End ICE Terror
Green Bay
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Januarys are hard. This has been the hardest January of my lifetime. ICE continues to terrorize American cities. Minneapolis has been hit especially hard. We midwesterners stand in solidarity with all of Minnesota and feel deeply the loss of two Minnesotans murdered by federal ICE agents.
The murder of Alex Pretti, a VA Nurse in Minneapolis has hit Green Bay especially hard. Alex was a 2006 graduate of Green Bay Preble High School. Many in our community knew him. ICE murdered one of our own.
Today Green Bay showed up to seal the bond that will exist forever with our brothers/sisters/siblings in Minneapolis.
About 1500 folks put on their snow pants and long johns to march through downtown Green Bay. The air was frozen, but there was much warmth among us. A friend and I talked briefly about the healing power of these demonstrations. Yesterday was a hard day. Today’s gathering helps to keep us going.
Guns are a problem.
I’ve noticed a significant uptick among the anti-regime folks about carrying firearms, legally or otherwise. In part because Alex Pretti had a license to carry a concealed weapon, but this also goes back to the last round of elections. In the last days of campaign activity a candidate for a state seat suddenly had commercials of her at a shooting range enjoying her second amendment rights. It was gross. On social media I see more of my friends and acquaintances commenting that they will be carrying a weapon for protection, especially at protests.
I have no interest in debating the second amendment. I’m just tossing it out there that if there is a risk of division in our progressive movement - guns could very well be a chip in the foundation.
It makes me uncomfortable to know that folks I am standing shoulder to shoulder with could cause accidental harm - particularly because I carry a camera that could be mistaken for a gun in a heated moment and a large crowd. I’m not in favor of diving head first into the social Darwinism of who can shoot fastest.
Hugs and hi-fives to the organizers of today’s march, Green Bay Anti-War. Thanks for the hand warmers and thoughtful marshaling.
You can see more of my protest photos here:
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sad, nicely documented!