Minneapolis and Boston Massacres Highlight Deadly Government Crackdowns

Opinion piece draws parallels between historical and recent incidents of government violence against civilians

Jan. 31, 2026 at 8:55am

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This opinion piece by Kary Love draws parallels between the Boston Massacre of 1770 and recent incidents of government violence against civilians, such as the apparent killing of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis. The author argues that when governments lie about killing their own people, it is because the truth is so repulsive that no decent human being will tolerate it. The piece condemns the actions of government agents as criminal thuggery and calls for an end to the killing and occupation of American towns by these forces.

Why it matters

This story highlights the ongoing tensions between citizens and government authorities, particularly around issues of police brutality, immigration enforcement, and the use of force against civilians. It draws historical parallels to underscore how government crackdowns and cover-ups can erode public trust and lead to further unrest.

The details

The article describes the 1770 Boston Massacre, where British soldiers killed several American colonists, as well as the recent incident in Minneapolis where federal agents allegedly killed a man named Alex Pretti who was trying to defend a woman they were shoving. The author condemns the agents' actions as "criminal thuggery" and argues their lies and distortions about the incidents are attempts to cover up the government's own wrongdoing.

  • The Boston Massacre occurred on March 5, 1770.
  • The incident involving Alex Pretti took place recently in Minneapolis.

The players

Alex Pretti

A 37-year-old Minneapolis resident who was killed by federal agents during an immigration enforcement action.

Greg Bovino

A Border Patrol Kommandant who claimed Pretti was trying to "do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement", which the author argues is a distortion of the truth.

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What they’re saying

“This looks like a situation where an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement,”

— Greg Bovino, Border Patrol Kommandant (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

“Are you OK?”

— Alex Pretti (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between citizens and government authorities, particularly around issues of police brutality, immigration enforcement, and the use of force against civilians. It serves as a reminder that when governments lie about killing their own people, it is because the truth is so repulsive that no decent human being will tolerate it.