The feckless Minnesota CEO response: George Floyd vs. Alex Pretti

At the beginning of December 2026: ICE announced an enforcement surge in the Twin Cities.January 6, 2026: DHS announced what it called the largest immigration enforcement operation ever carried out, sending 2,000 agents to the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area. January 7, 2026: ICE agent Jonathan Ross fatally shoots Renée Nicole GoodJanuary 8–14, 2026: Protests, vigils, and marches continue in Minneapolis against ICE and Operation Metro SurgeJanuary 13, 2026: ‘Madness’: two US citizens violently detained by ICE in Minnesota, officials say. Two Target employees forced to the ground, then into SUV, then dumped in different parking lotJanuary 14, 2026: A different ICE agent shoots and injures a man in north Minneapolis; the man survives after being shot in the leg. This second shooting further intensifies public anger and calls for an end to the federal surgeJanuary 17, 2026: National Anger Spills Into Target Stores, AgainJanuary 22, 2026: Target Store Staff Are Skipping Work Over ICE's Crackdown in MinnesotaJanuary 23, 2026: A statewide Day of Truth & Freedom / Minnesota general strike is held, described as the first U.S. general strike in about 80 years, explicitly targeting ICE operations and Operation Metro Surge. On that day, many workers, businesses, schools, and institutions in Minneapolis and across Minnesota participate in work stoppages, marches, and large rallies against federal immigration enforcement.January 24, 2026: Federal Border Patrol agents assigned to the metro surge shoot and kill Alex Jeffrey PrettiJanuary 25, 2026: The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce released this letter on behalf of more than 60 CEOs of Minnesota-based companies today.Eight people have died in dealings with ICE so far in 2026. Keith Porter, Parady La, Heber Sanchaz Domínguez, Victor Manuel Diaz, Luis Beltran Yanez-Cruz, Luis Gustavo Nunez Caceres, and Geraldo Lunas Campos. The high-profile fatal shootings follow the deaths of at least 32 people in ICE custody in 2025 – the highest number since 2004.Minnesota CEOs Seek De-Escalation After Border Police Shooting“The business community in Minnesota prides itself in providing leadership and solving problems to ensure a strong and vibrant state. The recent challenges facing our state have created widespread disruption and tragic loss of life. For the past several weeks, representatives of Minnesota’s business community have been working every day behind the scenes with federal, state and local officials to advance real solutions. These efforts have included close communication with the Governor, the White House, the Vice President and local mayors. There are ways for us to come together to foster progress. With yesterday’s tragic news, we are calling for an immediate deescalation of tensions and for state, local and federal officials to work together to find real solutions. We have been working for generations to build a strong and vibrant state here in Minnesota and will do so in the months and years ahead with equal and even greater commitment. In this difficult moment for our community, we call for peace and focused cooperation among local, state and federal leaders to achieve a swift and durable solution that enables families, businesses, our employees, and communities across Minnesota to resume our work to build a bright and prosperous future. “3M – William Brown, Chairman and CEOAmeriprise Financial – James Cracchiolo, Chairman and CEOAPi Group – Russell Becker, CEOBest Buy – Corie Barry, CEO C.H. Robinson – Dave Bozeman, President and CEODeluxe Corporation – Barry McCarthy, President and CEODonaldson Company, Inc. – Tod Carpenter, Chairman and CEOEcolab – Christophe Beck, Chairman and CEOGeneral Mills – Jeff Harmening, Chairman and CEOH.B. Fuller – On behalf of our entire organization [CEO Celeste Mastin]Hormel – Jeff Ettinger, Interim CEOMedtronic – Geoff Martha, CEO and ChairmannVent – Beth Wozniak, Chair and CEO Patterson Companies – Robert Rajalingam, CEOPentair – John L. Stauch, President and CEOPiper Sandler – Chad Abraham, Chairman and CEOSleep Number – Linda Findley, CEO (4/2025)Solventum – Bryan Hanson, CEOSPS Commerce – Chad Collins, CEO SunOpta – Brian Kocher, CEOTarget – Michael Fiddelke, Incoming CEO Tennant Company – Dave Huml, CEOThe Toro Company – Rick Olson, Chairman and CEOU.S. Bancorp – Gunjan Kedia, CEOWinnebago Industries – Michael Happe, CEOXcel Energy – Bob Frenzel, Chairman and CEO Keith Rabois, Managing director of Khosla Ventures: “no law enforcement has shot an innocent person. illegals are committing violent crimes everyday.”Khosla Ventures: “We prefer brutal honesty to hypocritical politeness.”“Technology and innovation have reshaped our world and disrupted the way we all live and work. The future may not be knowable, but it is inventable—and it belongs to those who dare to imagine what’s possible.”Managing Directors: 5 dudes (...