Denver Mayor Mike Johnston says he’s ready to go to jail over his opposition to President-elect Trump’s mass deportation plan. He later walked back comments about a "Tiananmen Square moment" he initially predicted.
Last week, Johnston voiced his opposition to Trump’s plan to ramp up deportations of illegal immigrants. He made a striking comparison to the Tiananmen Square protests, warning of potential police deployment.
"More than us having DPD stationed at the county line to keep them out, you would have 50,000 Denverites there," Johnston said. "It’s like the Tiananmen Square moment with the rose and the gun. You’d have every one of those Highland moms who came out for the migrants."
He added, "And you do not want to mess with them."
In a later interview with 9News, Johnston softened his remarks. "Would I have taken it back if I could? Yes, I probably wouldn't have used that image," he said. "That’s the image I hope we can avoid. None of us want that."
Still, Johnston said he would protest against anything he believes is "illegal or immoral or un-American." When asked if he’d risk jail for opposing federal policies, his response was clear.
"Yeah, I’m not afraid of that, and I’m also not seeking that," he stated. "The goal is to negotiate with reasonable people to solve hard problems."
Johnston supports deportations of those convicted of serious crimes. He said Denver would work with federal officials if violent criminals were the focus.
"I think our line is clear," Johnston explained. "If you are a violent criminal committing serious crimes like murder or rape in Denver, you should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and deported. We’ve always supported that."
Democratic officials across several states have opposed Trump’s deportation plans. Governors of Illinois, Arizona, and Massachusetts have declared they won’t assist in the operations.
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs criticized the plan, calling it "misguided." She said, "As governor, I will not tolerate efforts that harm, threaten, or terrorize our communities. Arizona will not take part."
Meanwhile, some Republican states are backing the initiative. Texas has offered over 1,400 acres of land near the border to aid the effort.
"I am 100% on board with the Trump administration’s pledge to get these criminals out of our country," Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham said. "We’re happy to provide resources to facilitate these deportations."