My Weekend in Minneapolis

By Ronny Bruce

Minnesota is on fire. That’s all I heard since the feds beefed up operations in Minnesota and following the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Many folks referred to Minneapolis as a war zone while both legacy and alternative media outlets ran with the “Minnesota on fire” narrative. Stories made the rounds about George Soros funded protests, paid agitators, Antifa, etc. This wicked characterization of Minnesota triggered my curiosity, so I decided to travel north to take a look for myself.

A friend of mine and former medic from my infantry platoon in Afghanistan, I’ll refer to as Doc, lives in Minnesota and was becoming a major player in the protests. An interview with him following Pretti’s killing went viral. Doc mentioned the need for ICE along with the importance of deporting illegals involved in criminal activity, BUT he said ICE lost Minnesota’s trust once they started killing people. Sounds reasonable. ICE’s mission = noble; ICE’s tactics = shit. I respect Doc. He’s one of my favs from back in the day because he treated a lotta wounded in a hard-hit platoon that saw half of its members wounded during the yearlong deployment. Hitting the protests was a good excuse to visit a friend. Plus, I’d be instantly vetted tagging along with a local which would give me credibility amongst protestors. My Georgia twang stands out up North, and I didn’t wannabe viewed as an outsider looking for trouble. I also wanted to see where Doc’s head was at. It was obvious these tragedies gut-punched him and had a deep impact.

My grunt skills would be put to work. If you’re trying to gather info, then you must be willing to dive straight to the bottom and sludge around in the mud – rub elbows with the bottom feeders. This mission would require grunting in subzero temperatures, too. Tons of people were barking about events in Minnesota behind their keyboards and inside their bubbles, yet I was determined to see what was really going on from ground zero. When I announced my intentions to attend the protests, lots of friends and family wished me well and told me to be careful. They thought I was headed into a war zone and genuinely felt my life was in danger. That’s one thing people from the left and right agreed on – that I was marching into dangerous territory. One veteran friend, who knew what time it was, said, “Don’t bring an extra mag; apparently that’s where they draw the line with your rights.” I’ll examine the 2^nd Amendment and its role in this situation later.

I didn’t fly north to that cold MFer to lecture people. My attitude was “don’t start no shit won’t be no shit” and lay low. I wasn’t crossing any lines, either - wasn’t getting arrested. If Doc went ham and lost control, I wouldn’t jump into the fire with him. Of course during combat I’d follow him into hell. But at the protests, I’d wish him well and assume he has family to bail him outta wherever he’s detained. I had a plane to catch Monday. My duties were to stand back as a neutral observer and snap pics, record videos, chat with protestors, gather information, and figure out whatever this situation is and ain’t. No, I don’t have the capacity to investigate whether the area is plagued with billions of dollars in fraud (although I have good instincts to see things). Yet my grunt skills allow me to explore the low hanging fruits such as whether or not there are paid protestors, outside instigators, Antifas, and anarchists roaming about. I could figure out if these protests are organized and funded by outside organizations. And I’d speak to protestors and try to chat my way up the chain to see if there is someone running the underground crew.

Following a layover in Charlotte, I was on a plane to Minneapolis. I’d be pounding the frozen grounds during the weekend following Alex Pretti’s death. This seemed to be the perfect time to spend at ground zero witnessing the mother of all protests. Would this be the dystopian hellhole filled with evil that some people inside the bubble would lead me to believe? My first impressions on the plane said no. To be honest, my mind had been telling me that the bubble people were full of shit, and I’d be flying home Monday laughing at how little drama there was. The cabin was about a third full, so I had a row of three seats to myself. I relaxed and kicked back. Most passengers appeared to be well-tanned elderly couples, returning from a trip to Florida, who’d land then catch a ride to the burbs. I scanned around looking for young anarchist punk types. Nada. So far it didn’t look like Minneapolis was being flooded with outsiders hellbent on creating chaos. I let my guard down.

The aircraft landed, and it’d be an hour before Doc would arrive to scoop me up. I did some people-watching. All seemed normal. Lots of peachy white folks roamed the area. Doc finally pulled up to the curb, we bro hugged and laughed, then off we went. As an appetizer, we drove by the famous/infamous Whipple Federal Building on the way to the hotel. It’s where the protests take place. Despite frigid evening temps, there was a large crowd strung out along the road and behind a barricade designated for protestors. It did look a bit spooky under the cover of darkness. Doc honked and screamed, “WE’LL BE THERE TOMORROW,” as we breezed down the street. Protestors cheered, blew whistles, and screamed through megaphones.

Saturday morning I was up and ready to rock - excited AF. Doc and I were gonna spend the day at the Whipple Building. Before leaving my hotel room, I turned on Fox News to see what kind of reports were going out from legacy media. The top story was Minneapolis, and the most hyperbolic “Minnesota on fire” report played on the tube. It was the war zone narrative. You’d think, after watching this report, that we were about to drive down an old familiar Route Voklswagon in Paktika where our convoys had gotten blown up and shot up. We’re gonna get our asses shot up in Minnesota? My guard was up again, and I decided to remain vigilant when I entered the protest zone.

Sublime’s April 29, 1992 ripped through the pickup’s speakers as Doc and I drove to the Whipple Building. We were getting jacked and ready. It was on. Armed with his medical bag, a megaphone, and a comic book superhero style shield, Doc led the way as we strutted to ground zero. There was a concrete wall and chain link fence separating the feds from protestors that had recently been erected. Two local sheriff’s department vehicles were stationed at the entrance further guarding civilians from federal law enforcement. I guess the local police and feds were cooperating, contrary to what I’d heard. National Guard vehicles were off at a distance with the ability to strike quick if drama ensued. The Whipple Building was large, and a National Guard Armory was nearby. The area seemed to be a parcel of federal land.

Although I entered the compound with vigilance, it didn’t take long for me to let my guard down. The majority of protestors appeared to be white folks who people in my circles would consider lame and nerdy (easy, I’m white btw). Funny, ‘cuz I told a guy, “Everyone seems nerdy and lame.” He laughed and replied, “Yep, that’s what we are…nerdy and lame!” They were cosplaying types who attend Comic-Con events. There was a dude dressed up as the Buc-ees mascot carrying a sign saying Lick Beaver Not Boots. There were people dressed up as eagles, chickens, and other animals. I couldn’t pass up a photo op with a gal holding a sign saying No Pussy 4 ICE #NOSPICEFUCKICE #SEXWORKERSAGAINSTICE. This was the most hilarious people-watching I’d ever partaken in. Doc’s huge shield was a big hit because every other person we passed by stopped him to compliment it. These protestors were nonthreatening AF – not quite the war zone, yet.

Drama occurred whenever federal vehicles drove to and from the Whipple Building which navigated them down a lengthy path alongside the protestors. These vehicles were unmarked vans and SUVs occupied by masked agents who might be ICE, border patrol, or various agents since the area was flooded with feds from several different agencies. A constant flow of vehicles passed throughout the day. I’ve never seen this much federal activity anywhere I’d been except from inside a military base. And I’ve been around. Federal activity of this magnitude should alert any true southern man – or anyone for that matter. Protestors screamed FUCK YOU, NAZI BITCH, PIECE OF SHIT, blah blah blah. They gave the finger, beat drums, blew whistles, made lewd gestures, and shouted obscenities through megaphones. I stood in the back, recorded videos, and sometimes laughed at vulgar jokes. The tiny penis comments were hilarious. Every now and then a fed would roll down his window and bark back at the crowd. Things really got spicey whenever a train moved down the tracks perpendicular to the road and trapped the feds in place for a bit. Yelling and screaming occurred until the feds could move on. Once the feds were gone the drama died, and everyone quieted then went about their biz. At no point did I witness any protestor throw anything or become physically violent. An interesting observation I made was that many of the feds were brown people. Makes sense, since speaking Spanish is a good feather in the cap for anyone desiring a career in immigration enforcement.

In my opinion, these protesters were modern day hippies. Some were boomers and OG hippies, some Vietnam vets from hippie era, and others were hippies from latest generation. There were people of all ages and races; however, the majority of people were white. At one point a small convoy of military vehicles from the National Guard cruised through. Protesters shut the fuck up, smiled, and waved at the convoy. At least chicks still dig soldiers. This was a far cry from the boomer OG hippies who used to demonize and spit on veterans returning from the Vietnam War. My father was treated like shit for years by his own generation following his return from Vietnam, and he remained salty about it until the day he died. At least these modern hippies were “Thank you for your service” types rather than “Spit on war vet” types from the boomer generation.

Doc and I spent over six hours pounding the sludgy snow turf that Saturday. I spoke with almost everyone. I also STFU and listened. One young gal and I had a lengthy conversation. She had a scar on her stomach from a fiery projectile launched her way during an earlier protest. She explained that days before the barrier dividing feds from protestors wasn’t in place, and lines blurred between the two. Someone in her group crossed the line which led to irritant sprays and projectiles being launched into the crowd. Collateral damage is what she’d become. The young woman went on to pitch democratic socialism to me. I tuned out until Alex Pretti and the 2^nd Amendment were brought up. I reminded her that being armed was a constitutional right, and it doesn’t matter how many mags or how much ammo that a person chooses to carry. She agreed. The dem socialist chick was repeating after me – the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. Then I told her if she stays with that principle her movement might gain more traction elsewhere. Before I moved on, I gave her a fist bump and said, “You were wounded for the cause…much respect.”

By the end of the day, I knew what time it was regarding these protests and could dispel any myths. A war zone? Laughable. It wasn’t a violent mob. In fact, whenever someone remotely crossed a line, they were called out and encouraged to be peaceful. On a couple of occasions, gentlemen approached Doc and I and asked if they could pray over us. Protests weren’t well-funded by outside sources like George Soros, either. There were tables set up with snacks, baked goods, coffee, and other drinks for people to enjoy. Groups inside crowd carried in cases of water to keep everyone hydrated. It was by no means extravagant. Someone with a few dollars made a quick Walmart run to provide a few goodies for the men and women in attendance. There were also church groups present, and it wouldn’t surprise me if the church folks made the Walmart runs to keep the “huddled masses” fed. How ‘bout the paid outsider protestors/agitators rumor? Complete bullshit. I didn’t have to speak to anyone to dispel that gossip…simply listen. It was obvious that everyone was local ‘cuz they all spoke or screamed with that distinctive Minnesota accent. When a “yankee” speaks, I can generally tell what state they’re from: Wisconsin, New York, Massachusetts, Jersey, etc. Minnesota is one that’s easy to detect. “Yew betcha,” blanketed my ears. Antifa? I donno, man. I’m starting to think Antifa exists only in people’s imaginations. No leftist anarchists wreaked havoc in this crowd, and the Whipple Building following Pretti’s death was the place to be for those types to muster. I was once told all the January 6 protestors and rioters were Antifas rather than MAGAs. Hmm…all the J6 ppl who were convicted of crimes were issued presidential pardons. You think President Trump would pardon Antifas? Finaly, there was no evidence of any type of structure or underground leadership. Again, I spoke to everyone, using my charm, in an attempt to chat my way to the leader. Since Doc was underground “famous” there, I used him and the trust he’d earned to try and work my way to the top. There was no such leadership. All I encountered were locals, who were once strangers to one another, gathered by a common cause. It was as if they felt a shared duty to stop by the Whipple Building and contribute to protests whenever it was convenient to them.

Doc rolled out the red carpet and gave me a tour of the city. We walked downtown, visited the large mall, strolled through the burbs, and took in hours of protests. Minneapolis isn’t the most ethnically diverse city in the world. It certainly isn’t as diverse as where I come from. Hell, a white mayor is in charge which seems rare for major American cities nowadays. Atlanta hasn’t had one of those in over 50 years. It begs the question: why so much heavy-handed immigration enforcement in such a mighty white place? Yes, there is an influx of Somali immigrants in the area. They are easy to identify since many are dressed in Islamic garbs while the ladies wear hijabs as headdresses. Though noticeable, the Somali presence doesn’t move the needle a ton in the state’s overall demographics. Plus, the Somalis are legal refugees from way back in the day, and these refugees have had children who were born in the US and are natural-born citizens. Thus, deportation is off the table. What’s left is a tiny immigrant population. You’d think there are a whole lotta other states in this country where ICE and immigration enforcement would be better served.

We’re told the presence of Somali fraudsters are one reason for a federal invasion. Okay, fighting fraud is something I’m down with. But you’d think geeky accountant types would be deployed to the area rather than tactical militarized types. At the request of a friend, Doc and I visited a “learning center” that has become internet famous. A YouTuber claimed millions have been pumped into this phony daycare. We took pics of the front, sides, and back of building while performing a citizens’ investigation without trespassing. A large van was parked in front, and a small playground was nestled out back. I posted all pics so people could review and make their own conclusions. Minnesota didn’t strike me as a place overrun with massive corruption, though. I guess I’m hardened because corruption seems to be the norm where I come from. During my lifetime I’ve seen a former Atlanta mayor and county sheriff locked up in a federal pen, the sheriff once shot a woman and was never charged, an incoming elected sheriff was murdered by a crew of cops on orders from the lame duct sheriff, and the Fulton County DA takes lavish vacations with her sidepiece on the taxpayer’s dime. This only scratches the surface. Oh, and many people think the republican supermajority Georgia state government ran a fraudulent election in 2020. It seems every week a local ATL area official, school board member, politician, etc. is defrauding the system to enrich themselves. I can’t imagine Minnesota is worse. Since the federal occupation of Minnesota is drawing down, show us what fraud and corruption has been uncovered. Put it out there and hold people accountable. I lived in Missouri for seven years, so you’ve gotta show me. Anyway, there must be other motives for the feds to pounce on Minnesota.

Two Americans were killed in Minnesota as a result of this plussed up federal presence. I didn’t like the way these shootings went down. I’m not gonna provide a blow-by-blow account, that’s been done millions of times by others, but I’ll give my opinion on the matters. As an infantryman in war, I and the men I served with displayed incredible discipline and restraint while dealing with the Afghan public. We NEVER fired a shot unless we were fired at first. The agents involved in these killings panicked and shit the bed in the heat of the moment. They lacked the discipline you’d expect from a professionally trained force. In Renee Good’s case, there is enough meat on the bone for the killer’s “I feared for my life” defense. It’d be tough to hold him accountable in front of a jury of his peers. He’s just a POS who let the lesbian “bitch” get under his skin. He leaned in and pumped a couple of extra rounds through the side window to ensure that “bitch” would die. We called that a double tap in combat: firing a couple of rounds into the downed body to make sure the insurgent was dead. I, and the men I served with, would’ve possessed the discipline and restraint to hold our fire then deal with the woman later. Alex Pretti? That was a cold-blooded murder on a US street. I can guarantee y’all that if me or any of my guys did that same thing to a Taliban overseas, caught on camera, then we’d be busting rocks inside Leavenworth. Most “outside the wire” combat vets in my circles agree. 7 on 1, spray a dude in the face with an irritant, toss him down, disarm him, and pump 10 rounds into his back. Hell, I could pick out a couple of meatheads from my local gym, and they’d be able to restrain the dude and handle biz much better than that. The agents who murdered Pretti panicked like cowards. Those actions in war would result in soldiers being charged with war crimes. The offenders would be doxed by the media and thrown under the bus by the US Military. These federal agents, however, were whisked away with their identities hidden and defended by the administration who lied about how everything went down. An American soldier would be deemed an international war criminal facing a court-martial, appointed a shitty lawyer, and fighting a system with the weight of Uncle Sam’s boot on his neck. So the rules of engagement during actual war are more restrictive than the ROEs that federal law enforcement here at home operate under? ‘Merica can do to me in my hood what I couldn’t do to enemies overseas? Hey, if that’s what we the people want then that’s what we’ll get.

Following Pretti’s death, administration officials immediately put out false statements. You’d think leadership would say something like – there was a shooting involving a federal agent, and an investigation will take place to determine what happened. Instead, the spin machine went to work and spit out propaganda. We were told that Pretti was a domestic terrorist and would be assassin who brandished a weapon, violently attacked agents, and wanted to inflict maximum damage to massacre law enforcement. That’s some Orwellian “ignore the evidence of your eyes and ears” type shit. Too bad the incident was caught on camera. If Pretti was determined to massacre law enforcement, then he would’ve drawn his weapon and took shots at agents when he had the drop during his first encounter rather than spit at them and kick out a taillight.  

What makes things worse is the smear campaign that took place following Good and Pretti’s deaths. Every skeleton and piece of baggage was dragged out from the closet to shit on these victims before they were lowered into their graves. What’s strange was the He BrOuGhT a GuN wItH aN eXtRa MaGaZiNe LoAdEd WiTh RoUnDs To A pRoTeSt type statements made by leaders inside a right-wing government. What?! The Don’t Tread on Me and Shall Not Be Infringed types were saying this citizen had no right to be armed on a random street corner. Everyone from the US President, Chief of Staff, FBI Director, and Secretary of Homeland Security said Pretti had no right to be carrying, and the fact that he possessed extra ammunition meant he had bad intentions. For example, Kash Patel said, “You cannot bring a firearm loaded with multiple magazines to any sort of protest that you want. It’s that simple.” WTF?! Is this not America? Seems a lotta Shall Not Be Infringed types really ain’t about it (2^nd Amendment). Hence my vet friend’s statement when he heard I was attending protests, “Don’t bring an extra mag; apparently that’s where they draw the line with your rights.” I never knew there was a limit to the amount of ammunition that an American could have on them. There have been pro ICE demonstrators at immigration rallies in North Georgia who wore tactical vests with several mags attached while carrying their AR-15s. Not a peep from the Shall Not Be Infringed types regarding these individuals. Appears to be a “rules for thee and not me” situation. Sorry, the 2^nd Amendment applies to ALL Americans – left, right, and center. Yes, I think people who dress in tacti-cool gear carrying rifles and cosplaying as soldiers are d-bags. Scaring soccer moms inside Starbucks isn’t quite the flex they think it is. But it A’INT illegal! Whoever parroted the administration’s talking points about Alex Pretti being armed totally whiffed. At least the NRA stood strong and issued this statement following President Trump’s comments saying protesters can’t have guns. “The NRA unequivocally believes that all law-abiding citizens have a right to keep and bear arms anywhere they have a legal right to be.”

In a world of memes and short takes, some folks felt the need to further smear Good and Pretti. The usual suspects, who are easily manipulated, did their thang and shitposted fake AI clips of Renee Good and her partner talking smack about Charlie Kirk following his death. They also posted poorly photoshopped pics of Alex Pretti dolled up in trans gear. These people have no clue how ignorant they look when they post these things believing they’re real. If shitty photoshops have been fooling them for years, how will they fare in this new world of AI? Others posted memes comparing the death of Laken Riley to Alex Pretti’s death in an attempt to elevate one nurse while demonizing the other. It’s lazy and intellectually weak. The only thing they had in common was their occupation. They’re two different people, different genders, swept up into different situations in different places – apples and oranges. Laken Riley was killed by a POS in this country illegally. Her killer has been caught, tried, convicted, and living the rest of his miserable life in prison. Pretti was killed by federal agents, who are supposedly trained and trusted by the people, and they were whisked away to be protected and never identified…never to face justice. The two aren’t the same. Stop dragging Laken Riley into these conversations and let the girl rest in peace.

While on the subject of cities struggling with an increased federal presence, many Don’t Tread on Me types are begging President Trump to deploy the military and National Guard to more cities under the guise of fighting crime. My question is, “What kind of police state do you wanna live under, bro?” When we’re out and about, we are under an umbrella of city police, county police, sheriff’s departments, state patrols, and a number of three letter federal agencies. Now people want military units patrolling cities? Seems a lotta Don’t Tread on Mes are screaming Please Tread on Me, Daddy! Nothing reeks of totalitarianism more than troops patrolling their own nation’s streets. The Posse Comitatus Act is more of my speed. The US Military shall only be deployed inside America in the rarest instances. A state’s National Guard should be on standby to react to unrest when the police forces are maxed out…not the US Army or Marines. And I can guarantee you no young infantry soldier or marine desires to patrol US streets, kick in doors, and point his weapon at a fellow American. They’d rather fight for their country vs enemies overseas. If they wanted to patrol American streets then they’d apply for a law enforcement gig. If criminals scare TF outta you then take self defense classes, learn to grapple and throw hands, train with guns. Exercise your 2^nd Amendment. Take some personal responsibility with your own safety so freedom-loving Americans like me don’t have to deal with a police state. I think some Don’t Tread on Mes should lower their Gadsden Flags, fold it up, and retire it.

It was cool spending time with my war dawg Doc and witnessing what was going on in Minneapolis during a pivotal time for our country. There was no war zone, no evilness, no paid violent anarchists, no organized leadership for protests blah blah blah – just concerned locals who were exercising their 1^st Amendment rights to peacefully assemble. Many of these people are hurting and don’t understand why their community has been singled out and, in their minds, abused. Everyone I spoke to was respectful, and when they realized I was visiting from afar, they went out of their way to ensure I was comfortable. Yes, “Minnesota nice” is a thang. It’s a large rural farming state with a country vibe that you’d expect. Doc was raised on a farm. Check the place out yourself and don’t listen to hyperbolic media or online crackpots who’ve never been there. It seems people who live in a bubble and have never been anywhere know the most about everything and everywhere. Anyway, I may visit again…during the summertime!

Protestors won’t agree, but it appeared when Border Czar Tom Homan was sent to the area, things cooled while federal tactics de-escalated. Homan said in an interview that he brought many internal affairs officials with him to investigate certain agents and their actions. We’ll see if bad actors are held accountable. That’s one indicator that protests are working while citizens’ voices are being heard. In the words of Bob Marley, “Get up stand up, stand up for your rights.”

When it was time to leave, I thanked Doc for being a gracious host. Yes, he’s knee deep into these protests. I got the feeling they were cutting into his personal and professional life. I reminded him that he needs to take care of #1 (himself) FIRST while the protests have to be a side deal. I think the medic in him leads to Doc sometimes caring for others and the movement before looking out for himself. I laughed and said, “If you wannabe a fulltime activist then you better get your 100% VA cheddar.” Doc chuckled, thanked me for looking out, and promised that he’d take care of #1. We smacked hands, clutched in a tight bro hug, and off I went.

Doc had somewhere to be, so I requested an Uber for a ride to the airport. A young Somali gal rockin’ a hijab and shades scooped me up. I learned she was born in Minneapolis and attending a local university. She was a sweet hardworking girl hustling the rideshare to earn a few extra bucks. She asked what I was doing, and I told her everything I was up to. She laughed her ass off over the thought of outsiders believing Minnesota was a dystopian hellhole. I told her that I was a warrior who couldn’t give a Taliban the biz like Alex Pretti got on these US streets. Dumbfounded was her reaction when I mentioned being from the land of Shall Not Be Infringed, and lots of those people poo poo’d on Pretti for being armed with a pistol and extra mag. “If you wanna pack heat then do it; you’re American,” I reminded her. We shared some laughs before she pulled up to the terminal. “You hittin’ the protests later?” “Yew betcha,” she said and smiled. I left her with, “Stand up for your rights, girl!” The Somali American was hitting the streets to stand up for those two white folks who tragically lost their lives.

But I wasn’t done grunting yet. Due to an ice storm at my connector in Charlotte, my flight was cancelled, and I was diverted to Dallas. I slept in a chair, awoke and took a whore bath then hopped on a flight to Chattanooga the next morning. Guess it was karma for involving myself in this situation. Oh well, I got to check another thing off my bucket list – attending a protest \m/