Frontline Dignity's first rapid response training at Shadyside Presbyterian Church. Photo: Courtesy of Maranie Staab
The deaths of two legal observers in Minneapolis, along with video that challenged the government's official narrative, have sharpened local interest in civilian ICE monitoring, Frontline Dignity founder Jaime Martinez tells Axios.
Within 72 hours of its first training last week at a Shadyside church — which drew more than 500 people — Frontline added more than 300 legal observers and counting, he says.
Zoom in: Training teaches participants their rights and how to de-escalate encounters with federal law enforcement. Civilian teams coordinate to witness immigration enforcement in real time and find resources for people taken into custody.
What they're saying: "People go into fight or flight mode, and we're trying to shake people out of that freeze and get them to fight — not with their fists, but with their phone cameras," Martinez says.
What's next: Another training is slated for February, Martinez says. It'll be announced via updates on Frontline Dignity's website and social media.
