ICE Out, Solidarity with Minnesota!
What’s happening in Minnesota is alarming to all of us who value liberty, justice, and democracy. The federal government is engaged in a targeted attack on communities in the Twin Cities area.
Three weeks ago, the horrific murder of a local Minneapolis resident and mother, Renee Nicole Good, by an ICE agent garnered national and international outrage. Due to this injustice; Organizers on the ground in Minnesota e called for a national “Day of Truth and Freedom” as they faced an expanding occupation and escalating ICE violence. Last Friday, our members and staff joined thousands of New Yorkers, including organizations and unions for an “Ice Out for Good March and Rally” in Manhattan in solidarity with Minnesota fighting back through sustained nonviolent protest, mutual aid, and creative resistance against ICE targeted attacks.
A day later, on Saturday, January 24th, a Border Patrol officer murdered Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. Alex was a VA ICU nurse, union member, and public servant who dedicated his life to caring for others. He was executed by ICE for it.
Everyday people on the ground in Minnesota are continuing to fight back against the expanding occupation and escalating ICE violence. In solidarity with Minneapolis, we’re joining VA nurses and federal workers tonight, Thursday, January 29th, at 5 pm at the Manhattan VA hospital for a candlelight vigil for Alex.
- What: Vigil for Alex Pretti
- When: Thursday, January 29th from 5-6pm
- Where: VA NY Harbor Healthcare System (423 East 23rd Street, New York, NY)
At tonight’s vigil, we will gather on the sidewalk in front of the Manhattan VA and light some candles. Please bring your own light sources if you have them already. There will be speakers from the nursing community, the VA system, the NYC immigration advocacy community, and NYC labor and more!
If you have any questions about the Vigil or the crisis unfolding in Minneapolis, please contact Melanie at melanie@katalcenter.org.
Remediation Manager Must Advance the Closure of Rikers
On Tuesday, Judge Laura Taylor Swain filed a decision in federal court to appoint Nicholas Deml as a remediation manager to take control of Rikers Island to reduce violence and address the constitutional violations. Judge Swain ordered the city and Mr. Deml to confidentially submit to the Court a report in 21 days reflecting the agreements they’ve reached.
For three years, our directly impacted members and over 100 community groups have called on the federal courts to appoint an independent receiver to improve conditions at Rikers until it is shut down. Following Tuesday’s appointment, we issued this statement in response:
“For decades, New Yorkers, including our members, have experienced the dangerous and deadly conditions at Rikers. During the previous administration, the conditions at Rikers worsened and the closure plan was abandoned. Since 2022, nearly 50 people have died in New York City jails and violence remains rampant.
As the situation at Rikers has worsened, Katal and our allies have organized across the city and rallied in front of the courts to demand intervention at Rikers. Receivership is a tool of last resort. In this instance, it is a drastic and necessary measure to save lives. The remediation manager must move swiftly and should be bound to the city’s legal mandate to shut Rikers. Anything less is unacceptable. The Mamdani Administration must also work with the remediation manager to improve conditions, save lives, reduce the jail population, and get the closure process back on track.
We thank the Legal Aid Society for their persistent work in the courtroom to secure this appointment.”
Check out this article in amNewYork about the appointment featuring a quote from our organizing director, Melanie Dominguez.
If you have any questions about the appointment of ther emediation manager at Rikers, please contact Yonah at Yonah@katalcenter.org.
February Statewide Criminal Justice Reform Call
Our next NY Statewide Criminal Justice Reform Call is Thursday, February 12th, at noon! During this statewide call, we’ll discuss the State of the State address and the Governor’s proposed executive budget. The governor’s budget did not include rollbacks to the Raise the Age law, a testament to the Raise the Age Coalition, which includes more than 220 organizations across the state. We’ll also be joined by organizers, advocates, and community members working on every aspect of justice reform in the state.
Please register for the next Statewide Call on Thursday, February 12th from 12-1pm!
If you have any questions about the statewide call or would like to be a presenter, please contact Yonah at Yonah@katalcenter.org.
Inspiring Resistance This Week
– Inspired by the anti-Nazi leaflet “10 Commandments for Danes,” here are 10 rules of resistance for #ICEOut — making their work infinitely harder, even impossible. See more details here.
– Protests continued to grow in Minneapolis after federal agents on Saturday fatally shot Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old man who was the second person to be killed in the city during demonstrations against the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. See more details here.
-On Tuesday, dozens of protesters were arrested in Manhattan for occupying a Hilton Garden Inn hotel that was housing federal immigration agents. See more details here.
For more examples of resistance, check out Choose Democracy’s Resist List!
Quotes of the Week
“Today we remember that freedom is not free, we have to work at it, nurture it, protect it, and even sacrifice for it,” – Alex Pretti in a 2024 video.
“I’m here to support our immigrant neighbors and our friends and families and people who are not deserving of what’s going on right now. It’s outrageous. We’re frustrated. We’re angry. We’re everything. And we should all be out here supporting our neighbors and getting ICE out of our city. ICE out. And we protect us, because right now that is all us. It’s all community. We are the only ones out here doing it for each other.” – Protestor on the ground in Minnesota
For printing and distribution, download the Katal Weekly Update PDF version.
Katal develops intergenerational leadership and organizing capacity to build community-based power and win systemic change for equity, health, and justice.
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Email: info@katalcenter.org
Phone: 646.875.8822.