SignalGate and the Myth of the Peaceful ICE Protester

 From Amuse on X:

Based on what is now known, it is far more accurate to say that Alex Pretti functioned as an active participant in the ICE Watch insurgency in Minnesota. He was not a bystander. He was not merely present. He was trained, coordinated, armed, and operational. He provided actionable intelligence. He accepted assignments. He moved toward enforcement scenes in response to real time direction. And on the day of his death, he inserted himself physically into a confrontation with federal officers while carrying a loaded firearm and additional magazines, in violation of Minnesota law, after being warned by his own parents not to engage officers because of his anger.

To see this clearly, it helps to distinguish protest from direct action. Protest expresses opposition. Direct action seeks to obstruct. Protest communicates. Direct action intervenes. Protest attempts to persuade an audience. Direct action attempts to impose costs. ICE Watch was not organized around persuasion. It was organized around disruption. Its purpose was to locate, track, and interfere with immigration enforcement operations in real time.

Alex Pretti attended ICE Watch training. He participated in Signal groups used to coordinate these operations. He did not merely observe these channels. He contributed to them. He provided location updates. He responded to calls for support. He moved to spot ICE vehicles. He accepted assignments to go to enforcement scenes. That is not expressive dissent. That is operational participation. (Read more.)