By: Vix Burgett-Prunty
Recent reports exposing an ICE prosecutor in Dallas for ties to a white supremacist social media account have rightfully sparked outrage. The Texas Observer documented the prosecutor engaging with extremist content, including racist propaganda, yet no disciplinary action or criminal charges have followed. This lack of accountability is a glaring failure, one that underscores the systemic rot within law enforcement and the justice system.
But here’s the hard truth: Outrage alone won’t change anything. If we’re serious about justice, we need to move beyond symbolic sidewalk protests and passive social media activism. The time for half-measures is over. When those in power openly align with hate groups, our response must be proportionate. We have the numbers, the moral high ground, and even the political opening, Illinois Governor Pritzker’s recent comments endorsing mass disobedience. Now, we need the courage to act.
Why Sidewalk Protests Aren’t Enough
For too long, demonstrations against systemic racism and prosecutorial misconduct have been confined to the sidelines, literally. Marches on sidewalks, rallies in designated “free speech zones,” and carefully permitted protests have done little to disrupt the status quo. These actions are easily ignored by those in power. They don’t force the issue. They don’t demand real accountability.
Consider this: If an ICE prosecutor can openly engage with white supremacist ideologies without consequences, what does that say about the system protecting them? It means the mechanisms meant to hold bad actors accountable are broken, or worse, complicit. Polite appeals to ethics panels or letter-writing campaigns won’t cut it. History shows that progress only comes when pressure is unavoidable.
The Green Light for Mass Disobedience
Governor Pritzker’s recent remarks endorsing mass disobedience, referenced in a KSDS News, should be seen as an invitation. If the state’s leadership is openly acknowledging the power of collective action, why aren’t we using it? This isn’t about violence or destruction; it’s about leveraging our presence to make injustice impossible to ignore.
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Imagine thousands flooding the streets outside the Dallas ICE office, the Texas State Bar, or the courthouses where this prosecutor operates. Imagine traffic halted, business as usual disrupted, and cameras forced to focus on the sheer volume of people demanding change. That’s how movements win. That’s how you force investigations, resignations, and policy shifts.
The Stakes Are Too High to Stay Passive
This isn’t just about one bad actor. It’s about the countless lives impacted by prosecutors who wield their power with racial bias. It’s about immigrant families torn apart, Black and brown communities over-policed and under-protected, and a system that treats white supremacist affiliations as a personal quirk rather than a fireable offense.
If you’re worried about the risks of stepping into the street, ask yourself: What’s the greater risk? Staying silent while those in power openly embrace bigotry? Letting another generation suffer under the same broken system? The families destroyed by ICE and biased prosecutions don’t have the luxury of hesitation. Neither do we.
What Real Action Looks Like
1. Mass Mobilization
Organize and join large-scale demonstrations that can’t be ignored. Coordinate with local advocacy groups like the Texas Civil Rights Project or RAICES to amplify pressure.
2. Targeted Disruption
Peacefully but decisively occupy spaces of power, courthouses, government buildings, ICE facilities, until demands for accountability are met.
3. Legal and Political Pressure
Flood the Texas State Bar with complaints, file here: Texas State Bar Complaint Demand investigations into prosecutorial misconduct. Call local representatives daily.
File a complaint with the Texas attorney general
4. Sustained Momentum
This can’t be a one-day story. Follow up with vigils, sit-ins, and continued visibility until concrete action is taken.
The Choice Is Ours
We have the tools. We have the evidence. We even have political cover. The only question is whether we’re willing to act with the urgency this moment demands. Sidewalks won’t cut it anymore. If we want justice, we have to be willing to take up space, not just symbolically, but in ways that shake the foundations of power.
The prosecutor’s ties to white supremacy aren’t just a scandal; they’re a test. Will we respond with the same determination that has toppled oppressive systems in the past? Or will we let this slide, signaling to those in power that their bigotry has no consequences?
The streets are waiting.
Sources
1. Texas Observer: ICE Prosecutor’s White Supremacist Ties
2. KDSK News: Governor Pritzker Remarks on Mass Disobedience
3. Texas State Bar Complaint: File Here
This isn’t just a call to action. It’s a call to reckon with what we’re willing to risk for justice. The answer will define us.