The shock and horror I feel about what is happening now in my home state of Minnesota cannot be adequately encapsulated in words today.

Nonetheless, I’ll try-from my perch just across the border in Wisconsin.

At 37, Renee Good and Alex Pretti were in the prime of their lives. They were, by all accounts, good people. Upstanding citizens who cared about their fellow humans. Who caused no harm while exercising their First Amendment rights, standing bravely against evil-doers fixing to harm their fellow Minnesotans and wreak havoc within the city of Minneapolis.

Alex was also exercising his Second Amendment rights. A good guy with a gun; how horrifically ironic. He was an ICU nurse at the VA. Think about that for a second. Every American reading this right now can easily come up with an image in their mind’s eye of a person they personally know who served in the U.S. military. Like my Dad, Babe, who served in the Korean War. If he were here in the flesh now, in January of 2026, he’d be livid. Absolutely wild with rage at these morally injurious times we have landed our American asses in. Alex cared for vets like my Dad.

And Renee. A mother of three and a poet. What a cutie. She was fresh-faced and appeared to be very kind. She even told her executioner, “hey man, I’m not mad at you”.

This is just so heartbreaking, and it sickens me that the federal agents who murdered these two have not been arrested. That is unacceptable.

From my lips to Karma’s ear, may justice be complete and swift for all of those responsible for these atrocities. Every last one of them.

I’ve always been proud to be from Minnesota. But these days, I’m even more proud because of the groundswell of support I’m seeing from Minnesotans for their neighbors in these horrifying times.

I’m proud that the people of my home state are simply not having it. Some are banging their drums outside in the frigid temps with anti-ICE signs propped up next to their drum kits. Some are marching in the streets, singing the songs of solidarity. Some are organizing food trains for their immigrant friends and neighbors who are too fearful to venture beyond their front doors.

A little cold air and ice (and now, ICE) isn’t keeping the hearty Minnesotans away from taking to the streets and standing up to the bullies in their midst. Minnesotans are nice, of course. Duh. But that goes hand-in-hand with being no-nonsense, gritty, honest, and hard-working. Minnesotans, by and large, take no crap. They do not hesitate to call out b.s. when they see it.

From Governor Tim Walz, to the police chiefs, to the mayors and the brave protesters in my home state, I say with sincerity, may God (or the Universe) bless you. Keep up the good fight and never lose hope.

A lot of us have your backs.

ICE OUT of Minnesota!