Witnessing Reality: The Fight for Truth in Minneapolis

In the era of Trumpism and technological advancements, the importance of witnessing reality and preserving truth has never been more significant. This is particularly evident in the events that unfolded in Minneapolis, where ordinary citizens put their lives on the line to record the truth.

Citizens as Witnesses: Documenting the Unthinkable

The Minneapolis shooting, captured on multiple smartphones, showcased the determination of citizens to document the unthinkable. Despite the danger, they refused to look away. One woman, walking her dog at the start, returned later with her phone out, determined to capture what was happening.

The Role of Technology in Truth-Telling

The widespread use of smartphones and social media platforms enabled these citizens to share their recordings with the world, creating a collective witnessing of the event. This demonstrates the power of technology in promoting transparency and accountability, even in the face of governmental attempts to suppress the truth.

Politics and Propaganda: The Trump Administration's Response

The Trump administration's initial response to the shooting was to label the victim, Renee Nicole Good, a legal observer, as a "domestic terrorist." This was before her identity was even known. The administration's narrative was further propagated through Truth Social and X, with a single, grainy clip being promoted as the canonical record of the killing.

The War on Reality

The Trump administration's disregard for the truth and reality has been well-documented. This disregard has been accelerated by the careless and untrammeled insertion of generative AI into everything, shattering our social consensus around the veracity of images. The administration's contempt for reality is a threat to the democratic process and the rule of law.

The Resilience of Community: Minneapolis Stands Up

Despite the administration's efforts to silence dissent, the shooting has left Minnesota-nice in tatters. The community's response has been one of anger and determination. The cries of "Murderer!" and "Pussy motherfuckers, man!" echoed through the snow, a testament to the resilience of community and the belief that due process matters.

The Future of Resistance

The shooting has not deterred anti-ICE resistance. Legal observers, fearing for their lives, may now go out in twos and threes, ready to record not just the ICE kidnappings, but also, potentially, each other's deaths. The tech CEOs, venture capitalists, and social media platforms that abet the president in his war on reality must be held accountable.

As long as there are people who believe in the importance of witnessing reality, Trump has not won his war. In the words of the residents of Minneapolis, "Don't let the murderer get away!"