Have you heard the news from Minneapolis?
In late January 2026, Alex Pretti, a U.S. citizen, lost his life in Minneapolis after being shot by federal authorities.
Furthermore, it has been reported that prior to this incident, Renée Good was also killed in the same city of Minneapolis after being shot by ICE agents.
Alex was a nurse at a Veterans Affairs hospital, a passionate cyclist, and a customer of our ally, Angry Cat Fish.
To mourn him and protest the excessive crackdowns by ICE, a general strike will be held this Friday, followed by commemorative solidarity group rides across the U.S. this Saturday.
The context behind these incidents, who is to blame, or what history and politics are involved—these are not things that can be easily summarized, so I won't go into them here (please read the section at the end!).
However, one thing I can say is that this "public violence in urban areas" is occurring as an extension of federal government policy.
What I find truly terrifying about this incident is that this public violence is being carried out under the leadership of the current United States federal government.
Who wanted this?
Who wanted the government to murder innocent citizens like this?
I’m sure most people did not.
However, in modern democratic nations, including Japan, the government is one that "we chose."
Do you think this is a story for a faraway country? I don't think so. The blood they spilled was shed because of a bug in the same operating system we share—"democracy."
Why are our friends in Minneapolis closing their shops in sub-zero temperatures and standing on the streets at great personal risk? It is because they know that when power runs rampant and neighbors are unreasonably excluded, turning your back and saying "it's none of my business" makes you an accomplice.
Looking toward society
As a cyclist, we know one thing: no matter how good a bike is, if you neglect its maintenance, it will rust, or bolts will come loose—and in the worst case, it can cost the rider their life.
I think politics is very much the same.
If we neglect to stay engaged, saying "it won't change no matter who wins" or "I don't know who's good," the bolts of society loosen. The instability created by this always hits the most vulnerable, or affects our precious spaces for play.
Tragedies that nobody wanted are born and spiral out of control in places where nobody is watching.
And, though this is just my personal opinion, I fear that a similar situation to what is happening in the U.S. could occur in Japan to some degree.
＊If you are unsure who or which party to vote for, there are convenient websites like this that I encourage you to use:
https://japanchoice.jp/vote-navi
Election Day is February 8th.
Election Day for the House of Representatives is Sunday, February 8th.
I had a business trip scheduled, so I went to early voting, which began yesterday. You can vote early even if you haven't received your official notification card yet.
Please, go out and vote.
Do it so that the "local bike shop" you love doesn't go out of business. Do it so that ours remains a city where no one is excluded and diverse cultures can breathe. And above all, do it so that power does not become a monster that hurts us or our friends.
And on Election Day, let's ride our bikes.
Before you head to your usual trail or cafe, take a small detour of a few kilometers to the polling station.
Vote for Us. Let's go on a ride to express our will and protect the ground beneath our feet.
Also, I would be grateful if you could think of Alex and his family while you ride your bike on Saturday, January 31st.
In conclusion
Regarding this ICE incident in Minneapolis—viewing it through the lens of having been raised in Japan, one might easily think, "Aren't the illegal immigrants the ones in the wrong?" Please let me add some context.
Historically, America has been a country tolerant of immigrants.
Before 9/11 in 2001, there was no strict management system like Japan’s family registry (koseki) or resident record system; there was an unspoken understanding on the ground (the American Dream) that "immigrants who are willing to work and have the drive to pay taxes are welcome." The city of Minneapolis is one of the places trying to protect that tradition—the symbol of freedom—until the end.
Furthermore, in the U.S., separate from federal law, there is "state law," where states hold significant authority. There is a system in place to protect the independence of states, meaning even the federal government cannot force state police or administration to comply (which is exactly why local police and federal organizations sometimes clash).
Why are they forced into a position of being called "illegal immigrants"? Why does the federal government clash with the states? This issue is deeply rooted in the very founding of the United States. If you are interested, please do some research. You will likely see a different landscape than what is presented in superficial news reports.
Please, if you are interested, take some time to look into it.