Alex Pretti was 37 years old. He was an ICU nurse at the VA hospital and an outdoorsman who loved to hike. Growing up, he was a Boy Scout and sang in the choir.
This weekend, Donald Trump, Kristi Noem, and their unlawful, paramilitary thugs killed him. My heart breaks for everyone who knew and loved him, for the city of Minneapolis, and for our entire country.
It’s not just Trump and Noem who bear the blame for these atrocities. Everyone in the administration who is gaslighting the American public, who is withholding evidence or obstructing justice, who is passively enabling this horrific reality to continue, is complicit in Alex’s death.
Everyone I talk to has the same question — what can we do? Here are some thoughts:
First and most urgently, when I connected with people on the ground in Minnesota, they told me the most helpful thing we can do is send direct support through StandWithMinnesota.com, a huge, volunteer-run directory of mutual aid funds, crowdfunding campaigns, and legal aid organizations. If you can afford to make a donation, I hope you’ll join me in supporting groups who are working hard to help all those in urgent need.
Second, aside from financial aid, one really important thing right now is sharing accurate information. There’s so much disinformation and misinformation circulating, and we can all play a part in countering it. Talk to your friends and family and post on social media — your voice has a bigger impact on the people in your life than you might guess.
Third, we need to mobilize and make sure the Senate does NOT pass a funding bill that increases ICE and CBP’s budgets. They’re likely to vote this week, so call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and urge a NO vote.
Fourth, get ready to be as involved as you can in the leadup to the midterms. Support candidates you believe in, volunteer when you’re able, and share information about the importance of voting with everyone you know. We have the chance to make a statement — and to start making a difference — this November.
Finally: When we’re angry, when we’re worn out, when it all feels too bleak — we need to remember what Alex Pretti and Renee Good were doing when they were killed. They were standing up for the country they believed in, and we must do the same.
Sincerely,
Alex Bores
