The most recent killing in the streets of Minneapolis— 37-year old ICU nurse Alex Pretti fatally shot ten times by Border Patrol agents—has roiled America. As with the murder of George Floyd in the same city, video played a crucial role as federal authorities attempted to deny what everyone else saw: the unnecessary death of a community member who was protecting others. With the effort to gaslight the American public failing, is a turning point upon us? Will the civic response of neighbors protecting neighbors in Minneapolis—one we have seen in Southern California as well— strengthen a movement against cruel enforcement practices and for democratic revival?

In this virtual seminar, we will bring together academics, community organizers, journalists, and movement leaders to examine what is being contested and what is at stake for the nation. Framing Minnesota not as an anomaly but as part of broader struggles over immigration enforcement, civil liberties, and collective power, this event invites a cross-sector conversation about strategy, solidarity, and reimagining just futures for communities across the U.S.