Optimism Is Hard to Come By
January 25, 2026 · 4:36 p.m.
It feels important to note the exact day and time of this writing. Life in Minneapolis has been a whirlwind.
As recently as Friday, many of us were feeling hopeful. The day began with more than 100 clergy members from across the country being arrested at the airport. They had gathered to protest deportation flights and the detention of airport employees by immigration agents. The temperature was –21 degrees. The clergy knelt in a line, singing hymns as police zip-tied their hands and loaded them onto buses.
Later that afternoon, at 2 p.m., the ICE Out march filled downtown Minneapolis. More than 50,000 people came out to march peacefully in solidarity. Old and young, Black, brown, immigrant, and non-immigrant alike braved the subzero cold to stand together and demand that ICE leave Minneapolis. The march became a shared space for grief and anger following the killing of Renee Good, as well as a show of support for immigrant neighbors. It was deeply moving, and many people left believing that change is possible.
That optimism largely evaporated Saturday morning after news spread of Alex Pretti’s killing on Nicollet Avenue by an ICE agent. A video circulated on social media and was quickly viewed by millions nationwide. It appeared to show at least six armed agents forcing Pretti to the ground before shooting him ten times. The footage horrified the country and left Minneapolis residents grappling with fear, rage, and disbelief—wondering how such violence can be stopped.
Within hours, hundreds of angry residents gathered at the scene. Streets were barricaded. Tear gas and flash-bang grenades were deployed. For a moment, it felt as though violence and a full-scale riot were inevitable. Thankfully, that did not happen. Still, many people remain unsure how to express their outrage or where to turn with their grief.
A political battle is now unfolding between Minnesota’s DFL elected officials and the federal government. As so often happens, events like these risk losing their human dimension and becoming little more than talking points. We wanted to make sure that the voices of people living through this moment are heard and highlight the residents forced to navigate daily life amid thousands of masked, heavily armed federal agents in their city.
That is why we invited several community members to share their stories and emotions. While politicians spar on the public stage, countless personal experiences go unheard—stories of sacrifice, fear, anger, and emotional exhaustion.
We are grateful to our guests: Kurt, Molly, Susan, Barb, Hope, and Paula. Their voices reflect what many Minneapolis residents are feeling as they try to carry on with their daily lives in a city that feels, once again, on edge.
