The Arizona Republic:
Guns were top of mind for Northwest Valley Indivisible, a liberal group that released a statement on Jan. 27 reminding protesters that guns are not welcome at their events.
The group mourned Pretti’s death and said his killing reflects “a deeply troubling reality in the United States, where the exercise of constitutional rights can place ordinary people at risk of lethal harm.”
“History shows that disciplined nonviolent movements are best positioned to build broad coalitions and achieve lasting change,” the group said. “It is a deliberate choice to protect life and keep the focus on accountability, even as the responsibility for de-escalation seems to fall more on ordinary citizens than on federal law enforcement officers.”
Northwest Valley Indivisible’s “commitment to nonviolence” includes rejecting violence as a tactic in civic engagement, maintaining clear expectations for calm, disciplined participation at events and prohibiting weapons “so that gatherings remain focused on safety, dignity and democratic expression,” the statement said.