We take no joy in saying, and hope we are wrong, but it appears that the United States is in serious peril—perhaps greater than at any time in living memory.
We have no interest in preserving a republic that lacks a moral core. A nation that stands only for power, without a commitment to human dignity and universal rights, is not worthy of allegiance.
If we want to preserve a country grounded in justice and the value of every human life, we must act now. We cannot wait, and we cannot pretend we did not see the danger.
The recent events in Minnesota are only the latest step down a dark road we must refuse to follow. Instead, we must choose another path: solidarity over fear, love and support over anger and reaction.
There are lessons from Minneapolis—both what to emulate and what to avoid. From those lessons, we propose several guiding principles:
Trained, nonviolent observation matters. Accountability requires evidence, and evidence requires committed observers who follow a strict code: nonviolence, noninterference, and accurate reporting.
Unity and clear identity are essential. A visible, organized group that can hold itself accountable is difficult to slander, misrepresent, or isolate.
We must move from rumor-driven reaction to steady presence. Community members working in shifts to monitor specific locations can reduce fear and prevent escalation.
None of us can delegate this responsibility. Democracy depends on all of us. This work carries cost and risk, but the opposite of fear is not safety—it is courage. The greatest danger in moments like this is complacency.
We, as GR Peaceful Observers, form a coalition of willing community members committed to peaceful, transparent, unified observation and support to keep our neighbors in our community and the threat of ICE away.