I just watched the video of Alex Pretti being murdered by a gang of federal ICE agents. Although, to be fair, they look more like Mexican drug cartel thugs rather than federal law enforcement officers.

It’s incredible to watch what’s happening in America.

And also to watch what’s not happening.

I remember watching the L.A. Riots on live TV after city cops were acquitted for beating Rodney King on the side of the highway.

Federal agents this month straight-up murdered two US citizens in broad daylight, and the reactions have been marches and protests, people blowing whistles, and angry tweets.

However, this is not to conflate the two situations. The first was about generations of systemic racial injustice coming to a boil. The current situation concerns the encroachment and institutionalization of fascism in America.

The particulars of the circumstances and events are also markedly different. The horrific roadside beating of Rodney King by the LAPD was caught on a single 1980s Sony Camcorder. From a balcony 90 feet away. At half past midnight. Pre-internet.

Renee Good was murdered by ICE agent Jonathan Ross at 9:37 a.m. on a clear, sunny day. In front of dozens of witnesses. And filmed by multiple high-megapixel digital cameras.

Alex Pretti was murdered by multiple ICE agents at 9:05 a.m. on a clear, sunny day. In front of dozens of witnesses. And filmed by multiple high-megapixel digital cameras.

Both broad-daylight murders in Minnesota were essentially streamed live and then shared extensively on social media, websites, and good ol’ television.

There are other differences as well, pertaining to the circumstances of the attacks. Not to excuse the police brutality or victim blame, but Rodney King was driving drunk and attempted to evade police.

Renee Good was stopped on a suburban street, with her hands clearly visible—posing a threat to no one. She was slowly pulling away when Jonathan Ross shot her in the side of the head after shooting her twice in the body.

Alex Pretti was helping a woman who’d been thrown to the ground by an ICE agent. He then held up a cellphone as the same agent assaulted him with an excessive torrent of pepper spray. As four or five agents pinned him to the ground face down and proceeded to beat him, one of the bullies yelled “Gun!” and the untrained gang of federal thugs unloaded their clips on Pretti. They shot him in the head at point blank range then put another 9 rounds into his back.

The LAPD said King was resisting—as four cops took their clubs to him as he curled up on the ground. But the video evidence could not be denied. People had eyes. Even politicians had eyes back then. So the police were charged and taken to trial. It was only then that they were found not guilty, setting off the powder keg.

But times are different now. Immediately following the public executions of both Renee Good and Alex Pretti, with straight faces, the US government told The People: “ignore the evidence of your eyes and ears.” Donald Trump—the President—called Renee Good a terrorist. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem dubbed Good a “domestic terrorist” a few hours after Ross murdered her, lying that she tried to run agents over “and rammed them with her vehicle.”

In addition to and including Good and Pretti, ICE has killed nine people in 2026—as of January 26th. And those are just the people the public knows about. The other 7 people are: Keith Porter, Parady La, Heber Sanchaz Domínguez, Victor Manuel Diaz, Luis Beltran Yanez-Cruz, Luis Gustavo Nunez Caceres, and Geraldo Lunas Campos.

So the people tweeted in anger.

They painted signs.

They marched and chanted, and shook their fists, and wagged their fingers.

But “their discontent led nowhere”.

There’s only one way to fight fascism, and it’s not with harsh words. So this current dearth of violent resistance is a bellwether of America’s future.

While he wasn’t speaking directly about American democracy, Mark Carney’s recent declaration at the Davos summit echoes south of the Canadian border: “The old order is not coming back.”