All of us were shaken by the killing of Alex Pretti, who was shot by a U.S. Border Patrol agent during a federal operation in south Minneapolis. What the public saw on video stands in stark contrast to what authorities later claimed: Alex was not a threat, and the justification offered afterward does not withstand scrutiny. This was an unjust killing carried out by armed agents who faced no immediate danger, and it represents a broader pattern of unchecked state violence. Alex’s death has become a rallying point for grief, rage, and a collective refusal to accept lies in place of accountability.
The U.S. Senate is poised to take up a major government funding package on Tuesday that includes Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding, and Democrats are threatening to block it unless changes are made. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and several Democratic senators have publicly said they will not vote for the funding bill as it currently stands because it includes billions in DHS money, including for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in the wake of recent fatal shootings by federal agents. This stand increases the chances of a partial government shutdown by the end of the week unless DHS funding is altered or separated from the broader appropriations package.
ACTION 1:
Flood the phone lines and emails to Senators and tell them NO more funding for DHS.
Script:
Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a constituent from [Your City, State].
I’m calling to urge Senator [Name] to refuse to vote for any appropriations bill funding the Department of Homeland Security that fails to rein in ICE.
The killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti and are part of a broader pattern of unchecked violence, impunity, and abuse carried out by federal immigration enforcement agencies against our communities.
We can’t wait around while ICE harms more people. Senator [NAME] must push for an appropriations bill that puts serious restrictions on ICE, ends its dragnet raids, and doesn’t add a penny to its already bloated budget.
Send an email HERE
ACTION 2:
I just learned in a meeting that Governor Healey is getting more Pro-ICE calls than anti-ICE calls. Please call Healey’s office and tell her to get ICE out of Massachusetts before someone here gets killed.
Constituent Services Main Office (617) 725-4005
Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Toll-free in Massachusetts (888) 870-7770
As activists, we must honor Alex Pretti’s life by moving forward with intention rather than fear. Being prepared means staying informed, knowing our rights, and looking out for one another at all times. It means organizing nonviolently, documenting interactions when safe to do so, participating in legal observer and de-escalation trainings, and ensuring that protests and community actions have clear plans for communication, medical support, and accountability. Most of all, it means building stronger networks of care—checking in on our communities, supporting those most impacted, and remaining grounded in the values of justice, dignity, and collective protection as we continue to demand transparency and change. Because of the George Floyd murder, Minneapolis was ready and well trained for what’s happening now – let’s be ready!
TRAININGS:
Ice Out Nonviolent Action Training
The regime is escalating violence and lawlessness through ICE abductions and killings, international aggression, and open defiance of Congress, including the refusal to release the Epstein files.
Our movement must get stronger together to meet this moment. Join The Women’s March for a national Action Training — a coordinated and interactive training to establish what Nonviolent Direct Action means and looks like in practice, then build the skills we need right now, including:
~ Making Political Violence Backfire
~ Women’s Protection + Safety Teams
~ Mutual Aid
~ Corporate Accountability
Tonight January 26 – 7:30 pm, Register HERE
Eyes on Ice: Document and Record
Enough is enough. Exercising our Constitutional right to document and record ICE and other federal agents is more important than ever.
This call will give you the tools to exercise your rights in a moment when federal agents are terrorizing our communities and using excessive force.
The call will cover the latest updates on ICE and CBP’s out-of-control and dangerous operations. Call leaders will talk through rights when documenting and recording law enforcement encounters, and how you can continue to take action.
Tonight, January 26 – 8:00 pm, Register HERE
Solidarity Mobilizations Training: ICE Out of Minnesota and Out of Everywhere (SURJ)
Join SURJ and our immigrant partner organization, Solidarity Organizing Initiative, for a training on organizing locally and being ready if ICE comes to your community. No experience is necessary—anyone who wants to take practical steps to build neighborhood-level power is welcome. We’ll share lessons from Minneapolis, where communities organized at the neighborhood level—parents coordinating school drop-off patrols, neighbors looking out for one another, and networks ready to mobilize when ICE showed up. Minneapolis showed what’s possible when communities are organized and now we’ll explore how to start that same groundwork where you live. Step by step, we’ll explore how to get to know your neighbors, build trust, and prepare to act together if ICE comes to your town.
Tuesday, January 27 – 8:00 pm, Register HERE
Escalated Risk at Street Actions — Preparing for Higher Risk Street Actions
This training will help participants prepare for street actions that may involve state-sponsored violence and the use of chemical weapons against civilians. Topics will include self-regulation and personal risk assessment, de-escalating fellow participants, and first aid for chemical weapons exposure. (with the Boston Trainers Collective)
Wednesday, January 28 – 7:00 pm – Register HERE
Friday, January 30 – 7:00 pm, Register HERE
Movement Building & Long-Term Resilience — Hunker Down and Level Up!
In the face of increasing authoritarianism, this workshop will provide a framework for cultivating readiness and resilience as foundations for long-term resistance, personal and collective care, and preparedness for other challenges that lie ahead. Participants will leave with concrete steps for building personal, household, community, and organizational resilience and strengthening our movement to build a democracy that works for everyone. (with the Boston Trainers Collective)
Tuesday, January 27- 7:00 pm, Register HERE
Thursday, January 29 – 7:00 pm, Register HERE
Worcester Indivisible Marshal Training
Whether you’re brand new to nonviolent direct action or just want to brush up on your skills, this session will cover both NVDA essentials and marshal techniques — open to anyone ready to learn and support actions in any role.
We’ll cover: What is NVDA [Non-Violent Direct Action] What a marshal is and why they matter How to cork intersections and control flow Leapfrogging techniques to support mobile protests/marches De-escalation tips and safety awareness Signal App 101 for secure group communication How to support accessibility and inclusion on the ground And most importantly — how to keep each other safe while standing up for justice.
Tuesday February 3 – 7:00 pm, Register HERE
