Protecting Our Community from ICE — A DEMOCRACY FORUM Event · Mobilize
Citizens won the Battle of Minnesota. In January, 3,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents invaded the Twin Cities, armed with military-grade weaponry, sophisticated surveillance technology, and an animus toward immigrants. Minnesotans resisted with whistles, cell phones, love, care, a commitment to “neighboring,” and the knowledge and skills that enabled them to overcome an assault on their city and force a humiliating MAGA withdrawal.
We will learn from that experience and build the knowledge and skills needed to respond effectively here. While a mass raid has not yet occurred in the Bay area, enforcement actions and harm to immigrant communities are ongoing and we must be ready to respond.
Participants in this Democracy Forum will build capacity to respond quickly, collectively, and effectively to ICE attacks. Attendees will connect with organizations doing this work and gain tools to respond not only to major raids, but also to everyday arrests and deportations affecting families in our communities. Strengthening these skills allows us to better support our neighbors and may deter future large-scale operations.
**What This Event Will Offer**
In this forum, experts in the immigration field will share best practices for safeguarding our communities, preventing widespread ICE surveillance, providing mutual aid, and other community organizing strategies. Presenters will cover several key topics:
- Demonstration, observation, and documentation rights
- Neighborhood organizing models
- Community mutual aid
- Rapid Response Networks
- Creating safe spaces in local businesses
- Mass surveillance and digital security, including use of automatic license plate readers (ALPRs)
- Opposing local detention centers
**Panelists and Speakers**
**Huy Tran**, Executive Director of Services, Immigration Rights and Education Network (SIREN) will moderate a panel consisting of representatives of Santa Clara County **Rapid Response Network**; **Bay Resistance**, a coalition of South Bay residents defending our communities from attacks; and **Dan Morley**, Immigration Workgroup Lead of Indivisible Tri-Valley. In addition, we will hear from residents of Minneapolis who provided mutual aid during the ICE raids.
This event will also contain breakout sessions conducted by: CSO San José, Food Not Bombs, Cardinal Courage, YUCA, SURJ and Electronic Frontier Foundation.
**Participating Organizations**
Indivisible Palo Alto Plus is hosting this event with participation by Bay Resistance, It's Blue Turn, the Rapid Response Network in Santa Clara County, and SIREN (Service, Immigrant Rights & Education Network).
**LEARN MORE, DO MORE**
“Protecting Our Communities from ICE” is the second presentation of Democracy Forum, a series of action-oriented events hosted by Indivisible Palo Alto Plus. Democracy Forum aims to provide a “deep dive” educational experience that will equip participants with the knowledge, skills, and tools that they need to preserve and strengthen the American democratic experiment.
**New to IPA+? Join us at 2:30 PM!**
If No Kings Day sparked something in you and you're wondering what comes next, we'd love to have you join us for an **Orientation + Social** event from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM, right before the DEMOCRACY FORUM event at the same location. It's a fun, welcoming introduction to Indivisible Palo Alto Plus—a chance to meet your people, figure out where you fit in, and celebrate what we've built together. No experience required. All are welcome. [Learn more and register.](https://www.mobilize.us/ipaplus/event/929922/)
TCarlson
