Everything about the murder of Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents this past Saturday in Minneapolis is horrifying.

The belligerent interactions of ICE/CBP personnel with city residents. The violent response to Alex's defense of a female legal observer. The swarming, overwhelming use of physical force to subdue Alex, a man whose actions were rooted in helping others, not attacking masked federal agents. The terrifying speed with which the physical assault turned into a deadly encounter. The chilling moment one agent appeared to clap immediately after the shooting. The failure to provide Alex with emergency medical aid.

Every bit of it would be unbelievable—if every bit wasn’t captured on video, by multiple observers from multiple angles. The sidewalk execution of VA ICU nurse Alex Pretti, beamed into our living rooms and dissected in excruciating detail, is undeniable. 

Celebrating the season of light and the season of resistance. 

“Lo ta’amod al dam re’echa”—Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor. (Leviticus 19:16)

On Yom Kippur evening this year, as Jews across the country prepared for the holiest day of our calendar, FBI Director Kash Patel announced that his agency was severing ties with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). He called the organization—founded in 1913 to fight antisemitism and defend civil rights—”an extreme group functioning like a terrorist organization.”

The timing was cruel, calculated, and sadly, predictable.

Today, our state, our democracy, and our values are under threat. The North Carolina Senate has approved a new congressional map that redraws districts to guarantee partisan outcomes — a map drawn purely for political gain.

Does every voice count equally in our state, or will our elected officials decide whose voice matters and whose does not?