In the aftermath of Alex Pretti’s killing by federal immigration officers, two public statements emerged that reveal very different understandings of civic responsibility.
One came in the form of an open letter from more than 60 Minnesota-based CEOs, released by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. The letter exemplifies a now-familiar pattern of corporate timidity and reticence: it takes no position, names no facts, and identifies no responsible actor. Instead, it relies on generic language about “de-escalation” and “finding real solutions,” urging officials at all levels of government to work together in response to what it vaguely describes as “yesterday’s tragic news.”
