Lisa Hurlbutt

"My Country Killed My Classmate" Once, I knew Alex Pretti. We weren’t close friends, and my memories of Alex are cobwebbed by the twenty years separating our graduation from Green Bay Preble High School in 2006 and his death at the hands of border patrol agents in 2026. But what I do remember about Alex is important, especially as my country’s government seeks to bend the reality of his death away from the truth we all witnessed. In high school, I was a closeted teenager just trying to blend in with my straight friends and classmates. To my face, my peers were mostly kind, but I knew what people wondered behind my back, heard their whispers hiss down the halls, could feel when I was a curiosity to them. Patronized by the girls, scrutinized by the boys. But never by Alex. He wasn’t the school’s kingpin, nor did he care, I think, about his own popularity. But he did have an uncanny ability to move between those at the top and the bottom of the social pyramid, somehow offering to everyone genuine friendship, connection, and empathy. He ran track and played football, which placed him among the school’s enviable jocks. Instead of succumbing to that stereotype’s restrictions, however, Alex never hid his other passions, especially for the performing arts. He split his time between the locker room and the stage, between wearing a football helmet and a musical’s costumes. Those two groups—the jocks and the theater kids—didn’t exactly have a lot in common. But they did have Alex, and whichever group claimed him during their particular season loved him because he was one of them.

I felt that way about Alex, too. I ran track with him, and our social circles overlapped such that we spent some time together among mutual friends. What I most strongly remember about Alex is that I felt something rare in his company: a lack of suspicion, a disinterest in gossip, a commitment to kindness. He didn’t judge and had nothing to prove, a combination that was inspiring to me when I raced alongside him during track practice and when I applauded as he bowed during a curtain call. Alex never cared what people said about boys who did musicals, and his confidence felt like a proxy for how I might feel about myself someday. I don’t know that I’ve spoken to Alex since we graduated in 2006. I don’t know much about his life over those two decades beyond what I’ve now read in the news and have seen posted on social media. But what I can imagine is that, when we were both seventeen, robed in our school’s green graduation gowns and on the cusp of adulthood, he was as excited by the possibilities awaiting him as I was. For me, those possibilities became coming out, getting married, teaching and writing, adopting my daughter. Alex’s possibilities became serving others as an ICU nurse, exploring the wilderness, loving his dog, and being shot in the street by his government. As Alex crossed our graduation stage and the clock for his remaining twenty years started ticking, I doubt his imaginings included the Secretary of Homeland Security labeling him a “domestic terrorist,” the Border Patrol’s Commander-at-Large accusing him of intending to “massacre law enforcement,” or a Congressman celebrating that an “insurrectionist was put down. Well done.” Nobody graduating high school should imagine these impossibilities that have become not just possible, but increasingly probable. Nobody should imagine being killed by his own government.

But we now live in a country whose reins have been seized by leaders shirking all accountability and delighting in cruelty, and these very same leaders would rather poison Alex’s memory than admit their grave wrongdoing. That this administration is so callous, however, becomes an odd enforcer of Alex’s goodness: their compulsion to lie has inspired others to scream the truth. Alex was a violent man seeking trouble at a protest? Thank you to his colleagues at the VA Hospital who have shared with the world Alex’s devotion to dying veterans. Alex got what was coming because he was lawfully armed? Thank you to those who remind us that the Second Amendment isn’t just a convenience for some Americans, but a right for all Americans. Alex was an insurrectionist, a seditionist, a man intent on slaughtering officers? Thank you to his family, friends, neighbors, and classmates who are telling the truth about the good man we knew in our own ways, that we remember for his kindness, for his empathy, for his ability to make people feel like themselves. We must keep telling these truths about Alex, a boy who once gathered his high school diploma, stepped down from his graduation stage, and walked into the eventuality that his own country would claim his life.

Full text of this powerful post by a high school classmate of Alex Pretti.

www.facebook.com/awallenfang/...

if you see this post, your actions are:
- if you have a spare buck, give it to Wikipedia, then repost this
- if you don't have a spare buck, just repost

your action is mandatory for the world's best source of information to survive

Protestors carry signs. Sign at center says “If we hate America, why are we fighting so hard for her? #nokings” There’s a drawing of the Statue of Liberty leaning on a person who helps her walk.

Seen at No Kings in Philly. #nokings #philly

People have to know what’s happening: your citizenship, your status, the color of your skin will not keep you safe.

Families First Livestream · Families First Mobilizations Can’t join an event in person? Join the livestream from the marquee event in Washington, D.C.! On July 26, we will gather to remind President Trump and our elected officials: Families First! We say n...

I'm attending Families First Mobilizations's event, “Families First Livestream” - sign up now to join me! #FamiliesFirst www.mobilize.us/familiesfirs...

Snatched from immigration court as he tries to follow the rules.

Sent to who knows where, for who knows how long.

While Trump and Stephen Miller’s private prison friends and ICE rake in billions.

‘We are hiding on the roof. I love you.’ An ICE raid in Montco has left families bereft after 14 were arrested. Immigration arrests have skyrocketed in the region, while most of those who are detained have no criminal record.

Grateful for the Inquirer’s coverage of the intentional terror being inflicted against immigrant communities, the targeting of innocent workers with families here. Gift link: www.inquirer.com/news/pennsyl...

Hi. I grew up in Oswego and just want to say that following the Oswego County Indivisible account has been so good for my spirits in a time when it’s hard to find anything that is. Thank you for doing the work up there; it’s so important and heartening to see your commitment.

I had forgotten how much light there is in the world, till you gave it back to me.

NIJC Calls for Halt to Trump’s New Draconian Registration Requirement that Endangers Immigrants’ Fundamental Rights The National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) submitted a comment to the Federal Register today calling for the recission of a sweeping new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rule which requires mil...

We urge Trump admin to rescind a draconian & discriminatory rule forcing millions of ppl to register w/ the govt, undoubtedly increasing mass detentions, deportations, & criminal prosecutions in our communities. immigrantjustice.org/press-releas...

How many turned out for the Hands Off protest in Oswego? I’m glad there was one! Hopefully much bigger than the counter protest.

American Democracy started here in Philly. Today 15,000+ told Trump-Musk #HandsOffPhilly 📸Credit: @pt74.bsky.social @50501philadelphia.bsky.social @newpennsylvania.bsky.social @phlscienceaction.bsky.social @pftlocal3.bsky.social @indivisible.org @maddow.msnbc.com @maddowblog.msnbc.com

Crowd with signs against Philadelphia City Hall and cloudy sky background. Signs say: “We will tread wherever inequality lies (at center, with graphic of hand in fist grabbing the head of a snake wrapped around its wrist);” “No king (with graphic of Donald J. Trump’s face crossed out);” “Wake up, stand up, speak up;” “Dump Trump”

Backs of a crowd with Broad Street sign and buildings/cloudy sky in background. Members of crowd hold colorful pride flags and signs. The readable signs say: “Yay humans” and “an American who does not oppose a tyrant is never a patriot.”

Crowd of people against background of art deco style “Market Street National Bank” building, other buildings, and Market Street sign. Members of crowd hold signs and American and Ukrainian flags. Most prominent sign says “These clowns don’t care about you!”

Mostly backs of a crowd of people holding signs, flags/banners, and an effigy of Elon Musk in a striped one piece “jail” suit, with trees and cloudy sky in the background. Readable signs say: “Get up Stand up Don’t give up the fight!!”; “Trump is a Russian asset;” “Hands off.” One American flag sign is held upside down.

Philly #handsoff protest today at City Hall, marching down Broad Street, and at Independence Mall. #indivisiblephl

Painting looking up at a tree with trunk to the left and branches covered in pink blossoms under a blue sky

'Cherry in Bloom' painting by contemporary U.S impressionist style painter Erin Hanson #WomensArt #Spring

I almost cried yesterday talking to a client, telling him that this country has changed. Had to take a pause and recenter. Something about having to say it so simply in Spanish, not having the words for all the ways it has changed, got me.

Buchenhain

Buchenhain

What # should we get to before the joint session ends tonight? We’re close to 300k. What about 303,303? 😬 Share, like, comment, tag this post!

Join the General Strike and give ALL of congress, and our President & his cronies a piece of your mind: generalstrikeus.com.

Two new anti-immigrant bills have been introduced into Congress “Protect Our Communities” Act (H.R. 875) and “No Bailout for Sanctuary” Act (H.R. 32).

Call Senators Fetterman and McCormick and your Member of Congress Today! Capitol switchboard: 202-224-3121

#ImmigrantRightsAreHumanRights

Unprincipled
Arrogant

Making a list of the words I associate with MAGA and this administration. So far:
Corrupt
Gaslighting
Dishonest
Bullies
Callous
Greedy
Criminal
Contemptuous
Cynical
Comic book villains
Amoral
Antisocial
Racist
Misogynist
Destructive
Nihilistic
Cruel

Well-researched data here, clearly illustrating that abject greed, callousness and contempt for everyday people are the defining qualities of this regime.

A poster for the economic blackout on February 28. It is a big red Jack rabbit on an aqua blue back ground. It says economic blackout in hand done black type. There are two black speech bubbles. One says “don’t buy stuff Friday February 28th. The other says we have power. Below it says No Amazon, Walmart, target, gas food, gas. Below that it says OK small business, use cash. Designed by Martha Rich.

I made this the other night while procrastinating, mainly because I thought all the posts about the blackout were boring. It feels like there is momentum bringing people together!

I clearly remember reading it back then, while I cried. I’ve thought about it so many times since. It was the first time I understood just how much danger we were in, and the surreal feeling, mingled with enormous sadness and a gut certainty that she was right, stay with me now too.

This is incredible reporting that must shock the conscience of each and every one of us.

Eczema is kicking my ass. Anyone else?

The American Bar Association condemns recent remarks of high-ranking officials of the administration that appear to question the legitimacy of judicial review and demand impeachment of a judge merely because the court did not agree with the government’s position. These comments pose serious risks to our constitutional framework that separates power among three co-equal branches.

The ABA condemns recent remarks questioning the legitimacy of courts and judicial review. Read the full statement: www.americanbar.org/news/abanews...

But seriously, how do we agree upon and advertise the triggering event for a national strike?

Opinion | Tenderness as an Act of Resistance They are trying to overwhelm us and force us to look away. But we must not.

“Anger lets in too little beauty, but heartbreak? A tender heart feels the fury and the fear, the sorrow and suffering, the beauty and the bravery alike. In the years ahead, we will need them all.”

Every time this pops up, I spend time thinking about and enjoying the poses they’ve struck and wondering whether they are moving or still and if/how they knew these poses would be so interesting and attention grabbing

This is. And thou art. There is no safety. There is no end. The word must be heard in silence. There must be darkness to see the stars. The dance is always danced above the hollow place, above the terrible abyss.