I am Proud to Be From Minneapolis, Nominated for 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for Its Resistance to Violent Authoritarianism
- Operation Metro Surge lived up to its name, as Minneapolis surged in response.
I was watching Anderson Cooper’s interview with the “pink coat lady” when I made a decision to finally put my thoughts and emotions into words. “That is the least I could do,” was the last thing she said referring to the video she had taken. Well, this is the least I can do — for Renee Good, Alex Pretti (they have a cute nickname now “Pretti Good”), my fellow Minnesotans and anyone else interested in listening to what we have been going through. So, here I am, with tears rolling down my cheeks…
These last few weeks, news became an obsession but also a reason for my anxiety, sadness, and sense of helplessness. In a normal situation, I would have grieved endless with any one of these events, but opportunities for my grief are endless pushing me to my limits. I am craving a return to normalcy, where our complaints are about workloads or bad movie plots.
If I am being whiny and/or cryptic, let me just say one thing. I am from MINNEAPOLIS. Yes, that little city in the Midwest, not in the news much, not even when there is a foot of snowfall. Actually snow and ice are our normalcy, as is that sense of community and pride. Google said: Minnesota is consistently ranked as one of the happiest, healthiest, and most prosperous states in the U.S.
Then, ICE of a different and chillier kind started creeping into our lives, but increasing in intensity and cruelty, week by week. As we began to pay attention, our initial reactions of indifference or boredom gave way to a complex mix of emotions – fear, shock, disbelief, sadness – and the list goes on.
We thought Renee Good’s killing, however sad, was a turning point. We expected and hoped lessons would be learned and changes would be made to safeguard human life. We expected the world to notice more importantly. Our breaking point was Alex’s tragic killing, sending shockwaves through the community.
I do want to talk about illegals who have been living in this country peacefully, some of them for years. If we cannot absorb them all and deportation is the only option, can we at least find humane ways, instead of dragging people, even pregnant women, snatching kids from schools and bus stops.
Our hearts broke all over again when both… were labeled as Domestic terrorists by some officials/media, the heroes we celebrated for the kindness and selflessness they showed to complete strangers. If these people are terrorists, then a significant portion of the city (or community) qualify for that title and will proudly flaunt it.
The world may have seen videos of loud protests, there were an equal number of quiet vigils. We have badass moms delivering groceries and planning pickups and drop-offs for their neighbors. Donations ranged from diapers for babies to whistles and handwarmers to front line protestors. The community’s kindness helped lift our spirits, filling us with positive emotions that we hadn’t experienced in weeks.
Immigration is a nuanced matter — we have refugees seeking asylum, H1B workers working on a temporary basis, students at Universities and Colleges, and naturalized citizens, all with paperwork to live legally here in the U.S. Changing policies with no clarification, making them all vulnerable to deportation overnight and separating families is a harsh reality many are facing.
Citizens being dragged out of their homes and vehicles (some in their underwear), some who have served in the Military and fought for this country, just based on their accents and skin color are terrorizing Minnesotans and the rest of the civilized world. It feels like we are living in a war zone where your rights do not matter anymore.
I do want to talk about illegals who have been living in this country peacefully, some of them for years. If we cannot absorb them all and deportation is the only option, can we at least find humane ways, instead of dragging people, even pregnant women, snatching kids from schools and bus stops, breaking/smoking cars, making a spectacle out of it. If the WHAT and WHO are debatable, the HOW should not be.
No words can describe the toll it took on our community — people, businesses, schools, you name it. Residents braved freezing temps to protest, businesses closed in solidarity. Kids missed classes and simple chores like grocery shopping ended up feeling like adventures. The most painful however was to see ICE officials, Bovino himself sometimes with his entourage, walking our streets like warlords.
As we navigate the complexities of immigration, let’s prioritize humanity and compassion. The ‘how’ of deportation matters – it reflects our values and dignity as a society. We owe it to our kids, to the world, and to civilization. Let’s make the right kind of history.
As I am finishing this up, I just heard from a friend that The Nation magazine has formally nominated the city of Minneapolis and its people for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, their reason being “resistance to violent authoritarianism.” Tearing up all over again, so proud of you Minnesota.
Padma Nadella is an IT professional who lives in Eagan, Minnesota, with her husband and 17-year-old son. She manages a Facebook group for Minnesotans to collaborate on events and activities related to health and fitness. The group now has over two thousand members. Jack of all trades, she enjoys playing volleyball, traveling the world, and entertaining, mostly, but dabbles in everything else.