The well-organized groups of agitators in Minneapolis, coordinated online to harass federal immigration agents (or anyone in an SUV, it seems), have begun employing tactics that any Israeli would recognize from decades of terrorism in their country.
The basic idea employed by both Minnesota leftists and Hamas is to make the authorities as threatening as possible, including through acts of violence, and then, when the authorities retaliate, to claim victimhood and martyrdom.
The tragic and unnecessary death of Alex Pretti on Saturday morning was a terrible example of this phenomenon, one that, unfortunately and unconscionably, is not only tolerated by Minnesota officials, but blatantly encouraged.
This undated photo by Michael Pretti shows Alex J. Pretti, the man shot by a federal officer in Minneapolis on Saturday, January 24, 2026. (Michael Pretti via AP)
The video of the shooting is blurry, and it will take time and testimony to piece together the chain of events that led to Pretti’s death. But there are a few facts that seem clear, and they all point to an organized effort to thwart and provoke law enforcement.
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Pretti left his home Friday with a gun and extra ammunition and a plan to obstruct federal agents, which is exactly what he appeared to do when he allegedly intervened in the arrest of a suspect.
It is reasonable to assume that Pretti brought the gun and additional clips in anticipation of a possible confrontation with law enforcement. Can we know for sure? No. Is it more likely than not? Absolute.
The key point here is that no matter how much one cherishes the Second Amendment, no one has the right to carry a gun while committing a crime because doing so obviously endangers everyone involved.
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Pretti’s defenders disingenuously claim that he was merely enjoying his rights as a gun owner during his protest, which would be fine unless there was no protest. Instead, he engaged in direct, illegal actions to interfere with the FBI.
This is why reports from all sides say that the crowd of hundreds of people was just gathering after the shooting, which is exactly what happened in the case of Renee Good, who also broke the law with a deadly weapon, in that case her SUV.
A Border Patrol member pepper sprays observers after getting into a car accident on Blaisdell Avenue on January 21, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
The tactics here are crystal clear: organize hordes of people to harass federal agents all day, then cross the line by breaking the law to create a flashpoint, even if it means people have to die.
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This is straight out of the Palestinian playbook: cause just enough damage to provoke a response and then claim that the response is disproportionate and malicious, as in, “We just sent a suicide bomber, you used rockets, that’s not fair!”
Let’s be clear: If you choose to fight federal agents while they are trying to arrest a criminal and you bring a gun to that fight, you have a very high chance of getting shot.
But this was more than just a bad decision by Pretti. These types of actions have been cynically sanctioned by local elected officials such as Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Governor Tim Walz, and Attorney General Keith Ellison.
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To date, none have urged citizens to stop organizing federal agents. It’s hard not to conclude that the deaths are good politics for them as they face one battle after another against President Donald Trump.
Frey, and Walz and Democrats in general, will hide behind the overused phrase “peaceful protest,” but will never say exactly what peaceful protest means.
Mayor Jacob Frey and Governor Tim Walz. (Getty Images)
Does peaceful protest also include storming churches? Does this also mean using your car to obstruct investigations? Does this count as carrying a weapon while committing a crime? They don’t want to say anything about this, and the only reason why, which makes no sense, is because they like the results.
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After Good’s death, conservatives implored Democrats to tell their followers to back off from illegally obstructing officers. We warned very specifically that this would cause more deaths. But Frey and Walz just didn’t care.
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Unfortunately we were right.
One lesson Israel has learned in fighting an enemy who wants or is willing to die is that the response to defending Israelis is widespread moral outrage and condemnation. The other lesson is that they have to do it anyway.
This is the conundrum facing the Trump administration today. They could throw in the towel and leave the Twin Cities to fend for themselves, but that would mean the end of federal law.
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No, the government must remain steadfast despite public outrage, mid-term concerns and the blatant intimidation of its officers.
It’s up to the people of Minnesota whether they want to create more martyrs for their cause, and unfortunately, given Frey and Walz’s support for lawlessness, we can expect more sooner or later.
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