, a potential menace to law-abiding citizens.
Why else would the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office have issued an internal memo warning its employees to steer clear of Tuesday’s anti-ICE protest?
The memo, signed by the head of the DA’s Investigations Bureau, was a brilliant example of fearmongering couched as concern.
“Currently, we are not aware of any specific threats,” it said. “However, out of an abundance of caution, the bureau has coordinated a safety plan with outside law enforcement agencies to ensure appropriate coverage and response if needed.”
It goes on to advise employees to avoid Monterey Street, where the lunchtime rally was held in advance of a Board of Supervisors meeting; to try to travel in pairs; to be aware of their surroundings; and “to report any suspicious activity to a supervisor or law enforcement immediately.”
We are talking about an event that was no more dangerous than a summer Concert in the Plaza.
It was held in broad daylight, with multiple police officers present. And as is typical of anti-Trump/anti-ICE events held in SLO County, the audience skewed boomer.
And by the way, it appears no other county department issued a warning to employees. (If one did, please let us know and we’ll correct the record.)
If this truly were a threat, shouldn’t every employee have been urged to exercise caution?
Of course!
Blinded in Los Angeles, pepper sprayed in Santa Barbara
Critics may ask: Why get worked up over one little memo?
Here’s why: Painting demonstrators as violent, even in a subtle way, implies they are the dangerous ones — not the masked ICE agents who have been terrorizing communities, wounding and even killing those who oppose them.
Pretty soon the protesters become the Bad Guys — giving ICE cover to act with impunity, even though ICE agents are the ones armed with military-grade weapons, which they are not afraid to use.
For example, the Los Angeles Times reports that two men were left permanently blind in one eye when they were shot in the face with projectiles during an anti-ICE rally last month.
Closer to home, a woman in Santa Barbara was pepper-sprayed Wednesday morning as she was attempting to film an ICE enforcement operation.
The demonization of demonstrators
The Trump administration would have us believe that If protesters happen to get roughed up or even killed, they have no one but themselves to blame.
And it goes triple for anyone who has the temerity to bring a weapon to a protest, even if it’s perfectly legal. And even if the gun is safely tucked in a waistband.
In a social media post, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli warned as much following the killing of Alex Pretti.
“If you approach law enforcement with a gun, there is a high likelihood they will be legally justified in shooting you. Don’t do it!”
For the record, Essayli, who is assigned to California’s Central District, later tried to walk that back: “I never said it’s legally justified to shoot law-abiding concealed carriers. My comment addressed agitators approaching law enforcement with a gun and refusing to disarm,” he posted on X.
But the damage was already done.
Even the conservative National Rifle Association pushed back: “Responsible public voices should be awaiting a full investigation, not making generalizations and demonizing law-abiding citizens.”
Let those words sink in: law-abiding citizens.
From what we have observed during our coverage of multiple demonstrations in San Luis Obispo County, anti-ICE protesters are exactly that — law-abiding citizens exercising the First Amendment rights.
They are not angels.
They may drop F-bombs, flip off ICE agents and wave signs laden with obscenities.
If that offends you, by all means, stay away.
If you don’t like the anti-ICE message, stay away.
If noisy crowds make you nervous, stay away.
But do not conflate sign waving, speeches and chants with violence — not if you value our constitutional rights.
This story was originally published January 30, 2026 at 10:14 AM.
