Holocaust educator points to ‘warning signs’ in history when looking at ICE in Minnesota
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Critics — and supporters — of President Donald Trump have compared his administration’s actions to those of Nazi Germany.
In May, Gov. Tim Walz compared ICE operations to the Gestapo. Joe Rogan, an influential podcaster and a Trump supporter, brought up the Gestapo comparison on his podcast last week.
The comparison to Nazi Germany and World War II is a striking parallel to a dark time in history. Holocaust educator Kristin Thompson said history often plays an important role in understanding our society today.
“I wouldn't say that history necessarily completely repeats itself,” Thompson said. “We should be looking at warning signs. We should be learning from the past.”
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Thompson was a classroom history teacher in Redwood Falls for 20 years. She also was the education program coordinator at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. Thompson now runs her own Holocaust and human rights consulting firm.
Thompson points to several examples of similarities between the two governments.
Imagery and slogans from the federal government
Example: Homeland Security Secretary Press Conference on Jan. 8
At a recent press conference, Homeland Security Secretary stood behind a podium that said “One of Ours, All of Yours.”
History: Thompson said the slogan refers to an ideology of collective responsibility, which is something she said many authoritarians use, but is closely aligned with the Nazi party.
Thompson points to the Wannsee Conference in 1942, where 15 Nazi leaders came together to discuss the “final solution” to the Jewish question. Members of the resistance later threw a grenade at one of the Nazi leaders, Reinhard Heydrich, and he died.
“The entire town where those resistance members had parachuted in… was obliterated in retribution for that,” Thompson explained.
After the Nuremberg Trials, the ideology of collective punishment was forbidden by international law.
DHS response: DHS told the Associated Press that the slogan was a reference to the subject of the press conference: an off-duty Customs and Border Patrol officer who was shot in New York.
“He was one of our officers and all of the country's federal law enforcement officer,” the DHS spokesperson wrote in an email to the AP.
Example: Social media posts by the federal government
The Department of Labor recently posted on social media the slogan “One Homeland, One People, One Heritage.”
History: Thompson draws a comparison to a slogan from Nazi Germany “Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Fuhrer,” which translates to “One People, One Realm, One Leader.”
Example: A Department of Homeland Security social media post with the phrase ‘We’ll Have Our Home Again’ to recruit ICE agents.
History: Thompson said the phrase is from a well-known white nationalist anthem.
DHS response: DHS told the Associated Press that the recruitment ad is “a reference to 20-plus million illegal aliens invading the country. I don't know where you guys are getting this stuff. It’s absurd.”
The post was on the DHS Instagram as of Thursday at 2:30 p.m. By 4:30 p.m., it was taken down on Instagram but still appeared on Facebook.
Immigration enforcement tactics
MPR News has reported on the detainment of U.S. citizens, the detainment of immigrants with legal status to be in the U.S., ICE ramming into homes without a warrant, and detainees in Minnesota being moved to Texas within hours of arrest. ICE is also wearing face masks and driving and unmarked vehicles.
Thompson said these actions parallel the Gestapo.
“[The Gestapo] really operated outside of the judicial system, and they relied very heavily on secrecy,” she said.
‘The Nazi playbook’
When making comparisons to history, Thompson said she’s very careful.
“We all recognize that there are unique circumstances and unique entities for each event that has happened in history,” Thompson said. “There are some things that are truly unique to the Holocaust.”
With few living Holocaust survivors and World War II veterans, Thompson believes it’s up to people like her to speak up.
“When you start to see all of these pieces put together, Trump and his administration are clearly following the Nazi playbook,” she said.
The administration told the Associated Press it’s tired of criticism that its messaging is framed around white supremacy or Nazi slogans.
“It seems that the mainstream media has become a meme of their own: The deranged leftist who claims everything they dislike must be Nazi propaganda,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said. “This line of attack is boring and tired. Get a grip.”
Never again?
After the Holocaust, “Never Again” became a rallying cry in an effort for people to learn from the atrocities of the war. Thompson said just saying those words aren’t enough.
“Ever since the Holocaust ended, we've seen examples of genocide and mass atrocities around the globe,” said Thompson. “Those are difficult words to back up with actions, but that's what it demands of us — especially in the U.S., in Minnesota, in this moment.”
Thompson looks at both loud protests and quieter mutual aid as actions that she thinks could disrupt the current moment.
“Maybe we will learn from history, and maybe we can actually change the path that we are on right now,” she said.
While it is almost certain this time in Minnesota will be in the history books, it remains to be seen how it is written.
Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation with Thompson.
