We got taste of Kristallnacht in Chicago last week. So much for Fourth Amendment | Opinion
Chicago’s Kristallnacht
November 9-10, 1938, marked a massive rampage by Nazi paramilitary forces against German Jews. Jewish homes, hospitals and schools were demolished, while German authorities looked on without interfering. Historians view Kristallnacht as a prelude to the “final solution” and the murder of six million Jews during the Holocaust.
At 1:00 am on September 30, 2025, 300 U.S. federal agents armed with military-style weapons rappelled from Black Hawk helicopters, their faces hidden behind masks, to storm a five-story apartment building in South Side, Chicago. Without identifying themselves, they bashed in doors of apartments, dragging people out into the darkness. No arrest warrants shown. No search warrants shown. Thirty-seven people were arrested.
“Imagine being a child awakened in the middle of the night by a Black Hawk helicopter landing in your neighborhood. Imagine an armed stranger forcibly removing you from your bed, zip-tying your hands, separating you from your family, and detaining you in a dark van for hours,” Illinois Governor Pritzker said in a statement blasting the use of military-style tactics on children. “
Is this prelude for what’s to come in the US in 2025? Where are the public officials who swore to uphold the US Constitution?
Marilyn S. Daniel, Versailles
The Fourth Amendment
After the recent unwarranted searches and seizures, i.e., without arrest or search warrants, by a gang of ICE agents a few days ago at a Chicago Housing Authority complex, the homes of several hundred families, arresting several hundred citizens and searching their units, it is time to reflect upon the precise wording of the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated and no warrant shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation and particularly describing the place to be searched and person to be seized.”
This means ICE needed a search warrant (issued by a judge and supported by facts known and recited under oath) for each unit of each building to be searched and an arrest warrant for each individual to be arrested before invading the units, which by the way, was forcefully done in the dark of night.
The 4th Amendment is a restriction on the abuse of the power of the federal government in favor of the individual. My grandkids live in Chicago! Wake Up America!
D. Craig Dance, Lexington
Football shutdown
So good to hear U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is advocating for kids by urgently appealing to minimize the impact of the government shutdown (of which he is complacent) on high school football and extracurricular programs at military facilities.
Sure wish he saw similar urgency with assuring that programs providing for Kentucky kids’ and families’ access to health care, mental health care, domestic violence intervention, food security and other vital needs are supported.
Susan Slade, Lexington
White House renter
I am having trouble with a renter and thought perhaps you could help me. A beautiful historic home was rented to this person with the understanding that it was for a limited time. He immediately started defacing the property and making changes without asking permission. First, he took gold spray paint and painted over many things in the office, making it look very tacky. Then he removed art work that he did not like. He destroyed the landscaping by digging up the garden and pouring cement all over the area. Now he is building a huge monstrosity of a building without asking the owners or getting a building permit. God only knows what kind of illegal and immoral things are going on behind closed doors.
Can we sue? This is OUR house. It does not belong to President Donald Trump, and he had no right to make those changes. What is next if he is not stopped? A golf course on the south lawn where he charges players? Trump is making a mockery of our Constitution and the very symbol of our nation. How much more damage is he going to cause?
Catherine Ferguson, Lexington
Breckinridge saw the need for compromise
Sometimes I wish the people of Gaza had someone like John C. Breckinridge of Kentucky. History tells us that Breckinridge was one of the proverbial “adults in the room” at the end of U.S. Civil War in 1865. He sensibly recognized, unlike some other Confederate government officials, that it was time to end the war.The Fourth Amendment
So, he visited General Robert E. Lee in Virginia and General Joseph Johnston in North Carolina and gave both his political authorization to surrender their armies and go home in peace. His word made a difference because he was the Confederacy’s Secretary of War at that point.
By stark contrast, Jefferson Davis, the Confederacy’s President, was urging the soon to be Ex-Confederates to reorganize into bands of guerrillas and continue fighting. Apparently, Davis didn’t see what Breckinridge could.
As for the present war in Gaza, I believe History will see that Hamas has entirely lacked the military capability to win since Israel’s defeat of Iran last June and Hezbollah in Lebanon before that. Their military allies are gone.
Hamas could have surrendered their weapons, but they didn’t. It appears their rationale for war is more like the blind rage of Davis than Breckinridge’s sensibility.
Tom Louderback, Louisville
Business red tape
Lexington makes small business hard.
Two months. That’s how long it’s taken me to try opening a small garage gym. Not a mall. Not a development — just a place to train friends and neighbors.
Instead of help, I ran into bureaucracy: multiple forms, unclear instructions, and unanswered calls. Five days in a row, the Senior Planner didn’t pick up. When I sent a document, it was rejected because they “couldn’t open the file” — forcing me to resend in a different format.
Even more absurd, I’m told I cannot use more than 300 square feet of my own home for my business. Some required info — property lines and deeds — was already in city databases, yet I had to dig it up myself.
All this for a simple garage gym. These overbearing, unnecessary rules waste time, energy, and money, and block small, community-minded businesses from growing.
Lexington must streamline the process, issue clear instructions, scale requirements to project size, and hold staff accountable. Two months in, I’m still waiting. The entrepreneurial spirit of our city shouldn’t have to wait this long — and neither should its residents.
William Copper, Lexington
Stuttering help
Your article “Former UK star returns to Lexington for events to help people who stutter” about former UK and NBA star Michael Kidd-Gilchrist really made me feel good. I have had issues with stuttering during my lifetime, and view Kidd-Gilchrist’s activist crusade to get legislation passed to require insurance to cover speech therapy for children as heroic. He is not going to stop until he gets the legislation passed in all 50 states.
Early intervention with speech therapy is key to helping children, and that is what Kidd-Gilchrist’s proposed legislation seeks to address. I would like to point out that there are also many free resources for parents of children who stutter on the website of the nonprofit Stuttering Foundation (www.StutteringHelp.org) such as e-books and streaming videos.
Mr. Kidd-Gilchrist could not have picked a better name for his organization than Change & Impact, Inc. because he is making great changes that will have positive impacts on the lives of countless children. His one-man crusade to get legislation passed in states is not only a glaring example of how democracy works, but underscores how one person can have such a broad impact.
Ed DePhillips, Jersey City, NJ
Health threat
Nebraska has just confirmed its first case of bird flu in dairy cattle, joining a growing list of states facing this crisis. Officials will talk about “biosecurity,” but the real problem is the system itself. When we force animals into confinement, strip them of natural lives, and exploit them for milk, meat, or eggs, we create the perfect conditions for viruses to spread and mutate.
This is not just an animal issue—it’s a public health threat. Instead of asking how to better manage industrialized animal use, we should be asking why we are still doing it at all.
We don’t need to consume animals to thrive. Shifting toward plant-based food systems is the only real way to protect animals, the environment, and ourselves.
Lyle Rutter, Louisville
FCPS spending
Do people want to change?
There is so much corruption at all levels of elected government! Big money is growing in power. Sadly, it is controlling our elections.
School boards are elected, and the members selected to represent the people who want to control the financial resources of county schools.
Most teachers are honestly concerned about education and our kids, yet a few are more interested in climbing the ladder to greater power, status, money, or all three.
Much worse, there is seldom independent auditing!
There may be a current Republican State Auditor investigation ongoing. I am glad, but it may be orchestrated to increase their power or for other sinister reasons.
Oh yes, political parties are also involved, even in controlling school boards.
The school systems in some Kentucky counties have been or are the biggest employers in towns. Most teachers are sincerely working to educate our children, yet some are not.
Don B Pratt, Lexington
Historic neighborhood
Ironic that as we celebrate Lexington’s 250th birthday we are destroying a historic neighborhood on E. Maxwell.
Howard Stovall, Lexington
Presidential souvenirs
The Trump Presidential Library has been announced which offers some interesting exhibit possibilities.
From the first term we could have the cages used for migrant children, which could be an interactive exhibit. If toddlers get too rowdy, they could be locked up for an hour or so while Mom and Dad continue to enjoy the museum. Of course, Melania’s “I Really Don’t Care Do You?” jacket should be prominently displayed.
While the second term is just getting started, there are some things that could be offered in the gift shop. Perhaps a T-shirt with warrior Trump on the front and on the back a list of cities on the occupation/revenge tour. How about a gold-plated Sharpie pen wrapped with Trump’s signature.? And of course, a handsomely framed copy of the executive order of your choice.
You’ll be the envy of friends and family when they see the January 6 pardons hanging on your wall.
Jay Hopkins, Frankfort
Paul’s Newsletter
In his recent newsletter U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., stated that the “hard left” is to blame for the government shutdown because the “hard left” wants to give health care to “illegal immigrants.” He also stated that it’s the “hard left” policies that will increase the deficit. He knows that all of these claims are blatant lies.
Why is Paul lying to his constituents? Everyone knows that the GOP is in full control of the federal government, and the shutdown falls almost entirely on their shoulders. Everyone should know that Trump-GOP policies have blown up the national debt far beyond the Biden and Obama administrations and will continue to increase it; that “illegal immigrants” do NOT receive government-funded health care; and that the GOP would rather give Argentina $20 billion than keep health care affordable for millions of Americans.
Paul’s falsehoods don’t cover or excuse GOP failure. He needs to speak the truth and look out for the American people rather than propagate the canned lies of his party. Perhaps the Ten Commandments should be hung in every congressional office. Better yet, every Congress member should actually abide by them, including Sen. Paul.
Beverly C. Johnson-Miller, Lexington
Edited by Liz Carey