Government TARGETS Veteran For Facebook Post

Miami Beach police questioned a U.S. military veteran at her home over a Facebook comment criticizing the mayor, sparking outrage over government intimidation of free speech.

Story Highlights

Police visited Raquel Pacheco’s home January 12, 2026, to question her about a Facebook comment criticizing Mayor Steven Meiner
Pacheco, a veteran and former political candidate, accused Meiner of hypocrisy on Palestinian issues and LGBTQ support
Police Chief Wayne Jones defended the visit as a precautionary safety measure amid antisemitism concerns
Pacheco hired an attorney and filed public records requests to uncover the true origins of the police visit

Government Overreach Disguised as Safety Measure

Miami Beach detectives arrived at political activist Raquel Pacheco’s doorstep on January 12, 2026, to interrogate her about a Facebook comment she posted five days earlier. The comment criticized Mayor Steven Meiner’s Facebook post claiming Miami Beach as a “safe haven for everyone.” Pacheco’s response accused Meiner of calling for Palestinian deaths, attempting theater shutdowns, and refusing LGBTQ support, ending with clown emojis. This government action represents exactly the type of speech policing that patriots have warned against.

The incident began when Meiner, who is Jewish, posted content contrasting Miami Beach with New York City’s alleged promotion of boycotts against Israeli and Jewish businesses. Police claimed they reviewed Pacheco’s response “out of an abundance of caution” because it referenced an elected official. However, the First Amendment explicitly protects citizens from government interference when criticizing public officials. This fundamental constitutional principle appears lost on Miami Beach law enforcement.

Veteran Stands Ground Against Political Intimidation

Pacheco, a U.S. military veteran and former city commission and Florida Senate candidate, recorded her interaction with detectives and questioned whether she was under criminal investigation. She asserted her free speech rights during the encounter, telling officers “This is America, right?” Her military service and political experience amplify the significance of this government overreach. Veterans who served to protect constitutional freedoms should never face police questioning for exercising those very rights they defended.

Police Chief Wayne Jones issued a statement January 16 defending the visit as professional and emphasizing that no threats were found. Mayor Meiner supported the police action, calling Pacheco’s post “inflammatory” while claiming to support differing viewpoints. This contradiction reveals the dangerous precedent being set: government officials can label criticism “inflammatory” to justify police intimidation. Pacheco correctly identified this as a “slippery road” that threatens every American’s constitutional rights.

Constitutional Rights Under Attack

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression documented this case as potential government overreach for questioning a resident over critical social media posts. The detective’s statement that Pacheco’s post could “incite somebody to do something radical” demonstrates the dangerous expansion of police authority into protected political speech. No evidence suggests Pacheco’s comment contained threats or incited violence—it simply criticized an elected official’s positions using political commentary and emoji symbols.

As of January 17, 2026, Pacheco and her attorney filed public records requests to uncover the true origins of the police visit. No charges were filed, and police emphasized the encounter was “consensual.” However, the chilling effect on free speech occurs regardless of formal charges. When police arrive at citizens’ homes to question them about social media posts criticizing politicians, government intimidation has replaced constitutional protection. This incident sets a dangerous precedent that could encourage similar speech policing nationwide.