More than 200 attend Community Vigil for Minnesota
Last night at Farmin Park, 227 people attended the vigil for Alex Pretti, Renee Nicole Good, Geraldo Lunas Campos, and all the other people who have been shot or killed, assaulted, disappeared, or deported by ICE and the current administration.
Thank you for coming out in the frigid night (though, admittedly, no where near as frigid as what people are facing in Minnesota).
Thank you to everyone who spread the word.
Thank you to everyone who has donated to people in Minneapolis!
Thank you to organizer Rachel, who organized the entire event last night!
If you would like to join the Resistance Choir you heard singing last night, we would love to have you!
You made a difference last night for one couple from Minneapolis
By sheer chance, a couple staying in the hotel near Farmin Park walked by as we were holding our vigil. They did not know about it beforehand. They just happened to be walking past. They realized what was happening, and joined us.
After the event, they approached organizers and told us they are from Minneapolis and were in Sandpoint on a long-planned vacation. They expressed their unease and guilt about being gone from home right now. And they thanked us for being there.
There were tears. There were hugs. They told us things are much, much worse than we are seeing on the news and social media. People in Minneapolis are truly being terrorized. And they told organizers, “You have no idea what it means to us, that you are supporting us from a thousand miles away.”
We all need to remember that when we start to feel helpless and hopeless. We gave comfort to two people who will go home to Minneapolis and be able to say, “People around the country really are with us. Even in this small town in North Idaho.”
Join 1 Million Rising Monday, Jan 26, 3:00-4:30pm upstairs at Eichardts for more actions.
Jean, one our organizers, is spearheading the local group for One Million Rising. She will be leading a group today at Eichhardt’s from 3 to 4:30. She will be discussing actions we can take between protests and rallies. If you can make it, we hope to see you there!
ACTION you can take NOW: Tell Congress to rein in ICE
A broad coalition of groups across the country, including Indivisible, is demanding that Congress answer our call to get ICE Out For Good. We can’t wait around while ICE and DHS continue to harm more people. Congress MUST use the tools they have to end this lawless violence, and withhold their votes from any bill that would increase ICE’s already massive budget.
Below is an email to send to our Members of Congress. You can find their contact information here (scroll down to see United States Congressional Representatives).
Letter to Members of Congress
Dear Representative/Senator:
I urge you to refuse to vote for any appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security that fails to rein in ICE and Border Patrol and protect our communities.
The killing of Renee Good on January 7 is a devastating example of what happens when federal immigration enforcement operates without meaningful restrictions. Her death is a result of unchecked violence, impunity, and abuse carried out by federal immigration enforcement agencies that put everyday people at risk. You cannot stand by while ICE continues to harm communities across the country.
As a member of Congress, you have the power to limit the administration’s abuse of power by:
- Refusing to vote for any FY2026 appropriations bill that includes increased funding for ICE or Border Patrol, including funds for detention.
- Refusing to vote for any appropriations bill for DHS unless it:
- Strengthens restrictions on ICE and Border Patrol’s ability to conduct dragnet arrest operations and target people based on their race, language or accent, place of employment, or location at the time of the apprehension;
- Ends Border Patrol deployment to our cities and rejects its ever-expanding mandate in immigration enforcement; and
- Limits DHS’s reprogramming and transfer authority, including specifically preventing reprogramming and transferring funds for detention.
Every member of Congress must insist on real limits and accountability before any funding is approved. I hope to see you standing up for the safety, dignity, and rights of all people in our communities.
Next Big Action
National Organizers have not officially announced the next action yet. But as always, we will keep you posted!
THANK YOU.
Thank you AGAIN to everyone who volunteers, donates, and participates in whichever way you can. We organizers appreciate you more than we can say!
See you next time!
I shortened it to fit the max characters allowed in their email. Feel Free to copy & paste.
Dear Sir,
I urge you to refuse to vote for any appropriations bill for the DHS that fails to rein in ICE and Border Patrol and protect our communities.
The killing of Renee Good and Alex Pretti is a devastating example when federal immigration enforcement operates without meaningful restrictions. Their deaths are a result of unchecked violence, impunity, and abuse carried out by federal immigration enforcement agencies that put everyday people at risk. You cannot stand by while ICE continues to harm communities across the country.
As a member of Congress, you have the power to limit the administration’s abuse of power by:
Refusing to vote for any FY2026 appropriations bill that includes increased funding for ICE or Border Patrol, including funds for detention.
Refusing to vote for any appropriations bill for DHS unless it:
Strengthens restrictions on ICE and Border Patrol’s ability to conduct dragnet arrest operations and target people based on their race, language or accent, place of employment, or location at the time of the apprehension;
Ends Border Patrol deployment to our cities and rejects its ever-expanding mandate in immigration enforcement; and
Limits DHS’s reprogramming and transfer authority, including specifically preventing reprogramming and transferring funds for detention.
Every member of Congress must insist on real limits and accountability before any funding is approved. I hope to see you standing up for the safety, dignity, and rights of all people.