The Illini Democrats posted to their Instagram Tuesday morning responding to a statement from Illini Republicans that expressed support for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
The original post sparked controversy and featured a stylized graphic that matched a clip of a federal agent shooting and killing Pretti.
Illini Democrats responded with a graphic that reads: “REJECT POLITICAL VIOLENCE” followed by their full response condemning Illini Republicans for violent rhetoric and their portrayal of Good and Pretti as “traitors” who had “voided their liberties” by participating in peaceful protest.
They went on to allege that the original post by Illini Republicans was “a clear attempt to strike fear into the hearts of students who disagree with them,” noting that the Illini Republicans posted the statement and graphic less than six hours prior to last week’s anti-ICE protest.
In a statement to The Daily Illini, Rylee Graves, communications director for Illini Democrats, clarified that the timing of the post was just one reason they believe Illini Republicans were attempting to scare demonstrators at Friday’s protest.
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“We believe this post was intended to intimidate demonstrators at Friday’s protest, not just because of timing, but due to the violent rhetoric of their post … calling for public servants to ‘fell’ the ‘enemies of America,’ where in the same paragraph they call Renee Good and Alex Pretti traitors,” Graves wrote. “The now deleted final image depicting Alex Pretti on all fours being shot by a masked agent was intentional. It has been used in other social media posts to depict his final moments.”
Graves went on to explain that if Illini Republicans’ goal was “to stand with ICE without calling for violence or intimidating our student body, they would have done so on January 7th, or January 24th, the dates of the murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti,” and that Illini Democrats “were grateful that this violent post did not sway the student body from their first amendment right of protest that Friday.”
Illini Democrats condemned the alleged attempt at intimidation, saying, “Labeling those whom you disagree with as traitors, enemies, or invaders and justifying the execution of protesters on the same day as a campus protest is not only atrocious but against everything this country stands for.”
The posted statement concluded by saying that “If the Illini Republicans wish to live in a country where those who speak out are silenced, we strongly suggest they self-deport to Russia.”
Referencing Illini Republicans’ post, which referred to an “invasion” of the U.S. “from the masses of the third world and those incompatible with western civilization,” Illini Democrats wrote that “The only people on this campus who are ‘incompatible’ with our culture are those who deny others from becoming a part of it.”
Roughly an hour after the statement was posted, Illini Republicans responded on Instagram, commenting under Illini Democrats’ post simply, “LMAO.”
Illini Democrats’ statement was also signed by multiple other Democratic organizations, including the Democratic Party of Illinois. DPI Chair Lisa Hernandez publicly denounced Illini Republicans and released a public statement supporting Illini Democrats.
“Without question, the Democratic Party of Illinois stands with Illini Democrats in condemning Illini Republicans’ appalling post celebrating ICE amid the murders of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti … ” Hernandez said. “ … this embrace of state violence, celebration of killing and lack of empathy has no place in Illinois or on our campuses … ”
Hernandez called for the Illinois Republican Party and Republican candidates in the state “ … to denounce this post and make clear that celebrating violence of any kind—but especially murders—is unacceptable.”
Yesterday, in a written statement to The DI, the University’s Director of Executive Communications and Issues Management Patrick Wade said that the matter had been reported to the Title VI Office and that reports were being processed in accordance with the office’s standard protocols.
Wade did however specify that the University could not discipline Illini Republicans “for the viewpoint or content of protected speech.”
Graves rebuffed Wade writing, “(Illini Republicans’) hateful rhetoric against immigrants is not protected under the first amendment; nor is their gross depiction of Alex Pretti’s last moments.”
She then specified that according to the Title VI Office, “The manner in which (free speech and academic freedom) are expressed is not unlimited, and expressive conduct must still comply with applicable laws and university policies,” and that Title VI misconduct is defined by the University as “discrimination, harassment, and related retaliation on the basis of race, color, and national origin including shared ancestry and ethnic characteristics.”
“Calling human beings from other countries ‘incompatible with western civilization’ is blatantly discriminating (against) students on the basis of national origin,” Graves wrote. “The issues we have aren’t just ‘partisan squabbles.’ They are out of concern for our community. No student should have to fear going to class, being on campus, or speaking their mind.”
