Dear Friends –

This president has designated a political army, known as ICE, and it has been shocking the world. Their violence and their needless cruelty and their obvious lies in justification are appalling and frightening.  But it was January 2026 in Minneapolis that the ugliness reached a well-publicized and unbelievable head.  Renee Good. Alex Pretti.  Five-year old Liam Conejo Ramos. How could this be?

The truth must be that those three were not the only recipients of abhorrent actions by this fascist regime, but they were well-documented and the news about the crimes against them spread throughout the country and the world.  There are many more crimes like these that take place because of ICE but the news about them is muted or hidden.

What this type of fascism has done to us as a populace is devastating. Where pride in our country and human rights had been so valued, it is now being trashed. We are hurting, but we are not folding. Instead, we learning and are refining our resistance. Millions have participated in non-violent demonstrations both small and large. Boycotts of products that benefit the multimillionaires – who double as regime leaders – phone calls to our legislators and letter-writing campaigns are commonplace now. We are fighting fascism and this is part of it and the mood of it all is what my painting (Lucha Contra Facismo) is trying to record.

It feels as if our world is on fire. We don’t know if our country can be recovered. But it will not be given up to greedy billionaires easily. Join the movement wherever you can. If we are successful, your grandchildren will be grateful.

margie lopez read

www.margies-art.com