Khaberni - Minnesota Governor, Tim Walz, launched a clear and widespread attack on President Donald Trump's administration, the day after the killing of the citizen Alex Pretty (37 years old) by federal agents in South Minneapolis.
Walz's talk came in an emotional press conference on Sunday, where he described the killing of Pretty - a nurse at the Veterans Hospital and a legal weapon owner - as part of a series of violent incidents resulting from "Metro Operation," a campaign launched by the administration to bolster federal security presence in selected American cities. He pointed out that this incident was the third of its kind this month, and the second resulting in death.
The governor's speech focused on several demands and key accusations:
1. Withdrawal of Federals: Walz repeatedly and directly demanded the withdrawal of about 3000 federal agents from his state, describing them as "untrained" and their presence as "occupation" and "unholy chaos".
2. Holding Trump accountable: He directed a series of rhetorical questions to former President Donald Trump, saying: "What is the plan, Donald Trump?... If fear, violence, and chaos were what you wanted from us, clearly you underestimated the people of this state and the nation".
3. Media misinformation: He strongly denounced the federal official narrative that described Pretty as a "domestic terrorist" or "crazy," accusing senior officials of the former administration - including Trump and his vice president, and the Secretary of Homeland Security - of "slandering" the victim and "misleading the entire country" without evidence.
4. Obstruction of the investigation: He criticized the federal authorities' attempts to close the crime scene, remove evidence, and their non-cooperation with the local investigation, which prompted the courts to issue an order prohibiting the destruction of evidence.
Walz’s speech transcended political criticism to a strong humanitarian and emotional appeal, dedicating a large part of his speech to narrate Alex Pretty's human story, at the request of his parents, emphasizing his life as a "skilled nurse" and "friend" and "beloved citizen" and "witness" to the events, not just a victim.
He also called on all Americans, regardless of their political affiliation, to put politics aside and see the incident as an ethical and humanitarian issue, saying: "This is a turning point, America... This must be the moment".
He praised the resilience and integrity of the people of Minnesota, describing them as "clearly united" despite exhaustion and anger, and called on them to continue peaceful protests.
Walz concluded his speech with a tragic warning, likening the state of fear experienced by the children of the state to the story of Anne Frank, and said: "We have children in Minnesota hiding in their homes, scared to go outside... Someone will write that story for the children about Minnesota".
He addressed Trump again: "Please show some decency, withdraw these people.. Allow us to do the job we were elected to do: protect the people of Minnesota".
This speech represents an unprecedented escalation in the conflict between the Minnesota state government and the previous federal administration, turning a law enforcement issue into a constitutional and national crisis about the limits of federal authority, states' rights, and basic ethical standards in governance.
