​What happened to Renee Nicole Good on January 7 is scary, because it is what Rapid Response trains us to do. Don't get out of your car, don't open your door or let U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in, take videos, don't resist. This woman was doing all of that. She seemed to be trying to comply and leave the situation. So the question is, how do we respond then? What do we need to do to be as safe as possible when we bear witness? 

The laws are clear regarding unarmed civilians in a car, moving or not, but in this climate, the rule of law is not being upheld. So, how can we retain the right to resist peacefully and the right to safely live our lives? Every day, Trump creates a new diversion, whether it is murder on the seas or murder in your neighborhood. It is out of control; he is out of control. What are the rules, and how can we safely protest, in a car or not?

This Administration seems to be sending a message: If you obstruct ICE, even peaceably, you can be shot. It is intimidation at its max. Sadly, we are not safe in this USA; this is not what any of us voted for. The video of Renee Nicole Good’s murder speaks volumes. That woman could be any one of us; however, we cannot sit idle. Don't just ask, "what can we do?" Get out and do it, get involved, participate, use your outside voice, and learn to do it safely. Your freedom is at risk.

[EDITOR’S NOTE: Using fear to discourage dissent is a common tactic used by authorities, organizations, and political actors to suppress opposition and enforce conformity. This strategy can lead to widespread self-censorship and hinder critical thinking and innovation. Most disastrously, it can lead to inaction. With immigration, there are a lot of ways to get involved. It’s important to know how our community is being affected and how important it is to document what's happening. Below, the chair of the Immigration Action Group shares several action items you can use to safely fight back.]

The Immigration Action Group is seeking enthusiastic volunteers to:
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• Participate in a Know Your Rights training for allies in Port Angeles
• Host a book group with Solito, a memoir of a child's journey from El Salvador to the U.S. Solito is this year's Everybody Reads selection in Portland.
• Sign up to report immigration activity  - If you witness ICE activity, call 1-844-724-3737 – the hotline of WAISN – the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network.
• Sign up to receive text alerts on ICE activity in our area. Text WAISN to 509-300-4959. WAISN will ask your preferred language, your first name and ZIP code to sign you up for a rapid response team that goes out to document when ICE activity is reported.

To receive updates of Immigration Action Group activities, please provide your email address to Carole at [email protected].

Here are some immigration action items:

1. Deportation hotline: If you observe ICE activity, contact the Washington Immigration Solidarity Network hotline at 1-844-724-3737. ICE has already been documented boarding buses and stopping people near Sequim.
   
2. Help set up a community meeting: The Jefferson County Immigrant Rights Advocates hopes to get the Clallam County community involved and can facilitate a meeting to learn how immigrants are threatened here on the Olympic Peninsula and how we can be allies.
3. Become part of a Rapid Response network - Get trained to respond to ICE raids and support our community. Contact [email protected] for info.
4. Share Know Your Rights cards— everyone should be aware of these
   

 
With immigration, there are a lot of ways to get involved, and it's important to know how our community is being affected and how important it is to document what's happening -- for example, last week, ICE was stopping buses near 7 Cedars and plain clothes ICE were stopping people at the Sequim Walmart.