Friend,

I am angry about what is happening in Minnesota. It is not only unconstitutional and illegal, it’s immoral and un-American.

Yesterday, as we marched together in the ICE Out protest in Denver, you shared your anger, hurt, and fears with me. I stood with you. And I will continue to fight back.

The killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti remain open wounds for our nation. Renee Good was a veteran and mom. Alex Pretti was an ICU nurse who cared for veterans and whose last words were “are you OK?” We all need to remember who they were and ensure that their memories live on as a blessing and a call to action. Both of them have connections to Colorado. They were among the best of us, and could have been any of us.

They were senselessly killed by ICE agents, and their character is being attacked by federal government officials lying about them and their killings. Their families, and all of us, deserve answers and accountability.

As your Attorney General, my job is to protect our constitutional rights — our First Amendment right to protest and record government agents engaged in misconduct, our Fourth Amendment right to be free from illegal searches and seizures, and our Fifth Amendment right to due process of law. I will continue to take that work seriously — and not hesitate to challenge this administration’s lawlessness.

Phil Weiser in a black jacket. He is walking with the crowd at the Denver ICE Out protest and leaning in to hear the person to his right. Another person directly behind Phil holds an American flag in the air.

When I was at the ICE Out protest yesterday, the question I received again and again was how will we respond in Colorado. Here’s what we must do.

First, protest peacefully. We must use our voices in peaceful protest like the rally I joined yesterday, calling out the injustice, calling out the lies, and calling for the America we believe in — one that honors liberty and justice for all. We must come together united in community.

Second, impartially investigate and prosecute all acts that violate the law. We must prosecute wrongdoers, including ICE agents who are given a badge and a firearm and who wrongfully and brazenly shoot and kill people senselessly. As your AG, I have set up a complaint system for Coloradans to report misconduct by federal agents. The purpose is to make sure any questionable incidents are promptly investigated, any illegal acts are stopped, and people committing them are held accountable. We will not tolerate lawbreakers in Colorado.

Third, hold leaders accountable. Those who lie, defend, or otherwise fail to call out illegal, indefensible, and dangerous ICE operations must be held to account. Elected leaders who are not standing up for the rule of law, for our Constitution, and for the safety of our communities must be voted out of office.

I will stay vigilant and committed to defending our constitutional rights, the rule of law, and Coloradans. In this moment, we must stand together to fight for what is right, to call out what is wrong, and to be there for one another.

My time standing in community with you this weekend was what I needed, and I witnessed how we gained strength from each other. Thank you to all who were able to come out and stand in unity. Together, we can, and we will, overcome lies, hate, and injustice as we defend the America we believe in.

Phil