Late last week, less than two miles from where Renee Good lost her life at the hands of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer earlier this month, intensive care unit nurse Alex Pretti was killed in the same way. Both videos left me feeling sick to my stomach. What was even more sick was the response from top Trump administration officials, who dubbed Good a domestic terrorist before an investigation had even taken place.
Similar statements have been made regarding Pretti, with top Border Patrol officials stating that he purposefully put himself in the way of the officers. When I watch the video of the altercation, that is not at all what I see. I see a man trying to protect a woman who was shoved, who was then pushed to the ground, pistol whipped and shot at close range. This is unacceptable, and more people should not have to die at the hands of ICE officers for the occupation of Minneapolis to stop.
Pretti had a firearm on his person, which many — including President Trump — have cited as justification for his killing. However, Pretti had a permit to carry and was clearly disarmed before he was shot. He was killed while exercising his First Amendment right to peaceful protest, and that should concern us all.
While Trump initially said Good’s “disrespectful” attitude may have played a role in the shooting, he has since pivoted to calling it a “tragedy.” This shift comes after finding out that Good’s father has been described as a “tremendous Trump fan.” When government officials are telling people what to see — and our president is seemingly changing his stance on the value of a person’s life based on the political beliefs of surviving family members — we have a big problem.
What’s happening right now in the city of Minneapolis is unprecedented. We must be aware that something similar could happen in Philadelphia. In the wake of these deaths, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and others have said that they will arrest ICE agents who violate the law, and that they will not allow ICE to move unregulated throughout the city. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has condemned ICE’s actions as well.
But regardless of what state and local leaders call for, we exist in a world where the Trump administration will test the limits of its power, and of democracy more broadly. When officials twist the facts to support their policies, prohibit local law enforcement from investigating these deaths, and insist that this level of brutality is necessary, we all need to pay attention and speak out. I am scared, but fear will not help keep me or the people I care about safe.
It is more important than ever to know your rights. Philadelphia has been offering “ICE Out” trainings that cover how to engage with ICE and what to do if you are asked about someone’s citizenship status. Something notable from these training sessions is the 5 D’s — Direct, Delegate, Delay, Distract, and Document. In the event that Philadelphia does become one of the cities targeted by ICE, I implore Penn to take a stand for students and offer training and campus-wide resources to educate and protect all students and community members.
College campuses should be places of dialogue, as we are not exempt from problems affecting our communities and our country. Over my years as a columnist at The Daily Pennsylvanian, I have consistently written about political decisions that impact students and the broader campus community, and it is times like these that should bring us together.
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We must share our voices and stand up in the face of injustice, and I ask you to be thoughtful in how you address these issues. As a citizen, I have privileges that others do not, and because of that, I feel a duty to speak for communities that could face brutality if they spoke up themselves. Advocate for your fellow students and friends, know your rights, and stay aware.
MIA VESELY is a College senior studying philosophy, politics, and economics from Phoenix. Her email is mvesely@sas.upenn.edu.
