John, when I was a young girl, I lived through my father being taken from our family.
I watched my home fill with fear and loss. I saw how quickly dignity could be stripped away by people with power and badges. And I learned early that the system does not always care who you are, what papers you carry, or how long you have called this country home.
That fear came rushing back when I read what happened in St. Paul this weekend.
Federal agents broke down the door of a family’s home without a warrant. They pointed guns at everyone inside. They dragged a man outside in the freezing cold wearing only his underwear while his four year old grandson cried and watched.
That man, ChongLy “Scott” Thao, is a U.S. citizen.
Agents refused to look at his ID. Instead, they handcuffed him, drove him to a remote area, and photographed him in subzero temperatures. Hours later, they admitted they had the wrong person and dropped him back at home without an apology and no course of recourse.
What did he do wrong? Nothing.
This is the truth we need to face. Citizenship is not a shield when enforcement is driven by fear, profiling, and cruelty. Dehumanization does not stop at immigration status. It spreads until it reaches all of us.
ICE says this was a “targeted operation.” But local leaders, neighbors, and Thao’s family tell a different story. One of militarized force. Of intimidation. Of a government willing to violate basic rights and call it routine.
I have lived through this terror firsthand. I know what it does to families. I know how long it takes to feel safe again, if you ever do.
That is why I am running for Congress.
No one in this country should be ripped from their home at gunpoint. No child should watch their grandfather treated like a criminal for existing. No family should be told this is acceptable. I refuse to accept this as normal.
Your contribution helps us organize, speak truth, and fight back against systems that treat people as disposable.
Together, we can build a future rooted in dignity, compassion, and justice.
With urgency,
Angela
