Preparing for Peaceful Resistance: Practical Steps

By WPS News Staff
Chicago, Illinois — January 11, 2026

Two recent ICE shootings have sparked nationwide protests. On September 12, 2025, ICE agents killed 38-year-old Silverio Villegas González during a traffic stop near Chicago. Officials claimed self-defense, but questions remain about the details (Chicago Sun-Times, 2025; Wikipedia, 2026a).

On January 7, 2026, in Minneapolis, ICE fatally shot 37-year-old U.S. citizen Renee Nicole Good in her car. Authorities said she tried to harm an agent, but local officials, including Mayor Jacob Frey and Governor Tim Walz, called the shooting unjustified after reviewing video (NBC News, 2026; Wikipedia, 2026b).

Protests continue in Minneapolis, Chicago, and other cities. These are vigils for the victims and shows of community support. The message is clear: We stand together (The New York Times, 2026; MPR News, 2026).

Governor Tim Walz urges peaceful action: “Stay calm. They excel in violence. We don’t have to” (ABC News, 2026). Here are practical steps to prepare for long-term, peaceful resistance.

1. Stock Up on Food
Buy non-perishable items that last and need little cooking: canned beans, vegetables, soups, tuna, rice, pasta, oatmeal, and ramen. Plan for at least two weeks per person. If needed, delay a bill payment briefly to afford this. You can catch up later (general preparedness advice).

2. Pause Economic Participation
Once stocked, stop going to work for a set time decided with your community. This reduces spending and labor, putting real pressure on the system. Join peaceful protests if possible. Focus on unity, not confrontation. Avoid taunting officers—words rarely change minds (The New York Times, 2026).

3. A Note to Officers
Police and military: If these actions feel wrong, reconsider your role. You are Americans too. We are all in this together.

Peaceful preparation and collective withdrawal can create lasting change without more violence. Unity and self-reliance offer our best path forward.

References
ABC News. (2026, January 8). Minnesota governor says he is preparing National Guard amid furor over fatal ICE shooting. https://abcnews.go.com/US/ice-related-shooting-occurred-minnesota-governor/story?id=128984401

Chicago Sun-Times. (2025, November 17). Silverio Villegas González, killed by ICE agent in suburban Chicago, had cocaine in system, autopsy shows. https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2025/11/17/silverio-villegas-gonzalez-ice-dhs-trump-midway-blitz-shooting-homicide-franklin-park-chicago

MPR News. (2026, January 8). Identity of ICE agent who shot Minneapolis woman is confirmed, protests continue. https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/01/08/minneapolis-protests-continue-after-renee-good-shoot-and-killed-by-ice-agent

NBC News. (2026, January 8). Renee Nicole Good, woman shot by ICE officer, was out ‘caring for her neighbors,’ Minneapolis officials say. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/renee-nicole-good-minneapolis-ice-shooting-victim-caring-neighbor-rcna252901

The New York Times. (2026, January 8). Officials dispute federal account of fatal ICE encounter in Minnesota. https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01/07/us/minnesota-shooting-ice

Wikipedia. (2026a). Killing of Silverio Villegas González. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Silverio_Villegas_Gonz%C3%A1lez

Wikipedia. (2026b). Killing of Renee Good. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Renee_Good