Sign up for our newsletter.

Quality journalism. Progressive values. Direct to your inbox.

Follow us:

Imagine a world in which independent media is gone...

And the only sources of news are controlled by a handful of giant corporations and oligarchs. It's not some far away dystopia. It's happening now.

Don't let it. Our reader-funded news model relies on you. Please chip in—nonprofit journalism is essential to the survival of democracy.

To donate by check, phone, or other method, see our More Ways to Give page.

To donate by check, phone, or other method, see our More Ways to Give page.

Corporate gatekeepers and big tech monopolists are making it more difficult than ever for independent media to survive. Please chip in today.

To donate by check, phone, or other method, see our More Ways to Give page.

Ron Colburn, president of the Border Patrol Foundation and former national deputy chief of the CBP, appeared on Fox & Friends Monday morning and claimed that pepper spray is so harmless you could "put it on your nachos" and eat it. (Screenshot: Fox News)

Shooting Pepper Spray at Children Okay, Former CBP Deputy Chief Tells Fox News, Because 'You Could Actually Put It on Your Nachos and Eat It'

"The layers of racism encapsulated in this short clip is extraordinary."

Common Dreams staff

Amid widespread outrage and condemnation over the tear gassing of mothers, their children, and other asylum seekers and migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border on Sunday, Ronald Colburn, president of the Border Patrol Foundation and former national deputy chief of the CBP, appeared on Fox & Friends Monday morning and claimed the gas—which reports said led to children "screaming and coughing in the mayhem" that resulted from it—was really just a "natural" product and "you actually could put it on your nachos and eat it."

As one observer put it, the stupidity of Colburn's statement has to be seen to be believed:

The outrageous claim and inhumanity of its implications did not go over well:

Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Comments

We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.

To donate by check, phone, or other method, see our More Ways to Give page.

Latest News

See all
Water tanks at Fukushima

Plan to Discharge Fukushima Water Into Pacific Gets OK From Regulators

The discharge could release a number of radioactive isotopes into the Pacific Ocean, critics say.

Julia Conley ·

A fire is seen in India

Stockholm Institute Says World Is at a 'Boiling Point' as Climate Crisis and War Rage

"The natural systems that support life on Earth have been breached, and the human systems remain plagued by inequalities."

Jake Johnson ·

Ocean Rebellion staged a theatrical action with a Boris Johnson head and an "Oil head" burning a boat on Marazion beach on June 5, 2021 in Cornwall, United Kingdom. (Photo: Gav Goulder/In Pictures via Getty Images)

Urging Renewable Transition, UN Chief Says Humanity Set to 'Incinerate Our Only Home'

"If we act together, the renewable energy transformation can be the peace project of the 21st century," said U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres.

Andrea Germanos ·

Oregon state Rep. Andrea Salinas, who is poised to win the Democratic primary for her state's 6th U.S. House District, speaks with potential voters on May 11, 2022.

Big Wins, Tough Losses in Key Progressive Primary Fights

Tuesday's flurry of progressive victories, said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, demonstrates the growing strength of the left's electoral movement.

Kenny Stancil ·

Summer Lee attends an election event

Progressive Summer Lee Declares Victory With Slim Margin in PA Primary

"The people took on the corporations and the people won," Lee said in a statement.

Jake Johnson ·

Common Dreams Logo

To donate by check, phone, or other method, see our More Ways to Give page.