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Suzanne's avatar

Senator Mark Kelly’s Stance: Kelly called the situation "chaos" and accused the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of blocking independent investigations. He emphasized that witnesses saw Pretti "trying to help a woman up" before being killed. In response, Kelly and other Senate Democrats, including Ruben Gallego, have threatened to reject DHS funding.

Joanne Gatsis's avatar

Let's hope they follow through with their threats and take ACTION! DEFUND the gestapo!

James Byham's avatar

If I am repeating myself I apologize, I used to think ice could be reformed, after the murder of Renee good I realized that I was wrong, the agency needs to be abolished and the criminals running it and the scum they hired need to be jailed for a long time.

Joanne Gatsis's avatar

No need to apologize. I never thought they could be reformed. In fact, I said it will only intensify as the murderer of Renee was not held accountable and the regime defended his actions. The gestapo was given the "greenlight" to kill us by peacefully protesting.

Barking Justice Media's avatar

Michael-

Watching restrained Americans get shot in the back should activate every one of us, those still capable of grief, to action.

Patterns are policy made visible. Federal agents blocking state investigators, bodies left in streets, "self-defense" claims against video evidence. Don't let this story fade, and keep this memory alive.

We need to continue to document everything. We demand Senate accountability measures: mandatory body cameras, primacy of local jurisdiction, and automatic independent investigations. Make execution-without-consequence structurally impossible. (And folks, it's all about consequences because you may have noticed these people think they are above the law).

Alex spent his life saving veterans. Kristi Noem's DHS treated him like she treated her dog - shoot first, lie about the threat later.

Mika-

DBella's avatar

Even though he had the right to carry, it is obviously a bad idea because,in their demented minds, it gave them the right to shoot him. In the back nonetheless! They are out to execute us for speaking out against them. They were cowards! They dispersed immediately. They know they murdered him. They don't care because they are paid well and they are protected. We need to stand up against this tyranny. Once again, Minneapolis showed us what we need to do. Peacefully protest. God help us if we can't save our country against these animals. Thanks again Michael. Great piece.

Suzanne's avatar

After they shot him, they kicked his gun away from him and then just walked away and left his murdered body laying there in the street.

Leslie's avatar

Positively despicable of them.

Elena Freshman Schumann's avatar

IF he had not brought the gun in the first place he would be alive. TWO WRONGS DO NOT MAKE A RIGHT! Please nobody do this again.

Elena Freshman Schumann's avatar

Never good to bring a gun to an already dangerous situation. I hope this is a lesson for others NOT to DO the SAME THING. It does not matter who was right or who was wrong, it is not wise to bring a gun to any protest PERIOD!

CE's avatar

Let’s remember the administration that created this monster. The woman who went from executing dogs and goats to enabling the execution of Americans in our streets. The shrill puppet master who sits at the right hand of Trump directing his abominations. The tiny wanna-be SS man who, dressed in his Nazi cosplay getup,tries to defend the indefensible. The tiny shameless Cuban-American who threatens our allies. The hordes of overfed and undertrained thugs with anger management issues and no understanding of our laws and Constitution. Let’s remember, and speak out, and insist on our rights as humans and Americans.

Kathleen Zins's avatar

Perfect descriptions of these monsters.!

mary M keymer's avatar

Thank You Michael..Yours is the first account I have been able to read through to see what happened. I tried the NYT and it got on my nerves. You are clear and honest in this account.

To say my heart is broken would be an understatement. I can only imagine what the state officals are feeling . For that matter what all of Minnesota is feeling . What the entire country is feeling. The ones who aren't ignorant idiots. Somebody do something please. lost in america

Lynne Duffy's avatar

They attacked him before they knew he had a gun which was his right.

Michael Cohen's avatar

Re-read my article. Slowly. Carefully. You missed the point of the article. These agents are looking for anything to assert their deranged abuse of force. My point is, don’t give it to them. They will take advantage and justify their actions.

Louise's avatar

You started out blaming the victim. His right to carry is sacrosanct in this country. These agents don’t need a reason to to act inhumanely, for far too many it’s their MO.

James Byham's avatar

Yeah I did have to read it twice. Where oh where is the NRA ?

Ajhview's avatar
2dEdited

No, read your article and your position implies, as your point above, that he shouldn’t have given them any kind of reason… shameful.

Maura's avatar

You are absolutely right, Lynne.

I believe it was immaterial whether he had a gun or not. These thugs have been given immunity to kill at will. This good man just became another victim. Alex Pretti is certainly not at fault. Not at all.

GailyC's avatar
16hEdited

Yes! As far as I can tell, his gun was not revealed until the murdering ICE goons had him face down and were on top of him. I’m surprised that of all the digital ink out there, this is the FIRST time I’ve seen this mentioned.

Lynne Duffy's avatar

Why are you blaming the victim?

Suzanne's avatar

Wearing a gun to an ICE protest puts you in real danger of ICE attacking you and spinning it as self-defense. It increases your odds of getting hurt or as we have seen here, even worse, murder with 10 or 11 gun shots in the back.

Sheila's avatar

I don’t think there’s any evidence to support that argument. I’m British we do not share your fascination with guns. However it seems he had every right to possess one.

Even if he had left it at home there’s nothing to say he wouldn’t have been murdered just the same. Renee Good didn’t have a gun. I think his possession of a gun is a red herring in this story. The fact is you have untrained thugs armed to the teeth running around your cities with a clear mandate to cause as much harm as they can in the belief they will never be held accountable.

Alex was another innocent victim of tyranny.

Suzanne's avatar

No one is saying he didn't have right. He was a legal carrier. I am saying IMHO it is not a smart move to carry a gun to an "ICE protest." People attending protests can make their own decision but you are giving ICE the ammunition they need to lie and spin that you brandished your weapon so they had to shoot you to protect themselves. Of course every person has the right to make their own decision.

Bruce Kopetz's avatar

Ridiculous, Suzanne. Alex Pretti was carrying his legal concealed pistol because he was the sheepdog, attempting to protect the flock he was guarding (ordinary citizens) from a pack of circling wolves. Don't blame the sheepdog who was killed trying to fulfill his role as a guardian!

Maura's avatar

Respectfully, I don’t think your argument holds water. What about Renee Good? She was not carrying a gun. I think we’re forgetting that it really doesn’t matter. These thugs will kill at will. Let’s put the blame where the blame lies. We have paramilitary militias roaming freely in our country, sanctioned by our authoritarian government. ICE and all its adjunct groups should be an abolished.

Dianne K's avatar
2dEdited

The ICE MURDER of Geraldo Lunas Campos happened behind CLOSED doors.

Keith Porter was shot at an apartment complex by ICE in North Ridge.

The bodies will continue to stack up. That's what this administration wants.

Suzanne's avatar

Elizabeth Warren says to segregate ICE funding at end of January bill.

https://youtube.com/shorts/kbP7KKS8zGs?si=huiMrPpupSL4OqBn

Barking Justice Media's avatar

Warren is implying the Senate can “stop this next week,” that framing is misleading. The Senate can move to hold hearings, force votes, and put members on the record, but it cannot end an executive action or change the law on its own. Likewise, “passing a Senate resolution” does not automatically shut anything down. I just want to be factual here. We, the people, are the only ones who can stop this. YES, It is up to US.

Suzanne's avatar

Senator Elizabeth Warren is heavily criticizing a proposed bipartisan government funding package that includes roughly $10 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She has labeled the deal "unacceptable" and called on colleagues to vote no.

Senator Elizabeth Warren has vowed to vote "no" on the package, stating, "I'm a h-ll no — not a penny more for ICE. We should not fund this terror".

Other Democrats, including Sen. Edward Markey and Sen. Peter Welch, have also expressed opposition to the deal.

Barking Justice Media's avatar

All I am saying is that a NO vote does nothing to the defund ICE operations. ICE has $170 billion in guaranteed funding through 2029, as signed into law with the Big Beautiful Bill passed last year.

I can't for the life of me figure out what this political theater accomplishes if not for their constituents.

Michelle Landa's avatar

Unfortunately, even though Alex had every right to carry those group of murderers didn’t need an excuse. They tasted blood with Renee and they saw that there were no consequences so it whet their appetites for more. Yes he had the right to carry, and yes his motive may have been to protect, but in the end he couldn’t protect himself. ICE doesn’t have the blood that they are spewing in their veins. They have ice flowing. They stopped 2 hearts from beating because not a one of them has a heart if their own.

diana poulin's avatar

In my opinion, the fact that Alex had a gun, doesn’t have anything to do with his murder. The gun was not visible because it was inside his jacket. He was shot after his gun was taken off Alex’s bolster. Many “officers” were on top of him, he could have been very well arrested and handcuffed, not killed. Who ever were the ones that shot him are killers, specifically shuttling so many bullets

seahawkwh's avatar

Agree. He was filming them with his phone. They would have found a reason to shoot regardless. The important thing to remember is that a dictatorship does not allow their public to have weapons, so regardless of the second amendment, there will be a point where weapons are confiscated. Trump already posted on truth social that "only criminals carry guns."

diana poulin's avatar

I know a few MAGAS that own many guns, I would like to see someone trying to take them away. Some have changed their opinion about DJT, but not about the right to have weapons

seahawkwh's avatar

I totally get it. They will rise up and revolt if/when he tries. I hope he gets stopped before it goes down that path. Elections are standing in his way. If he declares war somewhere and then cancels the elections and declares marshal law, or if he declares marshal law and sends troops to "monitor" things at the polls...we'll you get where I'm going with this.

diana poulin's avatar

Let’s hope Congress wakes up soon and acts in order to protect the country

seahawkwh's avatar

It was legal for him to own and carry a firearm. That right was given to him by the 2nd amendment and the state of Minnesota. Whether we agree with this right, it is part of us as much as the 1st amendment. What this proves is that with any dictatorship, the public will eventually not allowed to have any weapons. Trump already posted "that only criminals carry guns" on truth social. Maybe he shouldn't have had it on him, but my feeling is that even if he didn't, because he was filming with his phone, it would have most likely ended the same way. And they would have found another way to spin it.

Dawn Cali's avatar

Recent video shows another ICE Agent took his gun prior to shooting.

Lies, gas lighting. Thankfully for all those that are recording.

Americans deserve better.

Kathleen Zins's avatar

Very inappropriate to lead with criticism of him carrying a gun. From what I saw it was not apparent before he was attacked & seemed to have no effect on the brutal beating that ensued. The murderers got their “blood up” & made a party out of his execution. I find it very offensive that you criticize Pretti’s gun several times.

Lyse 📎's avatar

The Washington Post has a close up and slowed down video that shows an agent pulling Alex’s gun from his back pocket, before he is shot. (I don’t know if that’s a real untouched video or not, which is a messed up thought to begin with.) This brings up all kinds of questions, right? Was that real or doctored? Why was he holding it in his back pocket? If it’s an accurate video, WHY was he shot multiple times? He was on the ground. They took his gun away.

diane600's avatar

I find your blaming of the victim repugnant.

Michael Cohen's avatar

Here is the subtitle summary that you clearly missed:

A life spent saving others was ended on the streets of Minneapolis, bullets claiming humanity, silence answering grief, and a nation forced to witness another senseless death.

diane600's avatar

I did read that summary but the damage is done at the beginning of the article.

I do have a subscription until October but I think I might have accidently unsubscribed. I do appreciate all of your sacrifice and courage. I think that you are being threatened and coerced.

Elizabeth's avatar

I guess if you don’t care to renew you shouldn’t. I do feel we’ll never know for sure if carrying a legal firearm was the catalyst to his death. But I do know it’s ok to have respectful conversations around it without cutting all ties. When we choose to only listen to those who agree with us 100% of the time does it do us any favors? Anyway, that’s where I’m at.

diane600's avatar

I do know that carrying a legal fire arm was not the cause of his death as he was not threatening anyone with it and he was not shot with it. The gun was discovered and taken away by an agent while he was on the ground and they shot him in the back 12 times after he was disarmed!

Check the live stream video of it for yourself to decide. They were showing the videos from all angles on Mercado Media. The person in the gray jacket takes it from the back of the victim and walks off with it. It is hard to look at both sides if one side uses lies and propaganda to try to blame their violence on innocent protestors although there are some protesters that may no be so peaceful.

Elizabeth's avatar

The victim still had the right to carry but the terrorist thugs were searching for any reason to go after innocent people. I have been wondering if the murderers saw that holstered gun while the victim was helping those women then targeted him. They were 100% in the wrong but I’ve wondered about that.

Michael Cohen's avatar

You think I’m blaming the victim? You clearly didn’t read the article. Try again. You completely missed the point

MaryB of Pasadena's avatar

I get your point, Michael. What is so off-putting to many of us, and I suspect even abhorrent to some, is that you led with comments about how his carrying a weapon led to his death. It is a good caution to others, but out of place here.

Dawn Cali's avatar

Michael, you are missing the point. You led off the article with these statements.

Sets the wrong tone. Blame also goes to decades to the of lack of effective gun regulation.

So Michael, are you going to step forward and be honest about what you know or are you going to stay writing until the majority of your Subscribers leave you? They will. There will be some that won't. Kind of like Trump huh? "Cult-ish."

For 12+ years you were Trump's "#1 and Fixer." You have information about Trump Epstein, Trump Russia, Trump Business and Personal Connections. I get it. Your hands are dirty too?

Sometimes in life, you need to stand up and do the right thing. Even when it is hard.

All many of us want is truth and transparency from you.

Yes, if your memory is short, I am the one you asked a "favor" from what about two months or so ago by personal message. I know your character. And I know, people can always do better. I believe you can.

I believe you can help America bring Trump and his Administration (Regime) down.

Americans deserve better.