Poet with a Press Pass

We have all watched much too much violence inflicted on innocent patriots by a government gone rogue in the past few weeks — with journalists and cell phone videographers recording demented ICE agents snatching people from their homes, knocking elderly people into the snow, and hauling children into detention. Around the world, those with an open heart are shocked, sad, afraid and angry. Those of us with children or grandchildren are frantic that they will view or even hear about the murderous rampages by men who are supposed to keep them safe.

To make matters worse, the monsters of Trump’s evil empire not only lie about the assaults of ICE agents, they defame the victims of those assaults. While in worship and in bedtime stories, we reaffirm the morality of Truth.

Thankfully, we have also have the inspiring news of courageous Minnesotans whose service to others reminds us what true patriots do in the face of tyranny! May we all be encouraged to follow their lead — for my part, my protest poems are still being posted, I am continuing to speak peace at memorial and political events, and my whistle is always in my purse.

This poem, posted recently at PoetwithaPressPass.com, was written the day after the ICE murder of Alex Pretti, a wonderful man whose life work was especially poignant to me as my nuclear and extended family is full of doctors, nurses, and medical staff members.

For it, I chose the form of short, conversational, rhyming lines that repeat the long “O” sound of groaning, interjection, and mourning that I took from the tragic few moments that ended Alex’s life and the imagined sound of our share internal agony.

In the face of all this, may we strengthen each other in our love of village, city, state, country, and, even self. Hugs to all of you!

The Minneapolis day was bitter-cold
A winter blast but even so
Folks gathered in the city’s snow
Holding signs and banners that said NO
to show they wanted ICE to go
One man who seemed to know
The drill directed cars to slow
Amid people walking to and fro
He was a nurse…at the VA you know
All was calm until a brusque inflow
Of agents masked with guns in tow
They shoved a woman just for show
The nurse alarmed admonished Whoa!
Are you alright? Please let me know!
And suddenly it was touch-and-go
Like in films of tyranny long ago
The nurse was mobbed, shoved into snow
Hit with pepper spray and constant blows
Then suddenly gun shots dominoed
And left him dead on the street below
Noooooo!
They cut his shirt. To count wounds then crow?
With prideful smirks, they turned to go
Phone cameras caught the assault in whole…
The official story was lies for show
But the people saw—and the people know

Anne McCrady, 2026

NEWSLINKS: MSNOW, CNN

AUDIOLINK: SoundCloud

Poet with a Press Pass is a series of news-related poems written and recorded in real time and recorded by Anne McCrady and produced by InSpirity.