[OPINION] What a heartbreaking month. I want to take a moment to recognize and honor the lives of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Jeffrey Pretti, two non-violent Americans who were tragically killed in Minnesota this month during public encounters with federal immigration “agents.” The unjust circumstances that surround these high-profile shootings are devastating and unimaginable. Even more painful is that anyone would attempt to excuse and justify their deaths.
Both killings were driven by rage, not professionalism, common sense, or self-defense, and in no civilized society should anyone, in particular those acting in an official capacity, be permitted to use lethal force in the reckless manner that they did, especially when alternative actions and de-escalation were completely possible in both situations.
As others have said, in moments like these, we must believe our eyes, not the lies. That may be one of the most important things to remember right now. We are fortunate to live in a time when so much is recorded because headlines, articles, and political statements are not always honest. Before we form judgments, we need to go directly to the raw footage, even when it may be difficult to watch.
After viewing the footage, it's clear that anyone justifying the shootings is choosing a narrative over basic humanity and truth. Ask yourself: if this involved private citizens, would you still label these actions as self-defense? Shots fired into a mom’s head from the side of a vehicle after it was already passing. Ten rounds fired by a handful of masked people into an unarmed nurse pinned and curled defenseless on the ground. This is the reality people are being asked to accept and justify, and that is blatantly wrong.
Ask yourself whether there was a disregard for life, and whether a different choice by the officials could have kept everyone alive, while still allowing for any legal repercussions that should have been faced for their actions, if any. Ask yourself whether our federal employees are legally required to prioritize alternative ways, not sometimes, but always. And ask yourself whether these federal employees, being only human and therefore fallible, can sometimes make mistakes, or not have the purest intentions, and when that happens, should they not be held accountable and face consequences?
It has become too easy for politicians to dehumanize people with labels like “illegal alien” or “domestic terrorist.” Some of us are too busy to dive deeper into the specific circumstances of these shootings, so words truly matter at this time. When someone is reduced to a simple and derogatory label, it becomes easier to detach from their humanity and from the truth of what happened, excuse it, and justify something that should never ever be justified. These labels are used intentionally, so accountability can fade and harm can continue without consequences.
Don't let that happen.
Rest in peace, Renee and Alex.