Alex Jeffrey Pretti can no longer speak for himself. I wonder how he would respond to being labeled a “domestic terrorist” or an “assassin,” or hearing that he planned to “massacre” federal agents?

Pretti was an ICU nurse who was admired by colleagues and who was dedicated to patients who required specialized skills for grave conditions. He was committed to human rights and served as an official monitor in the treacherous situation with ICE which resulted in the death of Renne Nicole Good barely two weeks ago.

Family and friends described him as “empathic,” “compassionate,” and a “sweet, kind, gentle soul.” Yet officials in the federal government, in service to their own sordid agenda, betrayed the public trust with their mendacity and lack of accountability, and openly engaged in a cover up.

They denied what we could see with our own eyes. There was no talk of an investigation or legal process, the victim’s Constitutional rights, or regret for the life they had taken. Instead, they were quick to establish a narrative that maligned the man they murdered in a senseless and barbaric act.

Yes, I hold them responsible for the death of Alex Jeffrey Pretti. They set the tone for violence in our cities and towns with their heinous policies and blatant disregard for human life. They sanctioned the use of force against those who were unarmed and vulnerable, and who had a right to peaceful assembly.

In his own words, honoring a deceased patient at the Veteran’s Administration hospital where he worked, Alex Jeffrey Pretti reminded us that “freedom is not free.”

Each day we become more cogently aware of that statement as we witness the hallmark signs of authoritarianism in our government. On a daily basis we are witnessing the breakdown of checks and balances, overreach by the Executive Office, the erosion of our Constitutional rights and the rule of law, attacks on the media and journalistic freedom, abuse of power and a lack of accountability, threats and retribution to those in opposition, and a pervasive assault on voting rights and liberal democracy.

For those of us who take to the streets, at grave risk to our lives and our personal safety, we are fighting for the country we love and to preserve the freedoms of a free and open democracy. We are not “domestic terrorists,” “assassins,” or people bent on obstructing the law or planning a “massacre” of law enforcement or federal agents.

Many of us are retired nurses, teachers, social workers, public officials, counselors, scientists, healthcare workers, and physicians. We are people who, like Alex Jeffrey Pretti, have dedicated our lives to the common good, and who are profoundly concerned about the current trajectory of our nation and the deleterious impact on its citizens. We are mourning the loss of hard-fought freedoms, an economy that supports working class people, a healthcare system that supports the needs of the most vulnerable, a unified country with shared values, and a government we can trust to provide for national security and safety in our communities.

It is not customary that we have federal troops in our communities, border agents with weapons threatening and harassing our neighbors, law enforcement agents killing innocent people engaged in peaceful protest, or federal officials defying states’ rights and sanctioning violent action against citizens.

We are now subjected to authoritarian rule without the protection of the rule of law and due process. This is why we organize, why we march and keep vigil, why we fight for social justice, risk our lives, why we protest. Democracy is not a spectator sport. We “show up” because we love our country and because we are committed to preserving our freedoms.

Alex Jeffrey Pretti had it right. Freedom is not free. Throughout our history we have had to confront the malevolent forces that threaten our freedom, often at the cost of human life. Those who protest to preserve American values, and to secure the safety of others in our society, are fighting for all of us. They are courageous individuals who are willing to risk their own lives to protect the rights of others. Let us honor the life of Alex Jeffrey Pretti by bearing witness to the truth and holding our government officials accountable for this sad and tragic loss of life.

We are at a tipping point in our nation. Will we stand up for our democracy, to uphold the law, and to preserve traditional American values or will we cower in shame at what we have become?

Claire Walsh is Founding Member of DEMOCRACY Women in Action, DWA Indivisible in the Lower Connecticut River Valley.