Please take a moment to read the following words from Alex Pretti’s family:
"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."
It’s hard to come to terms with this, hard to see how we overcome it.
But I am so inspired by Alex, what he was doing in the final moments of his life. Documenting this cruelty and lawlessness so that America would know what's being done in our name, to our country and against our fellow Americans. Trying to help a woman being terrorized by these thugs, giving his life to protect hers.
And I’m inspired by his family, who are speaking up and getting the truth out.
It makes me want to do more, fight harder, not let up until we win power to stop this.
It's hard to see this murder, hard to see the news that three people have died in ICE custody in El Paso in the last 45 days, hard to see this descent into fascism and cruelty, hard to see how we get through.
But I know that if we do the work (protest, organize, volunteer, register, turn out, vote) -- nothing easy about it, all of it will be hard -- there's a chance we make it.
I am more committed to the work than I ever have been, more grateful for everyone out there doing what they can with what they have wherever they are, more grateful for people like Renee and Alex and the many more whose names we'll never know.
Rest in peace, Alex.
