Melinda French Gates on ICE shootings in Minneapolis: ‘Our country is not …’

Melinda French Gates has criticized the deaths of Renée Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, calling the shootings by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) “unconscionable” and saying they have weighed heavily on people across the United States. In a post on professional networking platform LinkedIn, Gates said the deaths had sparked grief and concern, particularly among those who believe in peaceful and lawful civic action. French Melinda Gates said that no one in the United States should have to fear losing their life for taking part in peaceful and principled action to support their beliefs. She added that recent weeks have shown neighbors standing up for one another with courage and compassion.In her post, Gates stressed the importance of distinguishing between the actions of the government and the values of the country itself. “Our country is not our government—our country is us, we the people,” she wrote, highlighting what she described as long-standing American principles.She pointed to values such as the rule of law, democratic accountability, and individual rights, saying these have bound Americans together for 250 years. Gates said exercising constitutional rights and holding leaders accountable are core parts of the country’s democratic system.“There is nothing more American than exercising our rights and holding our government accountable,” she said, adding that democracy depends on citizens being able to do so without fear.

What Melinda French Gates said about Minneapolis ICE killings

Here’s the LinkedIn post shared by Melinda French Gates “The deaths of Renée Nicole Good and Alex Pretti are unconscionable and weighing heavily on so many of our hearts. Over recent weeks, in Minneapolis and other communities across the country, we have seen neighbors standing up for each other with courage, compassion, and solidarity. No one in the United States should ever have to fear losing their life for taking peaceful, principled action in support of their beliefs. Our country is not our government—our country is us, we the people. For 250 years, we have been bound together by bedrock values, the rule of law, and inalienable rights. There is nothing more American than exercising our rights and holding our government accountable. Our democracy depends on it.”