US athletes are speaking out against a surge in violence by federal authorities, which they describe as fascism. The backlash follows the killing of nurse Alex Pretti by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials in Minneapolis on 24 January, part of a wider crackdown that has seen two-thirds of the city's homicides in 2026 linked to 'Operation Metro Surge'.
NBA star Tyrese Haliburton was among the first to condemn the killing, posting 'Alex Pretti was murdered' on X. He was joined by athletes including Victor Wembanyama, Breanna Stewart, Karl-Anthony Towns, Spencer Strider, Isaiah Thomas, De'Aaron Fox, JR Smith and John Randle. The Minnesota Timberwolves and PWHL's Minnesota Frost held moments of silence for Pretti.
Former Harvard and USC basketball star McKenzie Forbes told us: 'I am sickened and outraged by the most recent public executions carried out by the state in Minnesota. Fascism is here now and if we as the people do not get organized with our neighbors it will only continue to get worse.'
Two-time MLB All-Star Sean Doolittle, who won the World Series with the Washington Nationals, said: 'I was horrified and heartbroken as I watched the murder of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti on my phone. DHS has an incredibly violent history. What we’re seeing feels like the natural progression of militarizing our police forces.'
Former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin Jr said: 'How could you not be upset? No matter where you land on the political spectrum, I would hope that human decency would consider the human toll.'
The violence comes amid a historic surge in deportations, with DHS removing over 622,000 people in 2025 and 32 deaths in ICE custody – the deadliest year for the agency. In January 2026 alone, at least nine people have been killed by DHS or died in custody.
