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More from @buttonslives

Christina Buttons

Feb 12

One of the central claims behind “gender-affirming care” is that medical transition improves mental health.

A major new longitudinal study on adults has corrected the flaws in earlier research and found that medical transition is likely not what is driving those improvements.

For years, proponents have cited studies claiming mental health benefits as the primary justification for these treatments. But that claim has long rested on weak evidence, as systematic reviews have repeatedly found.

Much of the past research was observational, relying on small clinic cohorts of 30–70 patients followed for only 6–12 months. Those studies fail to control for other factors known to improve mental health and often capture temporary relief, not lasting improvement.

Read 7 tweets

Christina Buttons

@buttonslives

Feb 10

Minneapolis – Following a Jan. 17 counterprotest to a march led by @JakeLang, members of the Defend the 612 ICE Watch Signal network shared an image claiming involvement in physical confrontations during the event. Details in thread. ⬇️

In the lead-up to the event, Signal chats associated with the group discussed defensive strategies and rejected nonvioIence as the only approach.

I was removed from two Signal groups after advocating for nonvioIent protest only.

Read 7 tweets

Christina Buttons

@buttonslives

Feb 9

https://twitter.com/amyklobuchar/status/2019808490823536830

It’s not ICE’s fault immigrants aren't showing up to work.

Activists in the “Defend the 612” ICE Watch Signal network are providing groceries and rent assistance, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars so undocumented immigrants can stay home and avoid contact with ICE.

https://twitter.com/amyklobuchar/status/2019808490823536830

A fundraiser for immigrants in the Central neighborhood of Minneapolis raised $340,000 last month, enabling them to avoid ICE detection by staying home.
gofundme.com/f/critical-ren…

In South Mpls: $200,000.
givebutter.com/H6lQkA

There's more fundraisers in each neighborhood.

Across the Defend the 612 Signal ICE Watch network, there are “mutual aid” groups in each neighborhood.

They provide groceries and supplies and even vet care delivered to undocumented immigrants’ homes. They also arrange transportation and funds to pay rent.

Read 14 tweets

Christina Buttons

@buttonslives

Feb 6

MINNEAPOLIS — After a Jan. 17 counterprotest to Jake Lang’s march, members of Defend the 612’s Signal ICE Watch network shared this image, taking credit for the assault and calling it a “testament to the violence the masses applied against this reactionary march.”

In the days before the event, the same Signal ICE Watch chats laid out plans for a “defensive counteraction,” posted graphics including an image depicting a bloody, hanging Klansman, and issued tactical guidance instructing participants to mask up, wear goggles, and avoid filming or documenting attendees.

Additional graphics dismissed the claim that “nonviolence is the only strategy” as false.

My pseudonymous account was removed from two Signal groups after I advocated for a nonviolent protest and argued that no one should be assaulted for their speech. Members defended the use of violent tactics by citing “St. Paul’s Principles.”

Read 7 tweets

Christina Buttons

@buttonslives

Feb 4

Minneapolis’s ICE watch network is not just “monitoring” ICE activity. Internal Signal chats explicitly describe their media work as propaganda and discuss controlling narratives and managing journalists.

While undercover in the Defend the 612 network, I accessed a vetted channel called “Central communications,” created for “external narrative-shaping strategy.” 🧵

On January 13, trans activist Elle Neubauer, using the handle “princess (she/her/fae/faer),” described allowing Madison McVan of the Minnesota Reformer to accompany him on a ride-along while following ICE by car. minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/13/in-…

Neubauer claimed the reporter gave activists editorial control over the article, writing, “they gave us final say over the story. They read most of it aloud to us line by line last night, and we asked for changes. If we told them to pull the story they would have.”

He added that the journalists were “extremely up front and down for any changes asked.”

Read 6 tweets

Christina Buttons

@buttonslives

Feb 3

I joined an ICE watch training held by Defend the 612 organizers in Minneapolis on January 8, before they began taking additional steps to conceal their identities and activities.

In the training, organizers described their goal as impeding ICE operations. They downplayed risks, delegitimized law enforcement, and encouraged participants to take risks. 🧵

Defend the 612 used Renee Good’s death as a recruitment opportunity. On the evening of January 7, they advertised an “emergency vigil” for Good, where fliers were distributed directing attendees to sign up for ICE watch on their website.

This recruitment appeared to work. Andrew Fahlstrom, who led the January 8 training, is a longtime activist with the tenant organizing group Inquilinx Unidx Por Justicia (IX) and treasurer of Sky Without Limits.

He said the group had gained 1,000 new signups and stated that the purpose of the meeting was to “grow the number of people on the streets.”