To our neighbors and friends in Minnesota,

I am writing to you from Chicago, heart heavy but standing in firm solidarity. Over the last few weeks, the world has watched the Twin Cities become a front line for the soul of our democracy. We saw the heartbreak of Renee Nicole Good being taken from her family, and just yesterday, the devastating loss of Alex Pretti—a man who dedicated his life to healing veterans in the ICU and died while shielding a neighbor.

Please know that you are not alone. As you observe the “Day of Truth and Freedom” and the General Strike, your courage is felt across state lines. In Chicago, we see your “economic blackout.” we see the hundreds of small businesses shuttered in protest, and we see you marching through subzero temperatures to demand that federal agents leave your streets.

Your refusal to accept “business as usual” while families are living in terror is a moral compass for the entire country. You are proving that community care is stronger than federal overreach. You are showing that when they try to install a system of fear, we respond with a system of love and mutual defense.

We are calling our representatives and demanding that they don’t just watch from D.C., but that they stand on the ground with you. We are telling them that Minnesota is not a “battlefield”—it is a home.

To the families of Renee and Alex, and to every immigrant neighbor sheltering in place: We see your humanity. To the organizers and strikers: We see your power.

The Trump administration may try to treat our cities like occupied territories, but they cannot occupy our hearts or our resolve. Stay safe, stay warm, and keep the fire of justice burning. Chicago stands with you today, tomorrow, and every day until the surge is over.

With love and solidarity, Your Neighbors in Chicago (60660)