Angus Johnston
banner
angus.bsky.social
Angus Johnston
@angus.bsky.social
CUNY prof. Historian of, and advocate for, student organizing. @studentactivism from Twitter.
Pinned
The risk of malfeasance in the November election is real, and serious. But the Trump administration doesn't have a magic wand.

It has tools of repression. And we have tools of resistance.
This is a good catch, yeah.
“all of us who believe in the promise of American democracy” vs “citizens” too
January 26, 2026 at 4:39 AM
Reposted by Angus Johnston
literally yes
is the cure for male loneliness showing up early and setting up chairs?
A lot of the Male Loneliness Epidemic can be traced back to the fact that most cis dudes don’t participate in communal logistics.
January 26, 2026 at 4:32 AM
Reposted by Angus Johnston
And probably a good sign. I think Obama is a lagging indicator but tempered by a sense of caution. Clinton has a real talent for discerning the direction of any wind.
January 26, 2026 at 4:16 AM
It's a bit surprising to me that Clinton's statement goes much farther than the one released by the Obamas.
Can’t believe I‘m saying this, but Bill Clinton put out a pretty powerful statement about the killings in Minneapolis.
January 26, 2026 at 4:11 AM
Reposted by Angus Johnston
Putting this one in my back pocket for when ICE gets its shit together to mess with NYC
January 26, 2026 at 12:26 AM
Reposted by Angus Johnston
Of course, she encouraged me to avoid getting murdered, and I reminded her that it’s not a super easy thing to control.
January 25, 2026 at 11:43 PM
Reposted by Angus Johnston
I actually had the “If masked agents of the government murder me, please politicize the fuck out of it” conversation with my mom today.
January 25, 2026 at 11:42 PM
Extremely cautious, extremely measured statement from the Obamas on what's going on in Minnesota.

Notable to me: There's no chiding or warning of protesters here. The opposite, in fact.
The killing of Alex Pretti is a heartbreaking tragedy. It should also be a wake-up call to every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault.
January 25, 2026 at 8:30 PM
Reposted by Angus Johnston
Let’s hear it for the NYC building superintendents who got to break out their once-a-year sidewalk clearing gear.

Saw a guy on a John Deere riding mower with a snow plow attachment practically doing donuts in front of his Mitchell-Lama building.
January 25, 2026 at 4:11 PM
Reposted by Angus Johnston
Many of the times in American history when people have taken to the streets in the largest numbers to protest the government have been precisely the times when doing so has put them at the most serious physical risk.
January 7, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Reposted by Angus Johnston
“That children and their parents would risk retribution under these conditions to speak up is a testament both to how courageous they are and how abysmal the conditions of this place is,” he said.
Immigrant families protest at Texas facility housing 5-year-old boy, father detained in Minnesota
Dozens of immigrant families protested behind the fences of a Texas detention facility where a 5-year-old boy Ecuadorian boy and his father were sent this week after being detained in Minnesota.
apnews.com
January 25, 2026 at 1:33 PM
Reposted by Angus Johnston
Concentration camp victims protest! The incredible bravery and fortitude and care involved in doing this ✊🏽

‘some of them holding signs that included “Libertad para los niños,” or “Liberty for the kids.”‘
Immigrant families protest at Texas facility housing 5-year-old boy, father detained in Minnesota
Dozens of immigrant families protested behind the fences of a Texas detention facility where a 5-year-old boy Ecuadorian boy and his father were sent this week after being detained in Minnesota.
apnews.com
January 25, 2026 at 1:32 PM
Reposted by Angus Johnston
Minnesota says the US government will engage in a cover up:

"The actions of federal authorities to date indicate Defendants will continue to withhold, destroy, alter, or conceal (or allowed to be withheld, destroyed, altered, or concealed) evidence, if not restrained from doing so."
January 25, 2026 at 4:17 AM
Reminds me of this one of John Lewis and Jim Zwerg.

On we go.
January 25, 2026 at 4:20 AM
Reposted by Angus Johnston
i think about this picture of fred shuttlesworth looking at his bombed out house every day because it is in my classroom and so i see it five times a week. tired and defiant.

a face that says well, on we go
January 25, 2026 at 2:47 AM
Reposted by Angus Johnston
BREAKING: MN Bureau of Criminal Apprehension & Hennepin DA file fed lawsuit dmeanding immediate access to federal evidence in DHS agent's deadly shooting of observer during immigration enforcement operation Sat. Doc: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us... Earlier: www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
#1 in Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension v. Noem (D. Minnesota, 0:26-cv-00628) – CourtListener.com
COMPLAINT against All Defendants (filing fee $ 405, receipt number AMNDC-12575332) filed by Hennepin County Attorney's Office, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Filer requests summons issued....
storage.courtlistener.com
January 25, 2026 at 3:50 AM
Reposted by Angus Johnston
BREAKING: Minnesota, Minneapolis, and St. Paul lawyers escalate their request for an immediate TRO to temporarily halt Operation Metro Surge following today's ICE killing of Alex Pretti — noting three shootings by ICE in the past three weeks, after 11 months of no officer-involved shootings in Mpls.
January 25, 2026 at 3:22 AM
Just left a message for Schumer that concluded with "You can't keep fucking doing this. You can't keep fucking doing this. You need to stand up for us now."

(202) 224-6542
As someone who has been in negotiations with Schumer: YOUR CALLS TO HIS OFFICE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER NOW. You are not wasting your time, our goal is achievable, but Schumer requires constant pressure, constant pressure....
January 25, 2026 at 2:13 AM
First doctor on the scene after Alex Pretti was shot was delayed by ICE agents who were standing around "counting his bullet wounds" instead of administering aid. None had even checked if he had a pulse.
BREAKING: A young doctor who lives near where Alex Pretti, a nurse, was killed by ICE says in a declaration he saw the shooting, went out to help, was not let through at first then patted down before being let by, and was apparently the first to try and provide any medical assistance to Pretti.
January 25, 2026 at 2:03 AM
"RIP Alex Pretti, he was my Dads ICU nurse. [...] My Fathers final words to me was continue to fight the good fight. He would be honored in Alex' sacrifice, and ashamed of this current administration."
Text of the video posted by Mac Randolph “Never wanted to share this video but his speech is very on point.”
January 25, 2026 at 1:56 AM
Reposted by Angus Johnston
this reminds me of the way i’ve seen susan bro speak about her daughter, heather heyer. when a fascist murders your child, you aren’t allowed to just grieve. you have to defend their memory, even their very grave.
Kare 11 local news just read, in full, this statement from Michael and Susan Pretti, the parents of Alex Pretti.

"Please get the truth out about our son."
January 25, 2026 at 1:10 AM
"I don't know why they shot him. He was only helping. I was five feet from him and they just shot him."
JUST IN: Lawyers file declaration in federal court from first-hand witness to immigration agents' shooting of a US citizen onlookers today. Minneapolis Mayor Frey said details would be used to bolster case for ousting ICE from city. Doc: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
TincherSealedWitnessDec012426.PDF
www.documentcloud.org
January 25, 2026 at 1:17 AM
Things fall apart; the centrist cannot hold.
Senate Democrats will not provide the votes to proceed to the appropriations bill if the DHS funding bill is included.
January 25, 2026 at 1:12 AM
Reposted by Angus Johnston
Alex Pretti "used to tell people off when they made sexist comments to female physicians. He bought me coffee when I had a really bad day as an intern...I laughed alongside him daily. He made a point to teach medical residents without judgement, but with a smile on his face and a joke."
January 24, 2026 at 9:41 PM
AFGE is the American Federation of Government Employees.

Local 3669 represents professional employees in the Minneapolis VA Health Care System.

Alex Pretti was a union man.
Alex Pretti was also a union member.
January 24, 2026 at 9:22 PM