A Statement on ICE and Border Patrol Killings
It should not be a death sentence to observe and document federal abuses of power. Yet in Minneapolis, for Renee Good and Alex Pretti, it was just that.
While federal officials immediately tried to slander Good and Pretti as “domestic terrorists,” the two were just observers, monitoring ICE and Border Patrol’s abuses of power. Coming just weeks after ICE killed Keith Porter in Los Angeles and Geraldo Lunas Campos in El Paso, these are just the latest examples of the lawlessness of these federal agencies.
As an independent news media network, COURIER has reporters all across the country committed to telling the stories of their communities day in and day out, without fear or favor. Over the last year, this has included observing and documenting the human cost of ICE’s operations and the growing resistance from the American public—from protests in Minneapolis, to the detainment of a nursing student in North Carolina, to a three-year-old forced to serve as her own attorney in immigration court in Arizona.
COURIER Founder and Publisher Tara McGowan released the following statement:
“I founded COURIER to ensure the American people had access to factual, values-driven news about the people and decisions impacting their lives and to encourage increased civic participation for a stronger democracy. In the face of the Trump Administration’s relentless attacks on the press, daily barrage of blatant lies, and state-sanctioned violence—it is increasingly difficult to achieve that mission, yet has never been more essential that we do.
I am incredibly proud of our courageous team of reporters, experts, and strategists who, with full knowledge of the risks, bravely show up every day to bear witness to the horror, tell the stories of the helpers, and empower people in every corner of the country with the information they need to fight back.
As we mourn the lives already taken by ICE, we hold their memories with us in every story we write, mobilization we cover, and curtain we pull back on this violent authoritarian takeover of our government. It is time for all publishers and business leaders who care about the foundational pillars of our society and democracy to speak out against this government over-reach and stand in solidarity with those who are putting their lives on the line for their communities.”
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With nine million online subscribers, COURIER is the fastest growing social-first, independent news network delivering fact-based, values-driven reporting with a focus on people and their communities. Our 11 state newsrooms and national bureau provide timely coverage that meets audiences where they are online, offering insights on critical issues that matter to everyday Americans.
