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Responding to the news in a cartoon is a tricky business. I had this feeling I wanted to do something today about Minnesota, but wasn’t sure what. I’m not the kind of cartoonist who does a caricature of Kristi Noem and her hair, or make fun of Greg Bovino’s macho coat, as much as I want to. I’m frankly tired of drawing Trump, but that doesn’t mean I won’t draw him again-- of course I will. Today I thought I would do something quieter, and as my brain was scanning around thinking about the snowstorm, Minnesota, a sketch of Alex Pretti.
I am so impressed with Minnesotans and their community activism and care. I know they get a lot of snow up there, so I thought about snow people and how Northeast snow people might want to join other snow people in Minnesota. That’s sort of the basis of this idea. It’s not really a full-fledged cartoon with a perfect caption, but it expresses a sentiment that I wanted to get across.
Many of you are probably very up to date on what’s gone on since the murder on Saturday in Minneapolis of Alex Pretti. But in case you want an update, I provide some information here, taken from my reading of various news sources, press conferences and opinions. I also offer some of my own comments throughout and some hopeful stuff.
Trump and his minions called Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, a “would-be assassin” seeking to harm federal agents and asserted that he had committed an act of “domestic terrorism.” The videos tell us otherwise. In fact he was there using his phone to film, then assisted a woman whom ICE has shoved to the sidewalk. The agents (6?) continued to pepper spray his face at close range, wrestled him to the ground, took his legal firearm from his back pocket, hit him and them pummeled him with 10 bullets. The killers left the scene, did not administer aid. We are told they are still working.
Here is a video anaysis of the killing.
They are calling it “Operation Metro Surge.” How sick and overly macho. Is it someone’s job to come up with stupid operation names?
A federal judge in Minnesota will hear arguments as state and local officials seek to halt the federal deployment of agents in Minnesota. They are not asking for an end to all immigration enforcement, but an order a return to pre-surge levels of agents. They also ask for restrictions on the actions of agents who remain. That’s happening now.
Trump, ICE head Greg Bovino, and Homeland Security head Noem repeatedly blamed Pretti for his own death. At a press conference yesterday, Bovino went on and on about “choices,” like he was speaking to a third grade class, schooling us how the choices that we make have consequences. It was hard to watch. Bovino repeatedly claimed that Pretti had “inserted himself into a crime scene” (what crime scene?), interfered with law enforcement activities, that he came with a loaded gun and “many rounds of ammunition,” planning to kill federal agents. Bovino stated on CNN that the true victims of the tragic killing of Alex Pretti were the federal agents. Incredible.
All these false claims are being amplified on social media by Trump loyalists. Some right wing media and some Republicans are casting doubt, which is hopeful.
“The credibility of ICE and D.H.S. are at stake,” Senator Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican increasingly at odds with Trump, posted on social media. “There must be a full joint federal and state investigation. We can trust the American people with the truth.”
From Politico: “Many of us wonder if the administration has any clue as to how much this will hurt us legislatively and electorally this year,” said one House Republican granted anonymity.
The government is at risk of a shutdown again at the end of the week. Republicans have put forward a bill that includes full funding of ICE and are urging the Democrats to quote “join us.” I think this is where we may see some potential change, some GOP defectors; I hope so.
A NY Times Editorial Board opinion headline yesterday:
The Trump Administration Is Lying to Our Faces. Congress Must Act.
“Congress has the power to hold the administration accountable through its control of federal spending. A pending bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security offers a crucial opportunity to perform scrutiny and impose necessary guardrails, such as funding for body cameras. It is a disgrace that the first public comment by Mr. Trump in the wake of Mr. Pretti’s death was to post a picture on social media of what he described as “the gunman’s gun.” Stephen Miller, arguably Mr. Trump’s most influential adviser, wrote on social media, without offering evidence, that Mr. Pretti was ‘an assassin.’”
Good news: Minnesotans are organizing food drives, patrolling the streets, assisting with legal services and are very organized in there solidarity. The Minnesota prison system took the extraordinary step of launching its own website to combat lies from the Department of Homeland Security.
Minnesota officials have deployed National Guard in Minneapolis to help keep peace. They wear distinctive neon vests to distinguish themselves from ice agents, and are handing out doughnuts and coffee to anti-ICE protestors. The NBA took a stand. Some GOP are hating on Kristi Noem’s outrageous lies.
Enough, however? Are we at an inflection point, as Govenor Walz said on Saturday? I kind of feel we might be.
Supporters of guns rights are angry with Trump administration officials implying that Alex Pretti had no right to bring a gun to a protest. In Minnesota it is legal to carry a gun if you have a permit; Pretti had a permit. The implication that just because he had a gun, he was going to commit mass murder is inflamatory, and not something gun rights activists like to hear. Nor do I. I hate guns, but that’s illogical and wrong to make assumptions about people.
And still, no Epstein Files. Is this what it’s all about?
Thanks for being here. Stay connected, strong, and try to find humor!