Remember and resist

(This past Saturday evening, Indivisible of Newark, DE hosted a protest and vigil in memory of Alex Pretti. I was asked to share some remarks.)

Photo of the back of a crowd in Newark, Delaware dressed for the cold, some holding candles, protest signs, and American flags. One sign reads "They shot Alex in the back".  Time of day is sunset. Photo by Ken Grant.

Did you hear that for the Super Bowl, Lady Gaga has recorded Mr. Roger’s theme song “Won’t You Be My Neighbor”? It’s a lovely rendition. She sings it sweet and gentle and then strong, like neighbors standing shoulder to shoulder. Like neighbors blowing whistles. Like neighbors bringing food to those who are afraid to leave their homes. Like neighbors contributing to mutual aid funds.



Recently in The Atlantic magazine, there was an article about how the government and DHS have underestimated Minnesota and the people of Minneapolis. “It is Minnesotans who are brave, whose community is socially cohesive because of their diversity and not in spite of it.” They didn’t count on the power of neighbors, “a real resistance, broad and organized and overwhelmingly nonviolent”. They are showing up for each other in the tens of thousands. For the most part, they’re not activists but ordinary people. I find that incredibly powerful.



In the past couple of weeks since the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, despite the winter cold, the temperature has been rising at our protests. Our anger, grief, and fear are written on our protest signs, but so is our hope. My sign reads “Love your neighbor makes America safer.” The other side reads “The children are always ours. Every single one of them.”



It’s important to remember what we want to build even as we’re trying to tear down what is harmful. It used to be that we tried to preserve what good there was, but we’re beginning to see just how deep and thorough the rot is. Before Renee and Alex, there was Keith Porter and at least 37 other people from places like Honduras, Ukraine, Ethiopia, Columbia, Mexico, Cuba, and Haiti as well as naturalized citizens. Only now that law enforcement is killing White people with impunity do we see privilege coming to the streets in numbers, but our Black, brown, and Indigenous neighbors will tell you that they have been dealing with this kind of violence for centuries. Do we understand now why Black Lives Matter? Do we understand now what Martin Niemoller meant when he wrote “First they came for…”? When the state comes for ANYONE, that’s when we’re supposed to show up. Their freedom is our freedom too. That’s what it means to be a neighbor.



But we don’t have to wait to build until we tear down. In fact, the good folks of Minnesota already know that. We are doing this too but we need to do more of the same thing here in Newark. Build networks of neighbors, people who have each other’s backs, ready to do what’s needed, united by a simple truth: we are all human. Neighbor needs to be our word for 2026.



I think one of the best forms of nonviolent resistance is building what you want even while the thing you vehemently oppose is still present. The most beautiful day to love our neighbor is today.



It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood,
A beautiful day for a neighbor.
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?

It’s a neighborly day in this beauty wood,
A neighborly day for a beauty,
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?

I have always wanted to have a neighbor just like you,
I’ve always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you.
So let’s make the most of this beautiful day,
Since we’re together we might as well say,
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?
Won’t you be my neighbor?

Won’t you please,
Won’t you please?
Please won’t you be my neighbor?