In Rules For Radicals, Saul Alinsky observed that it’s okay to go to jail but not to stay too long.
Over the years, radical activists have adopted Alinsky’s disruptive tactics again and again to paralyze local government, and many are quite willing to do some jail time. Al Shanker, head of the American Federation of Teachers, made his career by being jailed for promoting New York City’s illegal teachers’ strike in 1968. Incarceration converts irritating protesters into martyrs.
Today, some Americans oppose President Trump’s efforts to stop illegal immigration. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy seemed to be flirting with martyrdom when he vowed that the Garden State would “fight to the death” to oppose Trump’s effort to deport foreign criminals.
A few deportation opponents have gone so far as to aid immigrant felons in evading the police, which is a federal crime. Perhaps they believe they can thwart law enforcement officers with impunity.
These folks should go to jail, and they need to stay in jail long enough to dissolve any delusion that they’re martyrs.
I’m not arguing for long prison sentences. Indeed, they shouldn’t be imprisoned for as long as the nonviolent January 6th protesters. Nevertheless, they should sit in the cooler long enough to dissolve any romantic notion that they are the spiritual kin of Mahatma Gandhi.
And they should do their time with the general jail population and suffer the same daily indignities. Pro-life activists who went to prison for protesting at abortion clinics report that they were deprived of toilet paper when they were in the slammer.
Governor Murphy, take note. If your opposition to Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration goes beyond bombastic rhetoric and you actually help felons evade the police, you should spend some time behind bars. Should this occur, remember to bring your toothbrush and some toilet paper.
 |
| Governor Murphy, don’t forget to bring some Charmin! |
