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FIRST ON FOX: A community college professor in Kansas has stirred significant controversy by advocating for the doxxing of ICE agents and encouraging community interference with their operations, as revealed by an audit of his social media account.
Steve Werkmeister, an English professor at Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kansas, openly expresses his controversial views on social media platforms. Using the handle swerkmeister.bsky.social on Bluesky, a platform that leans left, he describes himself as a “slacker” and promotes various far-left ideologies.
On a recent Monday, Werkmeister reposted a flyer from a left-wing advocacy group instructing anti-ICE advocates on how to disrupt ICE operations by using whistles. The flyer encourages individuals to sound whistles when ICE agents are nearby, claiming this enables people to follow ICE caravans, alert neighbors to join in, and “catch up with the crowd.” Such tactics raise alarm for those concerned about the safety and legality of protesting against federal enforcement actions.
In addition to sharing the flyer, Werkmeister echoed sentiments from John Pavlovitz, a known activist, who urged individuals to publicly expose family members employed by ICE. Pavlovitz’s post stated, “Good people need to start outing their ICE family members, neighbors, and community members. They need to be made into pariahs in the places decent Americans gather.” This provocative rhetoric has amplified calls for community action against federal agents.
On several occasions, Werkmeister has referred to federal immigration enforcement as “kidnapping.” He also expresses anxiety regarding the possibility of being targeted by ICE due to his family’s ethnic background. In a post detailing his concerns, he mentioned communicating with Johnson County Community College staff about potentially teaching online from abroad due to fears for his family’s safety.
In his own words, he stated, “I’ve talked to our chair and the college president to see if I can just move online and teach from a safe location overseas (my family and I can be kidnapped by the government at any time since our skin is brown), and so far they’re compassionately noncommittal (lots of empty phrases).” This statement highlights his deep-seated fears and the perceived threat posed by federal immigration enforcement.
Werkmeister’s comments echo a broader trend seen among some academics, exemplified by Mark Bray, a Rutgers University professor who fled to Spain after heightened scrutiny of Antifa by political leadership. Such movements have intensified discussions around the perceived risks faced by those voicing dissent against government policies.
In a prior post detailing re-entry into the United States, Werkmeister shared his anxiety about potential interaction with immigration authorities. He said, “Even though our citizenship is beyond question in any normal, legal sense, we’re brown, so I texted my family as soon as we landed and told them I’d text again once we got past customs. If they didn’t get the second text, they’d know we were detained and needed lawyers right away.” This illustrates the level of fear influencing his actions and the realities that some individuals feel they face, related to their ethnic backgrounds.
Werkmeister’s observations extend to his views on societal dynamics, particularly regarding race. He expresses bitterness towards White individuals, suggesting that they contribute to an environment of fear for people of color. In a post from June, he stated, “It’s tough to live with the knowledge that whenever I go to the store, or to my office, or out for a walk, or anywhere really, packs of white ‘Americans’ are out hunting and kidnapping people who look like me. It’s psychological terrorism for the crime of being born brown in America.” Such statements indicate a profound sense of victimization that he associates with racial dynamics in the United States.
Furthermore, Werkmeister contends that White individuals wish to re-establish historical hierarchies, asserting, “Mediocre white males realized they can’t compete on a more level playing field, so they need to force women back into the kitchen and black and brown folks back to the fields. They’ve had others carry them for 500 years, and they can’t ‘win’ without white privilege.” This rhetoric not only reflects his views on contemporary racial issues but also indicates a broader cultural narrative he believes is at play.
The response from Johnson County Community College has been somewhat measured. A spokesperson for the institution stated, “JCCC is an open dialog institution, and the values of Johnson County Community College is something we hold true for all.” This reply appears neutral, likely aiming to navigate the heightened sensitivity surrounding Werkmeister’s comments while maintaining the institution’s commitment to open dialogue.
Despite numerous inquiries, Werkmeister has not provided any comments regarding the growing controversy surrounding his social media activities. His stance raises pressing questions about the role of educators in public discourse, the responsibilities of educational institutions in addressing controversial viewpoints, and the escalating tensions surrounding immigration in the United States.
The ongoing debates surrounding ICE operations and their public scrutiny through various means highlight an escalating conflict within American society. Opinions vary dramatically on the appropriate responses to federal immigration enforcement, and perspectives like those of Werkmeister contribute to an evolving dialogue in which the personal and political intersect.
As this controversy unfolds, further developments around Werkmeister’s advocacy and the reactions from both the public and the academic community will likely continue to draw attention and provoke discussion on critical issues related to race, immigration, and free speech.
