# @occupydemocrats on Instagram

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DTvZ4u3kSYu
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/53973383-occupydemocrats-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/01f0ae0ddb.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-01-20T17:22:01.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Occupy Democrats (@occupydemocrats) — https://gondola.cc/occupydemocrats

## Caption

🚨 BREAKING: THIS IS WHAT “PATRIOTISM” LOOKS LIKE NOW. 🚨 #stopice 

A U.S. Army veteran. A Purple Heart recipient. A combat-wounded Iraq War hero was shoved to the ground by ICE, arrested, and thrown in a cell for 8 HOURS — not for protesting, not for interfering, but for standing on a sidewalk and watching. 🇺🇸💔

William Vermie says he was simply observing as ICE agents arrested two people when officers began shoving bystanders down the sidewalk. When he didn’t move fast enough, they shoved him — then took him to the ground, piled on top of him, and cuffed him.

From there? He was hauled to the Whipple Building — a federal holding facility — and denied access to a lawyer, denied his Miranda rights, and cut off from his family. Eight hours locked away. No call. No counsel. Just silence.

ICE offered him water and a Band-Aid.
He asked for a lawyer.
They said no.

His attorney, John Chitwood, says he waited for hours to see his client and was stonewalled — told he couldn’t meet with Vermie because Vermie hadn’t “requested him by name,” something impossible since Vermie had no way to contact anyone. Chitwood says he’s defended people accused of horrific crimes and has never seen obstruction like this.

Let that sink in.
If this is how a decorated U.S. combat veteran is treated by the federal government for merely watching, imagine how ICE treats people with less power, fewer resources, or no public sympathy.

This isn’t about immigration.
It isn’t about safety.
It’s about power, intimidation, and contempt — even for those who served this country in uniform.

For people who call themselves “patriots,” they sure seem to hate their fellow Americans.

## Stats

- **Views:** 79,186
- **Likes:** 14,597
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 992

## Tags

stopice

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