More details emerge about the death of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis Saturday, most notably that all ten of the rounds which were fired into his body were discharged after he was disarmed. So an unarmed man was executed right there in the street. And ten rounds is a trifle excessive, since it’s likely that the first round killed him. Be that as it may, Barack and Michelle Obama have released a statement and it provides moral leadership, something which is sadly lacking in America under the current regime.
The killing of Alex Pretti is a heartbreaking tragedy. It should also be a wake-up call to every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault.
Federal law enforcement and immigration agents have a tough job. But Americans expect them to carry out their duties in a lawful, accountable way, and to work with, rather than against, state and local officials to ensure public safety.
That’s not what we’re seeing in Minnesota. In fact, we’re seeing the opposite.
For weeks now, people across the country have been rightly outraged by the spectacle of masked ICE recruits and other federal agents acting with impunity and engaging in tactics that seem designed to intimidate, harass, provoke and endanger the residents of a major American city. These unprecedented tactics – which even the former top lawyer of the Department of Homeland Security in the first Trump administration has characterized as embarrassing, lawless and cruel – have now resulted in the fatal shootings of two U.S citizens. And yet rather than trying to impose some semblance of discipline and accountability over the agents they’ve deployed, the President and current administration officials seem eager to escalate the situation, while offering public explanations for the shootings of Mr. Pretti and Renee Good that aren’t informed by any serious investigation – and that appear to be directly contradicted by video evidence.
This has to stop. I would hope that after this most recent tragedy, administration officials will reconsider their approach, and start finding ways to work constructively with Governor Walz and Mayor Frey as well as state and local police to avert more chaos and achieve legitimate law enforcement goals.
In the meantime, every American should support and draw inspiration from the wave of peaceful protests in Minneapolis and other parts of the country. They are a timely reminder that ultimately it’s up to each of us as citizens to speak out against injustice, protect our basic freedoms, and hold our government accountable.
A few Biblical quotes come to mind, “A house divided amongst itself cannot stand,” and “He who bothereth in his own house shall inherit the wind.” ICE is out of control that that’s been made very evident this month in Minneapolis.
My heart is broken and my soul is weary. God is in control, but how much longer must we endure this outrage?
The corrupt Republican party owns all of this.
Moral clarity up against (im)moral murkiness.
The murkiness triumphant now because 1/3 of the electorate sat on their couches when they should have voted.