The events in Minneapolis this month are heartbreaking. First, with the killing of Renee Good. And now, with the shooting of Alex Pretti, a fellow healthcare worker. These deaths at the hands of federal government agents are tragic, enraging, and unacceptable. Their families, friends, and communities, along with the Veterans that Alex served as an ICU nurse at the VA, will all no doubt feel their loss; deaths that were the result of unchecked government violence. As a union whose members work hand in hand with the VA, as physicians, and as human beings, we condemn the killing of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in the harshest terms. All humans, citizens or not, should feel safe in this country and these protests highlight a deep fissure in our society. 

We know that words do not do much, and that the ability of one union at one hospital to effect change at the federal level is limited. Nonetheless, the HOA supports the people of Minnesota and their fight to remove armed and masked federal agents from their streets, worksites, and doorsteps. 

House Officers who are interested in supporting people on the ground in Minneapolis can avail themselves of the resources below. If you are aware of another available resource not listed, please let the HOA know so we can add it.

Resource list:

Stand with Minnesota’s website is a centralized resource with mutual aid orgs, crowdfunding efforts, and gofundmes. They have a page for actions to take for those looking for how to support further.

Here is the go fund me for Alex Pretti, which already has over $500,000 in donations that the family has direct access to.

MPLS mutual aid is a centralized list of many mutual aid orgs active in the community

The Community Aid Network of MN is providing free food and supplies to families who are unable to leave home or otherwise need support, and has been around since 2020

The Immigrant Defense Project is a 30-year-old organization that provides legal services to immigrants and advocate for policy

Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota is a nonprofit org that provides legal services to low income immigrants in Minnesota and ND

The Women Foundation of MN runs an Immigrant Rapid Response Fund in which a coalition of local leaders focuses on mobilizing basic resources and legal protection to groups on the frontlines