An initiative called “Eyes Not Lies” is calling on clergy and people of faith to serve as “disciplined witnesses” to combat misinformation and government propaganda through a coordinated digital action. The campaign emphasizes firsthand observation, integrity, and clear documentation of facts as a moral response to distortions and falsehoods shaping public perception.

What Is ‘Eyes Not Lies’

Rooted in the practice of bearing faithful witness, the campaign, organized by multifaith group called MARCH, urges participants to look directly at instances of state violence and report only what they see with their own eyes. The initiative specifically centers on the recent killing of ICU nurse Alex Pretti by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minneapolis.

The “Eyes Not Lies” action asks clergy to watch the full video of the encounter between Pretti and ICE agents and then record a short, direct-to-camera video sharing their observations. The goal is not to offer personal opinions, political analysis, or emotional processing, but to create an undeniable public record of the events.

‘Sickening Lies’ From Top Officials

Federal officials, including Department of Homeland Security (DHS) leadership and White House advisers, issued a false narrative that Pretti was armed, resisted arrest and posed a threat to law enforcement. Those unsubstantiated claims were amplified on social media platforms and by allied commentators.

However, multiple bystander videos and eyewitness accounts contradict key elements of the official account, showing Pretti holding only a cellphone before agents tackled him and shot him. Footage suggests his firearm, which he was legally permitted to carry, remained holstered and had been taken from him before he was shot. No publicly released evidence corroborates assertions that he brandished a weapon or intended violence.

Pretti’s family and local officials have labeled the government’s claims misleading. His parents released a statement calling the mischaracterizations “sickening lies” and described him as a compassionate ICU nurse who intervened to help a woman being shoved by officers. Top government leadership took a similar position with the killing of Renee Good by immigration officer Jonathan Ross, falsely claiming that Good tried to run him over with her vehicle.

How to Participate

By focusing on the facts of the Alex Pretti case, “Eyes Not Lies” organizers hope to interrupt the cycle of misinformation that often follows high-profile incidents of state violence. The campaign posits that when a collective of faith leaders speaks with “moral clarity and collective discipline,” it becomes much harder for official narratives to distort the truth.

Participants are provided with a strict “Direct-to-Camera” (DTC) protocol to ensure their witness remains focused and credible. This includes:

• Fact-Only Reporting: Describing only the actions and individuals clearly visible on screen without speculating on motives.
• Calm Clarity: Maintaining a steady, calm tone rather than using charged or dramatic language.
• Public Record: Using specific phrases like “In the video, I see…” to anchor the testimony in visible evidence.

While the action began as a call to clergy, MARCH has since widened the invitation to all people, arguing that truth-telling is a “shared responsibility.” As the videos circulate under the hashtag #EyesNotLies, the movement seeks to turn the digital landscape into a “sanctuary of truth” where the facts of the Pretti’s killing cannot be erased or ignored.

The campaign posits that when a collective of faith leaders speaks with “moral clarity and collective discipline,” it becomes much harder for official narratives to distort the truth.

While the action began as a call to clergy, MARCH has since widened the invitation to all people, arguing that truth-telling is a “shared responsibility.” As videos circulate under the hashtag #EyesNotLies, the movement seeks to turn the digital landscape into a “sanctuary of truth” where the facts cannot be erased or ignored.

Rev. Otis Moss III, senior pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, published his “Eyes Not Lies” video on Jan. 26.

Rev. Traci Blackmon, who asserted that “this administration lies,” also addressed Pretti’s killing in a video that uses the #eyesNotLies hashtag.

Those wishing to participate can find specific instructions at bit.ly/EyesNotLiesAction.