Obama Says "Core American Values Under Attack" ... Publicly Supports Minnesota Protests

American Protester Shot Dead During Demonstration
Obama Criticizes Trump’s Hardline Immigration Policies

Former U.S. President Barack Obama Yonhap News

Former U.S. President Barack Obama on January 25 (local time) criticized former President Donald Trump's hardline immigration policies and expressed his support for the protests by Minnesota citizens.

In a statement released that day, Obama said, "The killing of Alex Pretty is a heartbreaking tragedy," adding, "Regardless of party affiliation, it should serve as a wake-up call to all Americans that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under attack."

He argued that federal agents, including those from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), have been deploying tactics that appear to be designed to threaten, harass, provoke, and endanger residents of major U.S. cities without restraint, and asserted that Americans' anger over this is justified.

He continued, "All Americans should support and be inspired by the wave of peaceful protests that have taken place in Minneapolis and other areas," emphasizing, "Speaking out against injustice, defending basic freedoms, and holding the government accountable ultimately depend on each of us as citizens."

The previous day, an American man named Pretty was shot and killed by an ICE agent. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that a handgun was recovered from Pretty at the scene and that the agents fired in self-defense.

This incident occurred about two weeks after the death of an American woman, Renee Good, on January 7. The Trump administration claimed that Good had threatened an ICE agent and labeled her a "left-wing terrorist," drawing criticism.

Obama pointed out that the administration's explanations regarding the killings of Pretty and Good are not based on proper investigations and, moreover, contradict video footage of the incidents.

He also said that President Trump and administration officials seem to be hoping for further escalation of the situation rather than restoring discipline among agents and clarifying accountability. Obama added that he hopes the administration will review its current approach and cooperate with the governments of Minnesota and Minneapolis.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.