‘Mr. Trump, stop killing American citizens’: Kinew

Premier Wab Kinew called for an end to violence in the United States following the second fatal shooting by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis.

“Mr. Trump, stop killing American citizens,” Kinew said Monday at a news conference.

The premier said he’d contacted Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Saturday upon hearing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had shot and killed Alex Pretti earlier that morning.

Protests erupted in Minneapolis following the death of Renee Good, who was shot by ICE on Jan. 7.

Kinew said his message Saturday contained support and outrage.

“I think (Walz) is very appreciative,” Kinew said.

He previously sent Walz a message of support on behalf of Manitobans after Good’s death. The premier encouraged Manitobans to contact friends in the U.S. and offer “encouragement.”

“You could be over here,” he said, motioning to the left, “you could even be a Trump supporter. I don’t think anybody wants to see people being shot in the middle of the street.

“We’ve got to show support. America’s going through it right now.”

The U.S. will continue to be Canada’s neighbour, Kinew said. The two, along with Mexico, are preparing for a review of their joint free trade deal, the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, this July.

Canada also seeks to strike a new trade deal with the U.S. as certain exports — such as steel and aluminum — are hit with tariffs.

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened 100 per cent tariffs on Canadian items over the weekend if Canada makes a deal with China. On Monday, Kinew said Canada would get a trade deal and do business with the States.

“We also have to be able to speak with integrity and look at ourselves in the mirror at the end of this,” Kinew said. “Now is the time for moral clarity. I hope American conservatives recognize that as well.”

gabrielle.piche@freepress.mb.ca