If anyone is observing the carnage in Minneapolis.....

[MistressoftheDarkSide]

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2026/jan/24/minneapolis-shooting-live

Guardian is running a live feed, and a good unbiased source is Agenda Free TV on YouTube also running live feeds from the streets there.

Obviously multiple versions of events being thrown about as it's very fresh.

Sending solidarity across the pond to any US Mumsnetters in the locale and protesting the awful actions of ICE and disregard of your constitution by the "President".

It's something else written in the constitution that you think should now be ignored.

How much more do you think shouldn't exist?

Why not "carnage"?

Because "carnage" means "the violent killing of large numbers of people". https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/carnage

The violent killing of one man, however appalling, is not "carnage". Especially in fraught situations like this, the accurate use of language matters.

Carrying a loaded weapon into a volatile situation just because the constitution says you can is not a good idea. Clearly.

He didn't get the chance to put his hands on his head - watch the video.

He goes to stand inbetween a woman who is being pushed over/pepper sprayed by ICE. They immediately swam him, pepper spray him, pistol whip him, disarm him (at no point is he going for his gun which as a reminder he is legally allowed to carry). They then shoot him multiple times at point blank range.

Your post is just victim blaming.

Except language evolves including the word carnage. I've done a quick search on the Daily Mail and The Guardian and have found headlines using carnage in the context of student bar crawls, parenting, sport (particularly cricket), weather events etc.

I find it fascinating that posters have turned up to attack the OP for her choice of word moreso than an innocent man being murdered by the state.

I await your analysis of the choice of 'domestic terrorist' as the words to describe him from the Trump administration. In my view that's much more incorrect and inaccurate than the OP starting a thread on mumsnet and using the word carnage. And liable to have more significant impact too.

For the final time, protesting in the US is not illegal. Carrying a firearm with the proper permit (as Alex Pretti was doing) is not illegal. Filming law enforcement is not illegal. So why is he a 'domestic terrorist'?

Well Walz’s career is over. Fraud is too much.

You do know that Donald Trump was personally convicted of fraud by a jury of his peers, right? Along with the felonies and the sexual assaults, and the being banned from running a charity and fined £2million for misuse of charitable funds. I could find you lots of neutral NYT takes on those.

Are you lining up for his career to be over?

Yes. I’ve been watching what has been happening as well as what the Federal government has been reporting - particularly Homeland Security. It seems like Homeland Security is trying to gaslight the entire world right now.

What is happening there is the absolute reason why the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution exists.

Trump is showing signs of dementia. There needs to be a law about senile politicians in the US.

You just need to look at his posture in videos and pictures. It’s very very concerning.

Oh, that's true.

I'm aware they can make it very difficult, especially for POC

Can't imagine that here - but who knows?

It's also, frankly, not normal.

I don't care if we differ politically, but this isn't politics. It's a rot that goes far deeper. Well-adjusted people without disorders don't believe the lies that they can literally see are lies with their own eyes, defend them or propagate them.

A supposedly civilised country lets masked men run its streets kidnapping and executing its civilians. America has sunk so low

It’s like Chile under Pinochet, or Argentina under the Junta .. they are one step away.

For the final time,
Why "the final time", as if you’ve said this to me before? You haven’t, and I wouldn't have disputed it if you had.

protesting in the US is not illegal.
Who on here said it was? Certainly not me.

Carrying a firearm with the proper permit (as Alex Pretti was doing) is not illegal. Filming law enforcement is not illegal.
Of course they aren’t.

So why is he a 'domestic terrorist'?
He isn’t. The Trump administration's use of that phrase is disgusting.

I don’t know why you apparently assume that anyone objecting to the inaccurate use of the word "carnage" must therefore support the Trump administration. I certainly don’t, but I don’t believe that hyperbole helps defeat it. It simply gives them a valid line of defence.

Yes, the word "carnage" is often used metaphorically, as in the examples you give. But when it’s used to describe killing it means many people, not one. The OP is being criticised for her choice of word because it is misleading and gives ICE supporters legitimate grounds on which to criticise their opponents.

I do remember Trump saying something along the lines of 'there will never be an election again'. Unfortunately I cannot remember when I heard him say it. Do people think it a possibility he wants to cause civil unrest so he can impose martial law? Then he can 'rule' like a dictator. Just wondered really. It is all so very grim and frightening.

Here’s something else for you to froth about and abuse me for: attributing the wrong meaning to a word is nothing to do with "grammar".

Alex Petti was executed in cold blood in broad daylight. There are no two sides about it. And maybe this will get me deleted, but anyone who tries to say there are should just fuck off.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/01/24/us/minneapolis-shooting-alex-pretti-timeline.html?smid=url-share&unlocked_article_code=1.HFA.wILW.2ZQ6MwFfTwos

Not interested in fuelling any masochstic fantasies you may have, sorry.

Pedantry is a useful shield for the self righteous. Vocabulary police then, if we're playing petty trumps.

Anyone trying to justify this execution, should take a look at these pictures and then tell me why we shouldn’t be worried by the direction the US is going

I think we'll have to agree to disagree here. I just don't think that the word carnage - given the fact it's now routinely used to describe the chaos of bad traffic, Christmas sales etc is that off target. And I certainly don't think it's the thing to be focusing on after watching an innocent man get gunned down in the street by an administration who will cover it up.

The language I'm more upset by is Alex Pretti's loved ones having to hear him described as a domestic terrorist by their own government when he was just being a Good Samaritan. For me that's more relevant than berating the OP for using the word carnage when 'only' one person was illegally killed.

Yep, I’m happy to be a member of the vocabulary police.

Words matter (as those trying to retain the correct meaning of the word "woman" know…)

stay still, follow instructions and then everyone's intentions will be clear.

else, 🔫🔫

Another box marked on the inevitable bingo card - have a gold virtue star.

Yes, the "domestic terrorist" description is despicable. I just don’t think that justifies the use of "carnage" in this situation.

Thanks

Statement from Alex Pretti's parents -

"We are heartbroken but also very angry.

Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital. Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately, he will not be with us to see his impact.

I do not throw around the ‘hero’ term lightly. However, his last thought and act was to protect a woman. The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs. He had his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down, all while being pepper sprayed.

Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man. Thank you."

Meanwhile, border control commander Greg Bovino -
"The victim, the victims are the Border Patrol agents"