Chaplains of the Empire?

An image of him the moment he was hit has gone viral and may be one of the most iconic images of this season of government violence. In my column I warned that communities here in the Bay Area might soon see similar government violence. It didn’t take long for that to come true. 

On Thursday, Oct. 23, an interfaith vigil took place outside of Coast Guard Station Alameda before dawn. The president had ordered a “surge” of federal forces to converge on San Francisco and faith leaders organized a gathering to protest that order. When the Rev. Jorge Bautista, pastor of College Heights United Church of Christ Church in San Mateo arrived, folks were singing anthems and someone was blowing bubbles. Then, a caravan of ICE/CBP vehicles began pushing through the crowd and armed agents exited some of the vehicles and started yelling and cursing at those gathered. Bautista, worried for the crowd’s safety, dressed in his clerical garb, hoped he could talk to the agents and calm the situation. An agent pointed his gun directly at Bautista’s face and without warning fired. He was struck by a “less lethal” bullet which exploded with a noxious pepper powder. He felt like his face and neck were on fire and feared he couldn’t breathe. Friends immediately rendered first aid and he was taken to a hospital where they told him to shower to protect staff, patients and visitors from the burning powder. His wounds were treated and he was sent home. On Sunday morning the 26th I visited his church, interviewed him and stayed for the morning service. He still had a headache and I saw wounds on his chin and one side of his neck was very swollen. We talked for around 20 minutes and then headed into worship. One of the most powerful moments was during his sermon where he asked the congregation, “Are we chaplains for the empire or prophets of the resistance?” I believe that Jesus was crucified, in part, because of his role as the latter. You can see the Rev. Bautista’s sermons on the church’s website. 

For anyone who has participated in protests, including those that include civil disobedience, there’s a standard procedure for how things usually work. If authorities want you to move or leave, they let you know. Usually there are three clear warnings after which people who refuse to leave are arrested. I sat in the worship service next to a dear friend who, on the eve of the Iraq War, had been one of 100 ministers who planned to stand outside the White House, refuse to leave and be arrested. My husband and I were her “get out of jail” partners, ready to bail her out. It went exactly as expected. What happened on the road to that Coast Guard station and what ICE/CBP have been doing across the country to peaceful nonviolent protesters is completely inappropriate and, according to at least one federal judge, likely illegal. 

I asked the Rev. Bautista what he would want readers in San Mateo County to take away from what happened. I’ll paraphrase: Do you want your children, your grandchildren, the people you love to live in a country where they can peacefully protest, speak their minds, assemble in a public place, exercise free speech without fear of violence from the government? If so, no matter what your politics are, you need to tell your members of Congress, your local government, your local police that they need to protect everyone’s rights to free speech and the freedom of assembly. There is a reason those who founded our country made all that part of the First Amendment to the Constitution. When federal agents violate people’s rights, assault them or worse, they must be held accountable.

Extensive video and photography documented the Oct. 23 events on the road to the Coast Guard station and I reached out to Customs and Border Patrol to give them an opportunity to comment or be interviewed. I received no response. 

Craig Wiesner is the co-owner of Reach And Teach, a book, toy and cultural gift shop on San Carlos Avenue in San Carlos. Follow Craig: craigwiesner.bsky.social.