LIVE GET ICE OUT Rally as Trump DOJ REFUSES to Investigate Alex Pretti Murder
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Protesters celebrated the departure of DHS official Greg Bovino from Minneapolis, attributing it to sustained community action.
- ❖The Department of Justice (DOJ) refused to investigate ICE agent Jonathan Ross, who killed Renee Good, and instead initiated an investigation into Renee Good and Alex Prey.
- ❖Activists called for an expanded, nationwide general strike on January 30th, urging people to withhold labor, school attendance, and shopping to 'shut it down'.
- ❖Speakers emphasized the concept of 'people power' and international solidarity, connecting local struggles in Minneapolis to global issues of repression.
- ❖Concerns were raised about ICE agents operating masked and without identification, and the politicization of law enforcement, particularly the Department of Homeland Security.
Insights
1DOJ Refusal to Investigate ICE Agent and Investigation of Victims
The Department of Justice (DOJ) shut down a civil rights investigation into ICE agent Jonathan Ross, who killed Renee Good. Instead, the DOJ decided to investigate Renee Good and Alex Prey. This decision, following the resignation of FBI agent Tracy Morgan who initiated the civil rights case, is framed by protesters as a clear sign of systemic bias and self-investigation by 'fascists'.
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2Forced Departure of DHS Official Greg Bovino
Protesters claimed a significant victory with the departure of Greg Bovino, a DHS official whose position was created by Trump to oversee deployments like the 'operation metro surge' in Minneapolis. Activists asserted that Bovino's exit was a direct result of continuous street protests and the pressure exerted by the community, demonstrating the effectiveness of 'people power'.
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3Expansion of 'Border' Definition and ICE Operations
The Trump administration redefined the 'border' to include any area within 100 miles of an airport, effectively encompassing most of the United States. This redefinition provided justification for widespread ICE deployments and operations in cities far from traditional borders, leading to increased federal presence and perceived terror in communities like Minneapolis.
4Demand for Unmasked and Identified Law Enforcement
A key demand from protesters was for federal agents to stop operating masked and without identification. This practice, observed since the start of the year in cities like Los Angeles and Minneapolis, is considered dangerous and problematic as it prevents accountability and raises concerns about the legitimacy of officers.
5Political Motivation Behind 'Ransom List' for Voter Records
Pam Bondi presented Tim Walsh with a list of demands, including the handover of voter records, seemingly unrelated to immigration enforcement. This was interpreted by a protester as a 'ruse' to gain access to election data and an 'extra form of control', exposing the 'true intentions' of the administration beyond immigration.
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Bottom Line
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Patriot Act are seen as foundational elements that enabled the current 'politicized form of law enforcement' and erosion of civil liberties, leading to the current state of federal overreach.
This perspective suggests that addressing current issues with agencies like ICE requires a re-evaluation and potential dismantling of post-9/11 security frameworks, rather than just reforming individual agencies.
Advocacy groups could focus on legislative efforts to repeal or significantly amend the Patriot Act and redefine the scope and powers of DHS, arguing that these structures inherently lead to abuses of power.
The 'ransom list' of demands from Pam Bondi, including voter records, reveals a broader agenda of control and election manipulation under the guise of immigration enforcement.
This implies that the administration's actions are not solely about immigration, but also about consolidating power and influencing democratic processes, using immigration as a pretext.
Civil rights organizations and political opposition could leverage such demands to expose alleged authoritarian tendencies and rally broader public support against the administration's actions, framing the issue as a threat to democracy itself, not just immigrant rights.
Key Concepts
People Power
The belief that collective action, organizing, and sustained protest by ordinary citizens can force concessions from powerful institutions and governments. This model emphasizes the strength derived from unity, solidarity, and the ability to disrupt normal operations through actions like general strikes.
General Strike
A tactic where a significant portion of the working population ceases work, school, and consumer activities to exert economic and social pressure on authorities, aiming to force policy changes or address grievances. The idea is to 'break the machine that profits off of our pain' by withholding labor and dollars.
Lessons
- Participate in the nationwide general strike on January 30th by not going to work, school, or shopping to exert economic pressure against ICE operations.
- Join local organizing meetings, such as those held by the Party for Socialism and Liberation, to coordinate and sustain protest efforts.
- Support mutual aid groups like 'Safe Haven' that provide essential resources (burner phones, warm clothing, food) to detainees released from ICE centers, especially in harsh weather conditions.
The 'Shut It Down' General Strike Strategy
Organize and mobilize a broad coalition of community members, students, labor unions, and faith leaders to participate in a general strike.
Withhold labor, school attendance, and consumer spending to disrupt business as usual and create economic pressure on authorities and corporations.
Maintain consistent street presence and protests to amplify demands and demonstrate 'people power', forcing dialogue and concessions from government officials.
Expand the strike geographically and temporally, encouraging nationwide solidarity actions and sustained efforts until demands, such as the abolition of ICE, are met.
Support vulnerable community members through mutual aid networks during strike actions and ongoing federal enforcement.
Notable Moments
The Minneapolis community's successful general strike on January 23rd, despite 12-degree weather, which reportedly involved 'hundreds of thousands' of people and was the first in 80 years.
This event is cited as a powerful demonstration of 'people power' and a direct cause for the subsequent departure of DHS official Greg Bovino, proving the efficacy of collective action.
The leadership of Somali and Black student unions at the University of Minnesota in calling for the extension and expansion of the general strike after the death of Alex Prey.
This highlights the critical role of youth and specific community groups in initiating and driving significant social movements, demonstrating their capacity to turn grief and rage into organized action.
The reported letter from 60 CEOs of Minnesota businesses, some working with ICE, calling for de-escalation and peace after Alex Prey's death.
This indicates that sustained protests can compel even economically vested entities to publicly address controversial government actions, suggesting a shift in corporate calculus due to public pressure.
Quotes
"We're not going to stop until we have justice for Alex, for Renee Good, until we disin these issues connect anymore. They're not going to atomize us. They're not going to isolate us. They're not going to keep us in our silos. We understand. We understand how everything connects."
"Our power comes from the fact that it's our labor that makes this country run. And our power comes not from greed or ego, but from a deep love for and a commitment to each other."
"We saw the power that we have when we act in unity. And we know that there is only one answer to this violence. Again, WE MUST EXTEND AND EXPAND THE SHUTDOWN."
"It's showing what their true intentions were all along. It's another form of control. It had nothing to do with immigration. ...the fact that they're trying to get our voter information just shows their mask is off. They're not even trying to hide how much of a fascist regime they are."
Q&A
Recent Questions
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