The murder of Alex Pretti was horrifically shocking, all the more so as we are still reeling from the images of the murder of Renee Good. That these crimes can be committed in broad daylight, on camera and yet no one is held accountable only adds to the injustice.
I wrote this song yesterday as a tribute to the bravery of the people of Minneapolis who, knowing that these trigger happy ICE thugs operate with seeming impunity in their midst, are still willing to put themselves in harms way to defend their community. Their resistance is an inspiration to us all.
CITY OF HEROES - BILLY BRAGG
The ghost of Martin Niemöller
Haunts the halls of history
When they came for the communists
He said “It’s nothing to do with me”
When they came for the democrats
He had nothing to say
And when they came for the Jews
He just looked the other way
His silence didn’t save him
When they came for him as well
There was no one to speak out for him
Resistance had been quelled
What excuses would you tell yourself
If this ever happened to you?
Well I live in a city of heroes
I know what I would do
When they came for the immigrants
I got in their face
When they came for the refugees
I got in their face
When they came for the five-year-olds
I got in their face
When they came to my neighbourhood
I just got in their face
They use tear gas and pepper spray
Against our whistles and our phones
But in this city of heroes
We will protect our home
When they dragged people from their cars
I got in their face
When they took families from their homes
I got in their face
When they murdered our sister
I got in their face
When they murdered our brother
I still got in their face
In Dachau Martin Niemöller
Suffered for his complicity
But in this city of heroes
We learn the lessons of history
I will bear witness to terror
I will bear witness to tyranny
I will bear witness to murder
I will bear witness to fascism
Words and Music by Billy Bragg
Engineered, recorded and mixed by Jamie Parker at Echo Town Studio, Dorset
Image taken on the streets of Minneapolis on Friday 23rd January 2026 by Jim Walsh
