Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Governance, safety, and responding to ICE: a caution about Common House “policy”

[Courtney Overby (courtneyanna.db]

Hello,

Thank you for sharing this event, I am going to listen in and had not heard
about it yet.

I appreciate the raising of concerns about the imperfect nature and
limitations of policy on behavior; very thoughtfully articulated. I thought
I would share a similar sentiment that my colleague shared recently. It is
unrelated to the question raised of resistance preparations, skills or
policy guidance in intentional communities; this are critical work. My
thoughts are in the vein of solidarity and doubling down on knowing,
sharing and honoring your values during uncertain times.

There has been suggestion that Renee was coached on the risks she was
taking and took them anyway. While she was a victim as the media will
reiterate often - she was also a hero.


Thank you,


Courtney

On Fri, Jan 9, 2026 at 11:24 AM b farris via Cohousing-L <
cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org> wrote:

> This can be helpful:
> ACLU's Protest Safety, Know Your Rights and De-Escalation Training
> WHEN: 1/9/26 at 8 PM ET
> WHERE: On Zoom [RSVP for the link]
> https://act.aclu.org/a/aclukyr
>
> > On Jan 9, 2026, at 6:57 AM, Pare Gerou via Cohousing-L <
> cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org> wrote:
> >
> > I’ve been thinking about the killing of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis
> > this week by an ICE agent.
> >
> > With that in mind, I want to gently revisit the conversations a few
> months
> > ago about adopting a community “policy” (by consensus or sociocracy)
> about
> > how to handle interactions with ICE or other state/federal actors in the
> > common house. The well meaning policy we discussed earlier was designed
> to
> > reflect the community's dissatisfaction with ICE and deportation programs
> > and to protect any neighbors.
> >
> > I mentioned at the time that my concern isn’t the values behind these
> > policies—I understand the intent. It’s that cohousing consensus or
> > sociocratic *policy-making is often the wrong tool to govern behavior
> for a
> > fast-moving, high-risk external power dynamic with federal or state
> > officials*. It can create a false sense of control and understanding,
> lock
> > a group into rigidity, and unintentionally increase legal or safety risk.
> >
> > I’ve seen communities do better by focusing on values statements and
> > preparedness instead: agreed principles, member education, a clear safety
> > plan, a designated response team and representative, and a relationship
> > with competent legal counsel.  However, once the knock on the door of the
> > Common House arrives, or perhaps at your own house, you need the
> > flexibility to respond wisely and flexibly in real time rather than
> relying
> > on a consensus policy that everyone feels bound to in the moment.
> >
> > Sharing this with humility, and in the spirit of keeping each other safer
> > and more effective. As someone who spent time representing people who
> were
> > facing deportation, I did not believe at the time that the person
> bringing
> > the Common House policy to the floor understood the gravity of what can
> go
> > wrong.
> >
> > Perhaps this moment provides an opportunity to reflect on what can go
> > wrong.  We don't know what went through Renee Good's mind, and it is not
> > the same situation as a Common House policy, but the best way to keep
> your
> > entire community safe is not to create a policy where neighbors feel
> > emboldened not to open the door of the Common House for federal
> enforcement
> > officials- no matter how illegal or wrong you feel their actions might
> be.
> > This will not protect your neighbor. Fight these actions another day and
> > another way.
> >
> > [image: __tpx__]
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> >
> >
> >
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