I grew up in Jersey Shore and have lived in Minneapolis for eight years. I call Minneapolis home because it feels familiar to me. It is a place where neighbors look out for each other, kids walk to school, and if something seems off, someone reaches out to make sure everything is okay. Until recently, I felt as safe here as I did growing up in JSPA. That sense of safety is gone.

Over the past several weeks, two people, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were killed, and countless others have been harassed, assaulted, or detained by federal agents in clear violation of constitutional rights. Federal agencies have been quick to issue public statements filled with claims that are easily contradicted by video evidence and basic facts. Instead of acknowledging those contradictions, officials have doubled down, changed their stories, and done whatever is necessary to avoid accountability. The people entrusted to keep us safe are acting to protect themselves.

Dishonesty has consequences. It sends a clear message that truth does not matter and accountability is optional. I find that deeply alarming.

The other day, I was about to eat lunch when I learned that a suspicious vehicle was idling in front of the elementary school by my home. I started putting on my winter gear to step outside, not to confront anyone, but to exercise my First Amendment rights and to keep an eye on what was happening for my neighbors, because I know they do the same for me. Then I stopped. Just two days earlier, a man had been killed after stepping outside his home to do the same thing. That hesitation should not exist in any neighborhood in this country.

Some people will argue that this is simply law enforcement doing its job and that if you follow the rules you have nothing to fear. That argument fails when people are killed in residential neighborhoods, when official statements contradict clear video evidence, and when those responsible refuse to accept accountability. Safety cannot be built on lies or unchecked power. When truth disappears, everyone is at risk.

I hope people back in Jersey Shore are looking at what is happening here with horror. I am living this firsthand, and I know the people I grew up with would never accept this happening to their neighbors. If you believe safety comes from trust and accountability, not fear and unchecked power, please reach out to your local, state, and federal representatives to express your concerns, attend community meetings, and remind those in power that communities thrive when they are heard and respected. Silence does not keep communities safe. It only allows harm to continue.

I love living in Minneapolis and plan to spend the rest of my life here. I hope you come visit sometime.

KYLE KLINE

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Formerly of Jersey Shore

Submitted by Virtual Newsroom