"They want a civil war - for Trump to declare martial law so that there is no election because he is losing the support of the people", says a woman in Minneapolis. The anger after the second shooting by ICE is great. DW report.
Instead of retreating from the streets after the deaths of two people shot by federal agents, residents of Minneapolis, Minnesota, are organizing patrols, marching in the cold and resolutely standing up for each other. The city seems to be reinventing itself – and the true meaning of the phrase “Minnesota is beautiful“.
Tensions are high
Tensions were already high in Minneapolis and St. Paul, the Twin Cities, over the Trump administration's aggressive actions. They were high even before federal agents shot and killed 37-year-old healthcare worker Alex Pretty on Saturday. This is the second such incident in Minneapolis this month: previously, ICE agents killed 37-year-old Renee Goode. That's why the outrage is so high now.
“What happened to Alex Pretty is disgusting - he was executed in broad daylight after being brutally beaten by ICE agents. "I feel so sad for him, his family and my city," said Minneapolis resident Victoria Jocko.
People are worried that the violence will escalate. "I'm worried about how many more of us, how many more American citizens, are going to die before this is over," said Vin Dion, a Native American rights activist who has been heavily involved in ICE patrols.
Protests over immigration crackdown
After the Trump administration deployed thousands of agents in an "enhanced campaign" to enforce immigration laws in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, local communities responded by organizing volunteer monitors. They are trying to warn people about the presence of ICE, organizing food deliveries for migrant families who are afraid to leave their homes for fear of arrest, as well as large-scale protests against ICE.
On Friday, in minus 25 degrees Celsius, about 50,000 people demonstrated against the presence of ICE in Minneapolis. The protest ended at a gym in the city center, where Vine Dion performed a Native American song. He later said: “It was an incredibly beautiful moment to have so many peaceful people come together. It brought a lot of strength and unity. It felt really good. And the next day, ICE killed one of our people, an ordinary citizen.”
Witnesses and video footage refute ICE’s version
At a press conference on Sunday, the commander of the US Border Patrol, Gregory Bovino, refused to give an explanation for the shooting. He also did not clarify whether Pretti brandished a gun during the confrontation, as Homeland Security Secretary Christie Noem previously claimed. However, videos of the incident do not show such a thing.
These videos could play an important role in clarifying the truth, since statements by government officials contradict sworn testimony from witnesses given in court.
“After watching the press conference yesterday, I can say that Christie Noem is lying. When people make videos and post them on Instagram and Facebook, they reveal the truth to the public. And I think that can affect public opinion,“ said James Cook, a civil rights attorney who provides free legal assistance to families affected by ICE raids.
“I think that's the only thing Trump is considering. "Because the public doesn't agree with what he's doing, I think it can make a difference," Cook added. Public discontent continues to grow, with protests against ICE erupting in Minneapolis over the weekend after Pretty's killing, with demonstrators chanting "ICE - out!" Minneapolis residents say ICE's actions have made the city a place where people are forced to be constantly vigilant:
"I'm more vigilant when I drive. I try to avoid narrow streets where my car could get blocked," said activist Taylor Jones. She also said that one night, as she was driving to a friend's house, a large SUV with tinted windows drove up behind her. "I missed my exit because I thought I might be being followed. Many people take these precautions. But that's how freedom is undermined, isn't it?“, she adds.
Protesters fear escalation of tensions
Judy Levy, a 58-year-old nurse in Minneapolis, sees ICE’s actions as authoritarian: “What they want is a civil war. They want Donald Trump to declare martial law so that there won’t be an election because he’s losing the support of the people,” Levy said. “They’ve lost the game. The only way they can continue is to not play, to not give us an election,” she said.
But beyond the anxiety, she also feels a sense of pride in her community: “I’ve never been more proud to be a Minnesotan in my entire life. I was proud when we stood up after George Floyd was killed. I feel that way again,” she said.
“The diversity of people here is what makes us great. It’s what makes us the vibrant community that we are,” said Taylor Jones. "If we all go inside, lock our doors and keep quiet, nothing will change. In my mind, I don't feel safe anymore. If my government continues to dehumanize people and kill them, I'm not safe either, because they can dehumanize me," she added.