Exhausted and enduring frostbitten fingers and toes while marching in sub-zero weather through downtown Minneapolis on January 23, 2026, demonstrators were jubilant. Ten degrees below zero never felt so warm as when I walked with 50,000 people to demand that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) leave the state of Minnesota. Outrage against federal aggression and zeal for justice made us indifferent to, if not defiant of the cold. We were comforted by knowing we held our metaphorical candles of resistance high for all the world to see.
Then, less than 24 hours later, we were grieving the wanton murder of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, who came to the aid of a woman who was pushed to the ground by an ICE agent as she was observing agents in the street. At the time Pretti was leveled on the pavement, he was holding a phone in one hand while raising the other. He was pepper-sprayed, beaten, and after an agent removed Pretti’s licensed gun from Pretti’s attire, Pretti was summarily shot several times and he lay face-down on the ground (Pereria, 2026).
Immediately, the federal narrative asserted that Pretti approached agents with his gun in hand, and that he was intent on assassinating them. The narrative merges with the persistent mantra that protest against ICE’s illegal and inhumane tactics in Minneapolis is “domestic terrorism.” While blaming Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Governor Tim Walz for provoking “insurrection” in Minnesota, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said, “When you perpetuate violence against a government because of ideological reasons and for reasons to resist and perpetuate violence, that is the definition of domestic terrorism” (Baehr, 2026) Greg Bovino, head of the Border Patrol, said that Pretti intended to “massacre” law enforcers, “So, good job for our law enforcement in taking him down before he was able to do that” (Cunnigham, 2026). Neither acknowledged that when the law perpetrates violence against the people because of ideological reasons, it is domestic terrorism.
Darkness has come to Minneapolis. The City of Lakes, however, has rallied: when they go dark, we go light.
Darkness is the reflexive repetition of lies the president and his trusty hounds of hell in his cabinet, the Congress, and in conservative news outlets tell the world. The light is the truth of what is happening in Minneapolis as documented by brave witnesses with cell phone videos and audio recordings. Darkness is the lie that protestors are terrorists who oppose the legitimate law-enforcement. The light is the voice of journalists, ministers, elected officials, and citizens who contest the legitimacy of federal conduct — ICE agents entering homes without warrants, use of excessive force, and detention of people without due process. Darkness is using federal authority to fuel radical partisanism and division among people. The light is the invitation to dialogue and the show of solidarity with and compassion for victims. Darkness claims that the law must be suspended in emergencies and that ICE agents may act with complete immunity. The light proclaims that there are legal and nonviolent solutions to conflict and that we can pursue them if we are humble and compassionate enough to see justice and each other through the eyes of God. (See “The Banality of Terrorism” in Cultural Criticism) [Internal Link needed here]
Hindu activist, Sunita Viswanath (2026), wrote that Minneapolis had become a “holy city” because its people embrace the “theology of showing up.” Showing up to defend the sanctity of life is a way to reveal the essence of and presence of God. It publicly acknowledges that in all the world’s religions, God invites everyone to love their neighbors, to be merciful and slow to judgement, and to show special care for the vulnerable. It is to practice civil disobedience when the law justifies murder, the endangerment of public safety, and economic ruin of families and communities. Minneapolis throws light on the darkness to remind people that there is something greater than ourselves in our midst. Something higher than the laws of man.
References
Baehr, Jasmine. Noem says Minneapolis suspect committed ‘domestic terrorism,’ accuses Walz, Frey of inciting violence. Fox News, January 24, 2026. Noem says Minneapolis suspect committed ‘domestic terrorism,’ accuses Walz, Frey of inciting violence.
Cunningham, Vinson. Witnessing Another Public Killing in Minneapolis. The New Yorker, January 25, 2026. Witnessing Another Public Killing in Minneapolis | The New Yorker.
Pereia, Ivan & Mark Guarino. What we know about Alex Pretti, VA nurse killed by federal agent in Minneapolis. ABC News, January 24, 2026. What we know about Alex Pretti, VA nurse killed by federal agent in Minneapolis – ABC News.
Viswanath, Sunita. The ‘theology of showing up’ is making Minneapolis a holy place. Religion News Service, January 25, 2026. The ‘theology of showing up’ is making Minneapolis a holy place.
