The death of Alex Pretti
The killing of Alex Jeffrey Pretti should alarm every American, regardless of political affiliation.
Pretti was a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, a U.S. citizen, a homeowner, and a lawful gun owner with a legal carry permit. He was present at a protest, recording federal agents, an act that is legal under the Constitution. Video evidence and eyewitness statements indicate he was not holding, let alone firing, a weapon, was not charging officers, and was not posing an imminent threat at the moment deadly force was used.
Yet, almost immediately, official statements sought to portray him as a violent aggressor, despite visible contradictions between those claims and the footage that has circulated publicly. This rush to shape the narrative before a transparent investigation has taken place is deeply troubling.
The issue here is not whether law enforcement ever faces danger. Sometimes they do. The issue is whether the government is allowed to kill a citizen and then tell the public to ignore what it can plainly see. When lethal force is used, especially against an American citizen, the burden of proof must be exceptionally high, and accountability must be real, not performative.
If recording federal agents, standing nearby, or legally possessing a firearm can result in death without clear evidence of an imminent threat, then the rights Americans are told they possess exist only at the discretion of those with weapons and authority. That should concern all of us.
Pretti deserved due process. His family deserves the truth. And the public deserves a full, independent investigation before any conclusions are drawn. Silence, spin, and reflexive defense of power are the erosion of justice.
Gil Marder, Philadelphia
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It is with deepest respect and gratitude that I wish to thank the people of Minnesota, who are protecting our Constitution and helping to rescue and save people who are being treated as though this is not a democracy.
The death of Alex Pretti at the hands of a federal agent underscores the very real risks that they are taking.
It is heartening to see and hear that there are brave patriots in Minnesota who are protesting the horrendous behavior of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement toward people whose civil rights are being violated. I am speaking about dragging children and adults from their homes, churches, schools, and cars for no legal grounds.
These patriots give me the courage to act as bravely as they do when confronted with these terrible situations. They give me the courage to stand up and defend our democracy — and to confront those who want to tear us down.
People ask, “Why protest elsewhere?” The answer is because if they come for us there, they will invade us anywhere.
Eileen Borenstein, Bucks County
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