Timberwolves gamers reply to Minneapolis ICE capturing deaths with assertion

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The Minnesota Timberwolves launched an announcement from its gamers relating to the rising anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) tensions in Minneapolis.

There have been two fatal incidents in Minneapolis in current weeks involving federal immigration brokers amid heightened tensions over the operations in addition to clashes with anti-ICE demonstrators.

Like everybody within the Twin Cities, the Timberwolves have been impacted by the occasions, and so they launched an announcement expressing their "honest sympathies and like to everybody."

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Followers maintain indicators to protest the presence of federal brokers in Minneapolis previous to the beginning of an NBA recreation between the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves at Goal Heart on Jan. 25, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (David Berding/Getty Pictures)

"We, the Minnesota Timberwolves gamers, lengthen our honest sympathies and like to everybody throughout the Twin Cities and all through Minnesota who has been affected by the current tragic occasions impacting our communities," the assertion learn. "Minnesota is strongest once we uplift and assist each other, and there's no room for hatred or division throughout our nice state or amongst all who stay right here.

"We mourn the lives misplaced and ship energy, peace and compassion to all who're hurting. We imagine within the resilience, unity and care that outline Minnesotans, and convey our communities collectively in instances of hardship and wish."

The Timberwolves postponed their recreation on Saturday towards the Golden State Warriors within the aftermath of the deadly capturing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old Division of Veteran Affairs ICU nurse, involving a Border Patrol agent.

ANTI-ICE PROTESTS TAKE PLACE AS T'WOLVES-WARRIORS NBA GAME TAKES PLACE

"The choice was made to prioritize the security and safety of the Minneapolis neighborhood," the NBA mentioned, including that the sport can be performed Sunday.

The next day, NBA followers delivered anti-ICE messages at Goal Heart, with indicators inside the world studying, "ICE out now." A second of silence was held for Pretti — the identical protocol for the Timberwolves following the sooner demise of Renee Good.

The staff held a second of silence for Good, 37, who was killed whereas working a car that brokers ordered her to exit, in response to Division of Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem. Good, in response to Noem, refused and "tried to run them over and ram them together with her car."

A second of silence is held for Alex Jeffrey Pretti previous to the beginning of an NBA recreation between the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves at Goal Heart on Jan. 25, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (David Berding/Getty Pictures)

"Our ideas are together with her household and everybody affected, and our hearts are with our neighborhood as we hope for therapeutic and unity throughout this difficult time," the Goal Heart’s public handle announcer mentioned.

Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch additionally spoke earlier than his squad defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"As everyone knows, our neighborhood has suffered one more unspeakable tragedy," he mentioned. "We need to simply convey our condolences and heartfelt needs and prayers and ideas to the households and family members and all of these which can be significantly affected by what occurred."

The Nationwide Basketball Gamers Affiliation launched an announcement this previous Sunday as properly.

"Following the information of one more deadly capturing in Minneapolis, a metropolis that has been on the forefront of the battle towards injustices, NBA gamers can now not stay silent," the union mentioned. "Now greater than ever, we should defend the fitting to freedom of speech and stand in solidarity with the individuals in Minnesota protesting and risking their lives to demand justice.

A demonstrator holds an indication to protest the presence of federal brokers in Minneapolis previous to the beginning of an NBA recreation between the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves at Goal Heart on Jan. 25, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (David Berding/Getty Pictures)

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"The fraternity of NBA gamers, like america itself, is a neighborhood enriched by its international residents, and we refuse to let the flames of division threaten the civil liberties that are supposed to defend us all. The NBPA and its members lengthen our deepest condolences to the households of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, simply as our ideas stay centered on the security and well-being of all members of our neighborhood."

The capturing fueled additional protests within the Twin Cities amid a current surge of ICE activity within the space as a part of the Trump administration's crackdown on unlawful immigration.