Minneapolis protests clampdown killings by federal agents

"Instead of withdrawing from the streets following the shooting deaths of two people at the hands of federal officers, residents of Minneapolis, in the US state of Minnesota, are resolutely building watch patrols, marching in the cold and standing up for one another. In the process, the city is redefining itself and what "Minnesota nice" really means. Even before federal agents shot and killed 37-year-old intensive care nurse Alex Pretti on Saturday, tensions over the Trump administration's aggressive enforcement activities in the Twin Cities were already high."

"But Pretti's death, at a time where Minneapolitans were still reeling over the killing of 37-year-old Renee Good by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents earlier this month, has led to further outrage. "What happened yesterday to Alex Pretti is sickening. I feel an immense amount of grief for him, his family, and my city. It's also an even bigger eye-opener for what we're really dealing with," resident Victoria Jocko said."

"Immigration clampdown met with protests Since the Trump administration deployed thousands of agents in what it called intensified immigration enforcement push in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, communities have responded by installing volunteer watchers to warn their neighbors of ICE's presence, and organizing grocery deliveries for migrant families too fearful of being swept up by ICE to leave their houses,"

Minneapolis residents have responded to the fatal shootings of two people by federal officers by organizing volunteer watch patrols, marching in cold weather, and providing mutual aid. Federal agents shot and killed 37-year-old intensive care nurse Alex Pretti amid heightened tensions after the earlier killing of 37-year-old Renee Good by ICE. Community members report grief, outrage, and fears of further violence. Activists and neighbors warn each other about ICE presence, arrange grocery deliveries for fearful migrant families, and mount large-scale anti-ICE demonstrations. A recent protest drew about 50,000 people in temperatures near -25°C. The community framing of solidarity is reshaping local definitions of "Minnesota nice."

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