Letter: Demand accountability for federal killings
Published 7:35 am Wednesday, January 28, 2026
The second death in Minneapolis at the hands of federal troops in less than three weeks — both involving citizens acting within their constitutional rights — forces us to confront what is happening in our country.
The conduct of heavily armed, poorly trained federal agents suggests their mission is not to target dangerous criminals, but to intimidate and silence anyone who dares to oppose an authoritarian and racist agenda.
This is not law enforcement; it is a direct threat to democratic principles. These operations, aimed at blue states while advancing an anti-immigrant agenda, are not about protecting the public from the “worst of the worst.”
Across the country, thousands of ordinary people are compelled to organize to protect vulnerable neighbors from federal agents who operate without transparency or accountability.
Communities are witnessing tactics designed to instill fear, not promote safety. The images speak for themselves: children in zip-tied handcuffs, teenagers pulled from cars after windows are smashed, parents detained taking their kids to school, elderly residents dragged from their homes.
The majority of those arrested have no criminal record, and many are U.S. citizens, or lawfully present. These clearly are not the “worst of the worst.” Renee Good and Alex Pretti acted out of compassion and civic responsibility. Alex’s final words — “Are you OK?” — reflect the humanity these operations lack.
The government’s distortions of their murders are an outrageous insult to their memories. Accountability for the agents involved, and the leaders who enable them, is essential. I stand with Minnesota.
JULIA HESSE
Astoria
