Clinton and Obama call on Americans to defend their values ​​after the events in Minneapolis

The two former US presidents, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, called on their citizens to defend their values, after the federal police killed a second citizen in Minneapolis, a development that current President Donald Trump attributed to “the chaos caused by the Democrats.”

Alex Pretty, a 37-year-old American nurse who works in the intensive care unit at a veterans hospital, was killed by gunfire following a skirmish that took place on Saturday with federal security personnel in the northern city of Minneapolis, during protests against the operations of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency.

His killing exacerbates to the greatest extent the already existing tension in Minneapolis following the killing of 37-year-old American Renee Good, also shot by federal security agents on January 7 in the same city.

Former Democratic President Bill Clinton said: “It is the responsibility of every one of us who believe in the promise of American democracy to stand up and speak out,” considering that the Trump administration “lied” to the Americans about the killing of Preeti and Goode.

As for former Democratic President Barack Obama, he also called for what he described as an “awakening,” as he believed that the killing of Alex Peretti “should serve as a wake-up call for every American, regardless of party.” “Many of our core values ​​as a nation are under increasing attack,” he added.

For his part, Trump held local officials from the Democratic Party responsible for the killing of Preeti and Goode, and members of Congress belonging to the same political party, accusing them of inciting “rebellion” with their statements.

Trump wrote in a lengthy post on his “Truth Social” platform: “Unfortunately, two American citizens lost their lives as a result of this chaos caused by the Democrats.”

Minneapolis, located in the state of Minnesota, has been witnessing for weeks continuous protests against the spread and activity of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. Many city residents gathered the day before yesterday, in the bitter cold, in front of a memorial erected in honor of Alex Pretty at the site of the shooting.

“I am sad and angry about this loss,” said Lucy, a Minneapolis resident. She added: “But I am not afraid to be here, and I am not afraid to continue the struggle and defend what is right.”

In the center of this city, which has a population of just over 400,000 people, about 1,000 people gathered in honor of Alex Pretty and to protest the actions of the federal security forces, according to what Agence France-Presse noted.

Similar to what happened after the killing of Renee Goode, the Trump administration was quick to hold Alex Peretti responsible, as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accused him of “terrorism,” saying that he was carrying a weapon to target federal law enforcement officers, and the authorities published a picture of the gun.

An analysis by Agence France-Presse of several video clips of the incident contradicts that account.

The footage shows Alex Pretty, holding a phone on a snow-covered street, filming armed men wearing civilian clothes and jackets that say “Police.” Preity intervenes when a security officer pushes a female demonstrator to the ground on the sidewalk, before spraying her face with tear gas.

Then one of the officers throws Preeti to the ground, and a number of officers intervene, trying to handcuff him. Seconds later, security personnel opened fire while a policeman wearing a gray uniform tried to pull a gun from the waist of Preeti, who was kneeling, surrounded by a number of officers. They shoot his body several times after they disperse around him. At least 10 shots could be heard.

In a statement, Preity’s parents denounced what they described as “disgusting lies” issued by the Donald Trump administration.