Alex Pretti
Rest in all your gentle power
Words from his parents
We are heartbroken but also very angry.
"Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital. Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately he will not be with us to see his impact. I do not throw around the hero term lightly. However his last thought and act was to protect a woman.
"The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump's murdering and cowardly ICE thugs. He has his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down all while being pepper sprayed.
"Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man. Thank you."
Notes on Surviving
On this sharp, icy-cold day in January, my thoughts turn to a woman who crossed my life path long ago. Linnea and i first came in contact with one another in the '70's. Linnea was a big-boned, heavy-set woman who looked like she meant business. She was in a psych ward in Duluth because she'd gone off her meds; i was there because i needed help with anxiety and depression.
Linnea was given a private room for reasons that became clear to me in a day or two. She hollered and went on a swearing bender anytime someone entered her room. Yet she wandered into others' rooms at night, not to harm them, but to steal the things she had no money to buy. One morning i woke up to find my comb and toothbrush missing; I went on a mission to retrieve them and i went to her room to ask for them back. What i saw was a wounded person. After facing an onslaught of language not-repeatable-on-TV,
i fought the urge to retreat. Instead i decided to back up a bit, let her settle into my presence, and simply let her run out of gas. Linnea was operating out of defense; neither of us meant to hurt each other, and when her eyes met mine, there was a recognition of each other.
It soon became clear that those items were now hers; no harm done.
A decade and a half later, on such a day as this, i was driving the bus down the Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis. And, there was Linnea. She looked dishevelled and worn with her big, heavy coat and frumpy hat; she had two large garbage bags, one on either side of her bent body. i opened the door at the stop. Our eyes met as they had earlier, and contrary to the rules, i left my seat to help her get on. i knew she didn't have the fare; she was still the 'bag lady' she'd always been, moving from one 24-hour laundromat to another in the evenings just to stay warm and alive. Now, seated by herself, all was well. Some passengers, however, were disturbed that she was carrying on a conversation with herself out loud, as was her way, and began to tell her to be quiet.
Their admonitions soon turned to bullying. Linnea's quiet talk got louder and more profane as the threat grew. Within minutes i pulled the bus over, got out of my seat again and told the offenders that this woman happened to be someone i knew and if they didn't like that, they could find the doors. The bullies mumbled about what i said and got off two stops later.
When i reached my layover point, Linnea was the only remaining human passenger on that bus. We stayed warm, quiet, and comfortable there.
We were survivors.
— jester
Next NP Meeting
Conversation with Emanuel Anastos
- When:
- Wednesday, February 4, 6:30–8:00pm
- Where:
- Cook Community Center
510 Gopher Dr.
Cook, MN
- Special Guest
- Emanuel Anastos, Candidate for CD-8
Special speaker Emanuel Anastos, a candidate for CD-8, will address us. Emanuel earned a degree in Philosophy at Carlton College and is a native of Long Island, NY. He currently works in the Indian Child Welfare department at Bois Forte Reservation and resides in Tower, MN.
This is your opportunity to hear more about his positions on issues that matter to you & to ask
him your questions.
Please bring a donation for the Cook Area Food Shelf. Light refreshments will be served. All are welcome!
Breakfast in the Afternoon
- When:
- Friday, February 13, 2:00pm
- Where:
- Tavern In The Bay
Greenwood Township near Tower
Here's your opportunity to set the agenda for our future actions and programming!
All are welcome to attend.
Signing & Resisting Events
Each Friday at noon at the following locations:
- Cook: Hwy 53 and River Street
- Tower: Mainstreet by the locomotive
- Ely: Sheridan St. & Central Ave
Signs should include issues common to everyone like good jobs, enough money for food and healthcare, and a good education.
Other events
DFL Environmental Caucus Winter Member Meeting
Path to Victory 2026
from DFL
- When:
- January 25, 6:30pm
- Where:
- Zoom
This meeting will feature:
- An opportunity to hear from candidates seeking elected office
- Discussion of how to succeed at your precinct caucus on February 3
- The resolutions and endorsed candidates (so far) the DFLEC is supporting this year
- A preview of our plans to win an environment-friendly majority in the 2026 election
Training — Movement Strong Action
Women’s March, Mayday Strong, 50501, FEMINIST, and movement partners
- When:
- January 26, 6:30pm CT
- Where:
- Online
An interactive session focused on building the skills we need right now.
Training — Community Defense and ICE Watch
by States at the Core (STAC)
- When:
- January 28, 6:00pm CT
- Where:
- Zoom
"Join this 90-minute training from States at the Core and Protect RP on effectively protecting your neighborhoods from federal enforcement incursions. ICE Watch and other rapid response tactics are key strategies being used by people across the country to protect their communities against aggressive activity from federal law enforcement agencies like ICE and Border Patrol. Whether or not you are part of an established community response network, this training will share important skills for building neighborhood resilience, documenting ICE activity, and supporting neighbors. In addition to covering the basics of ICE Watch, we will discuss new analysis on ICE operations, rapid response tactics, and safety guidance."
Attend Your Precinct Caucus Feb. 3
Get ready!
Two of the most powerful ways for many of us Minnesota writers and other citizens to influence the behavior of our government are to register and vote in elections, and to participate in our precinct caucus.
- When:
- Tuesday, February 3, 7:00pm
Caucuses occur every even-numbered year on the first Tuesday in February. The 2026 elections in the fall will determine control of the Minnesota state government and impact policies related to the environment, gun safety, women’s rights, and many more.
But first: what are precinct caucuses?
Precinct caucuses are local meetings run by political parties. Anyone may participate if they live in the precinct, are eligible to vote in 2026 (must be at least 18 on Nov. 3), and generally support the party hosting the meeting.
By attending a caucus, you can learn about candidates for public office and influence who your party will endorse. You can bring up issues important to you that might eventually make their way into the party platform. Perhaps you will be chosen and agree to attend the district convention to represent a point-of-view. The next level of involvement would be the State convention!
Very often, anyone showing up to the caucus can become a delegate. Only a small percentage of citizens attend precinct caucuses, which means that your participation can have a large influence on the election process.
You can visit the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State website for more information about precinct caucuses, including the location of the one you should attend, based on your political leanings and address.
Aaron Kania, Candidate for MN House District 3A
Conversation with the candidate
- When:
- Wednesday, February 18, 6:30–8:00pm
- Where:
- Cook Community Center
510 Gopher Dr.
Cook, MN
Free Community Meal
Strength through Community
- When:
- First & Third Sundays, 12:00–3:00pm
- Where:
- 510 Chestnut Street
Virginia, MN
- Free hot meal
- Food distribution
- Clothing distribution
- Free store table
Note that food, hygiene, clothing donations are needed!
Calls to Action
Contact your Senators
Not a penny more for ICE brutality!
The DHS appropriations bill that just passed the House would hand MORE funding to ICE and Border Patrol, and do little to rein in their abuses.
So we are calling on the Senate to reject the current bill, and withhold their votes from any legislation funding DHS.
Read Learn Share
Thank you to all those who came to the Constitutional Observer
training in Soudan. You can find all of the resources we
discussed (& many more) on the Northern Civil Defense Website.
