LIVE STOP TRUMP’S ICE TERROR Emergency Protest After Alex Pretti Murder
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖The protest was a direct response to the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, attributed to federal agents.
- ❖Organizers are pushing for an expanded general strike, citing a previous strike that involved over 100,000 people.
- ❖A veteran witness testified that Alex Pretti was not resisting when federal agents apprehended him.
- ❖Teachers report significant student absenteeism due to fear and are demanding an eviction moratorium to support families.
- ❖Community solidarity efforts include neighborhood patrols, food delivery, and campaigns against hotels collaborating with ICE.
- ❖Protestors view federal agents' actions as a 'violent show of power' and a 'terrorist' occupation.
Insights
1General Strike as a Core Tactic
Organizers, including Nate from the Party for Socialism and Liberation and Simon from PSL, repeatedly emphasized the general strike as the most effective tool to counter federal presence. They cited a previous general strike on a Friday that involved hundreds of thousands of people, shutting down the state, as proof of its power. The call is to expand this tactic until demands are met.
Nate: 'On Friday we shut this state down. Hundreds of thousands of people in these streets here, not at work, not at school, shutting it down for the first general strike in 80 years.' () Doug: 'Over a 100,000 people in the streets walking off the job, not going to work, not shopping, not going to school. THAT IS WHAT WE NEED MORE OF.' () Simon: 'The way you defeat Trump once and for all is by shutting it down with a general strike.' ()
2Witness Testimony on Alex Pretti's Death
Doug, a veteran of the United States Army trained in counterinsurgency and detainee operations, provided a firsthand account of Alex Pretti's apprehension. He stated that from his perspective, Alex was not resisting federal agents, and what he witnessed was 'disgusting' and 'sickening.'
Doug: 'As a United States military veteran, trained... in counterinsurgency, trained in detainee operations, I can tell you from my perspective, the man Alex was not resisting.' ()
3Impact on Schools and Demand for Eviction Moratorium
John, a Minneapolis public school teacher and PSL organizer, described the severe impact of federal agent presence on schools, with only 20% of his students attending due to fear. He highlighted teachers' efforts to support families with food and demanded Governor Walls enact an eviction moratorium, as many families are facing eviction.
John: 'I'm only getting 20% of my students. Many have disappeared. Many are not coming to school at all because of the fear.' () 'The biggest thing that our families need right now is rent money... We are demanding that Governor Walls enact an eviction moratorium right now.' ()
4Community-Led Resistance and Innovation
Arouchia, Executive Director of the Sunrise Movement, detailed how the community is building a 'mass network of solidarity' through neighborhood patrols, signal chats, and campaigns targeting businesses like Hilton, Marriott, and Enterprise to stop their collaboration with ICE. She noted reports of hotels quietly ceasing collaboration and ICE agents leaving hotels due to disruption.
Arouchia: 'Every neighborhood have a thousand people patrolling the streets.' () 'We're running campaigns on Hilton and Marriott and Enterprise to stop collaborating with ICE. And it is working.' () 'We're getting reports and reports of Hilton's quietly kicking out ICE.' () 'We're getting reports of ICE leaving the hotels because they don't like getting woken up at night.' ()
Lessons
- Attend organizing meetings at University Baptist Church at 5:00 p.m. to build continuous protest structure.
- Participate in and expand the general strike by not going to work, school, or shopping to exert economic pressure.
- Support community efforts by spreading awareness, sharing information, and encouraging others to join the movement against ICE.
- Demand an eviction moratorium from Governor Walls to protect families impacted by the ongoing situation.
The 'Shut It Down' General Strike Strategy
Organize and mobilize thousands of community members for protests and marches, even in extreme weather conditions.
Implement a general strike by encouraging people to walk off jobs, not attend school, and refrain from shopping to halt economic activity.
Establish community solidarity networks, including neighborhood patrols and mutual aid, to support affected families and monitor federal agent activity.
Pressure businesses (e.g., hotels, rental car agencies) to cease collaboration with federal agencies like ICE through targeted campaigns.
Demand specific policy changes from local and state governments, such as eviction moratoriums and the removal of federal agents.
Notable Moments
Chants of 'A general strike will make them fear' and 'Down with deportation' opening the protest.
Immediately establishes the core demands and tactics of the movement.
Nate, an organizer, highlighting the success of a prior general strike involving hundreds of thousands of people.
Provides concrete evidence of the movement's capacity and validates the general strike as a viable tactic.
De's speech emphasizing unity in grief and purpose, and framing federal agents as 'federal terrorists' using fear as a weapon.
Articulates the emotional core of the protest and the strong condemnation of federal actions.
Doug, a veteran, sharing his eyewitness account of Alex Pretti's death, stating Pretti was not resisting.
Adds credibility and a powerful, specific detail to the claims of federal violence, coming from a trained military perspective.
John, a teacher, detailing student absenteeism due to fear and demanding an eviction moratorium.
Illustrates the direct, tangible impact of federal presence on daily life and the specific needs of the community.
Arouchia from the Sunrise Movement describing innovative community organizing, including patrols and campaigns against collaborating businesses.
Showcases the strategic and adaptive nature of the resistance, moving beyond traditional protest methods.
Abdul, a graphic designer, questioning why federal agents wear masks and do not identify themselves, contrasting them with border patrol.
Raises specific concerns about accountability and transparency of federal agents' operations.
Quotes
"Their deaths are at the hands of federal agents. Escalating violence in our cities have left many of us in fear, families in grief, and our community demanding for justice to be served."
"The federal terrorists occupying Minnesota are not about safety. They are not about enforcement. Theirs is a violent show of power. Fear being used as a weapon. Lives being treated as disposable."
"As a United States military veteran, trained... in counterinsurgency, trained in detainee operations, I can tell you from my perspective, the man Alex was not resisting."
"I'm only getting 20% of my students. Many have disappeared. Many are not coming to school at all because of the fear."
"We are demanding that Governor Walls enact an eviction moratorium right now."
"We're innovating every single day to build a mass network of solidarity that is literally rivaling the greatest military superpower in all of human history."
"Revolutions come when incompetent leaders overestimate their power and they unleash solidarity and courage. And that's what's happening right now."
"The model that the Twin Cities has set is that when DHS comes and tries to terrorize your community and kills your community members, we respond by shutting it down."
Q&A
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