Will Stancil

whstancil.bsky.social

03 February 2026 18:21

Over time people more interested in "organizing" than fighting ICE have moved in, and the result has not been good. I've heard reports of local networks struggling to find enough observers even as they screen people out. A recommitment to those initial principles is badly needed.

Will Stancil

whstancil.bsky.social

03 February 2026 18:21

The early days of our neighborhood networks and rapid response were very open, very decentralized. The vast majority of participants were people with no interest in building influence but simply doing the work. Regular people, often only semi-political.

Will Stancil

whstancil.bsky.social

03 February 2026 18:21

Public leaders have real influence. Their guidance is increasingly needed. Right now, a lot of policy is being set by anonymous admins and organizers, who at best seem misguided, and at worst who seem to be more interested in formalizing control of rapid response rather than growing it.

Will Stancil

whstancil.bsky.social

03 February 2026 18:21

Moreover, state and local leaders, who have worked hard to attract press and political attention to the abuses happening in Minnesota, understand that it is almost uniformly beneficial to have press interacting with observers - doing ridealongs, talking to us. Paranoia around press is harmful.

Will Stancil

whstancil.bsky.social

03 February 2026 18:21

Local and state leaders know all of the above. Almost to a person, our leaders have encouraged the public to participate in observation and to monitor ICE activity. This is not really possible if monitoring ICE becomes an arduous affair necessitating a lot of spycraft.