Zeta Phi Beta Issues Statement of Solidarity, Calling for Accountability After ICE Conduct in Minnesota

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. has issued a public Statement of Solidarity, Purpose, and Call to Action, reaffirming its commitment to social justice, equity, and the fair application of policies affecting Black and Brown communities following recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions in Minnesota.

“We stand in solidarity and extend our deepest condolences to the people of Minnesota following the recent actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),” the organization stated. “When violence touches one family, it touches us all and reverberates through every community.”

In the statement, the sorority condemned what it described as a disregard for human life by federal authorities and expressed support for community members exercising their constitutional right to peaceful protest. “Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated rejects the cavalier disregard for human life shown by agents of federal authority who have failed to safeguard the very people they purport to protect,” the statement read. The organization added that it stands with protestors “demanding transparency, truth, and a fair enforcement policy that does not target or terrorize our neighborhoods.”

The statement specifically referenced the deaths of Renée Nicole Good, who was fatally shot by a federal immigration agent on January 7, and Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse and U.S. citizen who was killed by federal agents on January 24 during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated noted that both incidents have sparked widespread grief and calls for accountability.

As a community-conscious organization guided by the Power of S.H.E. — Social, Health, and Economic Justice, the sorority reaffirmed its belief in democratic principles and the importance of peaceful protest. “The right to peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our republic; it is a sacred tool for the marginalized to demand accountability and justice,” the statement said.

Zeta Phi Beta also issued a series of specific calls to action, including an independent and transparent investigation into the deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti, de-escalation of federal enforcement operations that destabilize communities, policies that protect civil liberties, and safeguards to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

“We stand firm in our founding ideals, advocating for a society where ‘liberty and justice for all’ is not merely a phrase, but a lived reality — a promise upheld in action and in truth,” the organization concluded.

Read the full statement that was sent to Watch The Yard by Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. below: