UPDATE: Since this piece was written Border Patrol shot and killed Alex Pretti, 37, as he lay pinned to the ground by a number of brown shirted “officers”. There have been many more demonstrations and community organizing callings for an end to the occupation

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Relentlessly the rain fell all day on Saturday, January 10 including during a 200 person protest against ICE in front of the John Brown Courthouse in downtown Charles Town. The crowd stood through the rain totally exposed, smiling  but stoic as hell. The ICE (Immigration Customs and Enforcement) crisis of Renee Good’s shooting death by an ICE agent  had just landed as our community was figuring out next steps after the ICE crisis at the MiDegollado Restaurant in Charles Town. At Mi Degollado ICE agents had sent customers and staff scattering with a day of business ruined.

Other businesses are being closed, ruined, family resources completely emptied.  One small businessman is barely hanging on because of ICE. Even workers with work visas and permits are afraid of coming to work.  One of his work leaders for almost 10 years was picked up by ICE, dropped off at the border, went home and was back at work in a month. But with ICE focused on West  Virginia because of our red hat maga Gov. Morrissey, the workers even with work permits are afraid to be on the streets.  The businessman said most of his immigrant workers have been with him eight to ten years. In his words: “People have settled here. They’ve created home and raised American kids. They pay taxes, go to church and are great workers. Now they’re afraid to go back and forth to work.” 

Can you imagine watching the U.S. government chase and hunt your friends and workers and destroy your company and your family’s living?  

Community leaders are working to create and streamline support for immigrants who may be vulnerable. Faith leaders are amongst those working to support immigrant working families. Folks are finding ways to communicate urgent news across towns and counties, but the protests after Renee Good’s killing have been the largest expressions of support for immigrants families and working class neighbors.

The next day, Sunday, January 11, there were three more protests against ICE (Immigration Customs & Enforcement) in our area.  The sun was in and out, no rain, but cold and windy.

About a hundred protestors gathered in downtown Martinsburg. The crowd spread out along both sides in every direction King and Queen Streets.

As we’ve done this entire last year the crowds were joyful, loud, engaging and spirited. We do our best to remain above the maga juvenile behavior. It is the most raw and on the ground democracy there is.  We are literally on the street engaging our neighbors in the greatest challenge of our lives…saving democracy.

Thirty folks gathered that Sunday in Berkeley Springs in front of the Morgan County Courthouse. They have established themselves in a  largely red area.  Every week some of them meet us in Martinsburg to protest at the offices of Senator Shelley Capito and Congressman Riley Moore. Since Renee Good’s killing they’ve been holding a vigil at 2 pm everyday. 

Dr. Eric Schwartz, one of the leaders from Hagerstown, Maryland reported: “We had roughly 80 folks. It was a quiet and reflective atmosphere. Many people were also coming by with clothing and food donations. “

The national news on ICE and their deportation activities has been beyond fast. While courts have rolled back Trump’s ability to deploy the National Guard, the administration has been deploying more and more ICE agents across the United States, across West Virginia and across the Eastern Panhandle. Ironically, more than 50% of Americans disapprove of ICE deportation behavior (Quinnipiac Poll 1/13/2026).  Deportation had been the last policy of the Trump Administration that enjoyed public support.

On January 13, CNN reported that six federal DOJ attorneys in Minnesota have resigned in protest of Trump’s pressure to protect the killer of Renee Good. 

All of us are tested in this moment that will determine whether we are free or fascist. Nobody can tell you which side you stand on, but you gotta pick a side. Then you gotta live with it the rest of your life…and eternity. 

Florence Reece was married to a coal miner and union organizer in East Kentucky in 1933 when Hitler imprisoned unions folks in Germany and American coal miners were on strike fighting for their union.

Florence Reece wrote “Which Side Are You On?”

That is the primary question–the first and most important. 

My dad was a Southern Baptist preacher. Like all of us he had flaws, but he taught me that has served as a compass:  ” Son, we’re always on the side of the underdog.” 

I believe that goes for most of us.

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Originally published in the “Spirit of Jefferson”