I began this post writing about Minneapolis’s successful one-day mobilization. It was intended to be a thank you to the courageous people of the Twin Cities and Minnesota. But, at 9:03 yesterday morning ICE committed another atrocity. ICE shot and killed a 37-year-old man, an ICU nurse, Alex Pretti. He had been observing and recording ICE actions. He died because he had attempted to assist a woman who had been knocked down by ICE agents. Pretti, who was a registered gun owner and had a permit to carry.
Predictably, Trump and his Administration immediately justified Pretti’s murder. They claimed that he was threatening ICE with his weapon and was an immediate threat. However, in the 4 videos I saw he had one hand on the woman and a cell phone in the other. In one video it appears that during Pretti’s scuffle with several ICE personnel, one of the agents removed a weapon from Pretti’s holster and withdrew. In all the videos I’ve seen, Pretti’s hands never held a weapon. AT that point there was a shot. ICE pulled back and then there was a salvo of shots. A witness who saw Pretti laying lifeless on the street said that “There were so many holes and so much blood.” Reports later confirmed he had been shot 9 times.
This happened 16 days after an unarmed mother of 3, Rene Nicole Good, was killed by an ICE agent. She was attempting to clear her car from the street. Just before her death, she told one of the ICE who were screaming at her, “I don’t hate you.”
In addition, a few days after Good’s murder, a man was shot in the leg by agents. ICE says an agent was attacked, with a snow shovel and broom stick, by two men. The agent claimed he fired in self-defense. The account is disputed because it appears that the man was shot from behind as he was going away. There was no immediate threat. As usual, ICE has deployed violence and chemical weapons. And, Citizens replied with shouting and demands for ICE to “Get the Fuck Out of Minneapolis.” A few snow balls have been reported.
Details in these incidents and in general are scarce. ICE and DHS claim federal jurisdiction over all of their actions. They do not share evidence or cooperate with local and state law enforcement. What they do is issue inflammatory statements that prejudge the victims, portraying them as terrorists intent on harming ICE. However, I immediately suspect the honesty of ICE, DHS, FBI, and the Trump Administration. They have shown us repeatedly that they lie and flaunt the law.
An example is the AI doctored photo recently posted by Trump, showing our local Civil Rights Activist, Nekima Levy Armstrong crying. She was determined and not crying. The photos clearly show Trump’s deceit. We can’t trust him.
Since this, Armstrong has been released. Two federal judges have ruled that civil right activists should not be held in federal detention. They are not a threat to public safety.[i] In addition, Armstrong’s lawyer said, “This is part and parcel of a fascist regime where they literally invent reality to serve their fascist agenda.”
So, until there are ample truthful details, I’ll remain highly skeptical of what ICE and the Administration say.
All yesterday there was an ongoing back and forth between ICE’s chemical weapons and physical attacks and the peacefully loud protestors whose weapons were, at most, an occasional snowball. ICE continued to rough-up people and make arrests.
In response to the murder of Pretti Mayor Frey and Police Chief Brian O’Hara held a press conference urging calm, peaceful protests, and ending the confrontation. About reports of two small fires, Mayor Frey appealed directly to citizens to “Protect our beautiful city” and to refrain from violence and destruction of property.[ii]
Last night a candle light vigil was held in a park in the Lyndale neighborhood where Pretti had lived. Interviews with his neighbors and friends were unanimous in their description of Pretti. He was a friendly warm man that everyone praised for his gentle nature and commitment to community. As an example, they mentioned his work for the VA as an ICU nurse and his love for his dog which he walked frequently. Pretti’s family issued a statement “We are heartbroken but also very angry.
“Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital. Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately, he will not be with us to see his impact. I do not throw around the hero term lightly. However, his last thought and act was to protect a woman.
“The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs. He has his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down all while being pepper sprayed.
“Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man. Thank you.“[iii]
Lastly, returning to what initially started this post, Friday’s Mobilization. It was a major success. On the coldest day in years, thousands of people from across the Twin Cities and the region marched against ICE and the Trump Administration. Under deceptively sunny blue skies people braved the dangerous windchills to express their anger at ICE’s lawless rampage.
According to a labor news site, PayDay Report[iv], an estimated 50,000 – 100,000 people participated across the nation in the mass movement. In Minneapolis 15,000 people joined in the ICE OUT march, 700 business and organizations closed their doors for the day, and 100 clergy were arrested. In Minnesota, across the nation, and around the world 300 solidarity actions were held supporting Minneapolis. There are now calls for a national strike in May.
Today is sunny and nippy. I’m proud of the people where I live. Minneapolis is strong. We are dedicated to democracy.
[i] Nekima Levy Armstrong, Sahan Journal, Mohamed Ibrahim, 01/23/2026
Sahan Journal is an informative news outlet that covers community news for people of color in the Twin
Cities.
[ii] Kare11 News, live coverage.
[iii] Pretti family statement, CBS Minnesota, 01/25/2026,
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/read-the-full-text-of-alex-prettis-parents-statement-following-his- fatal-shooting-by-border-patrol-forces/ar-AA1UW26g?ocid=BingNewsSerp
[iv] Payday Report, https://paydayreport.com/ is a reputable labor news source, sited in New York Times, Washington Post and PBS.
NOTE: When trying to apply Chat AI to review text and suggest a better Title, I got this message: “This request has been flagged by OpenAI moderation system. Please try to rephrase your post.” You tell me if this isn’t censorship!
