1. United States
2. W.V.
3. Letter

Our eyes did not lie to us on January 6th, and they are not lying to us now. We know that 2 + 2 = 4 — and we will not be told it equals 5. On Saturday, January 25, 2026, Alex Pretti was directing traffic in a suburb of Minneapolis. When a woman was pushed to the ground by Border Patrol Security Agents (BPSA), Mr. Pretti walked over to assist her. While holding his iPhone and filming the incident, he was pepper-sprayed in the face and shoved from behind by multiple agents. As he attempted to push his face off the ground with both hands, an agent removed a legally carried pistol from Mr. Pretti’s waistband (he possessed a valid concealed carry permit) and stepped back. Moments later, other agents fired point-blank into Mr. Pretti’s back ten times, killing him. Within minutes, Secretary Kristi Noem publicly claimed that Mr. Pretti “brought a gun to terrorize” the agents. This statement was false. It represents a deliberate mischaracterization of events and a dangerous distortion of the truth. Americans are being asked to deny what they see with their own eyes — to accept propaganda over evidence. That is the language and practice of authoritarianism. This was the second killing of an American citizen under similar circumstances. These actions, and the messaging that follows them, reflect a pattern — not an isolated incident. It is also clear that Stephen Miller is shaping these tactics and policies. His long-documented ideology reflects white nationalist beliefs rooted in the “replacement” conspiracy theory — the false claim that white Christian Americans are being replaced by immigrants and people of color. American democracy was built by immigrants. This nation was founded on pluralism, not racial hierarchy. We are now witnessing the erosion of core constitutional rights: Freedom of assembly Peaceful protest Freedom of the press Protection from unreasonable search and seizure Due process of law These are not political privileges — they are birthrights guaranteed by the Constitution. When ideology becomes policy, and dehumanization becomes justification, violence becomes acceptable. Anyone who defends democratic values becomes a target. That is not law enforcement — it is political repression. The killings of Rene Good and Alex Pretti force a national choice:
We either stand for democracy, the Constitution, and the rule of law — or we accept a nation governed by fear, propaganda, and militarized authority. Defunding the Department of Homeland Security may ultimately be necessary, but current legislation funds DHS through September 15. Immediate action is still possible. I am asking you to act now: Pass emergency legislation to reform ICE and Border Patrol Remove Stephen Miller and Secretary Kristi Noem from positions of power Pass comprehensive border legislation that secures the border while establishing a humane, legal pathway to citizenship Restore civilian oversight, constitutional accountability, and transparent use-of-force standards This would not require unanimity — only courage. Sixteen Republicans voting with Democrats could end this trajectory. And the majority of Americans would support it. Democracy does not die in a single moment — it erodes when leaders fail to act. History will remember who defended the Constitution — and who stayed silent.