The Worldwide Cycling Community Shows Up for Alex Pretti  - Left Voice
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Last Saturday, tens of thousands of cyclists across the world staged massive group rides in memory of Alex Pretti and in solidarity with the people of occupied Minneapolis — a politicizing experience for many in the outdoor community.

In the wake of Alex Pretti’s slaying, we saw an outpouring of solidarity from nurses, union members, and activists, but also from an unexpected sector: the worldwide cycling community. Besides being an ICU nurse, Alex Pretti was also an avid bikepacker, an off-road bicycle traveler, and his death was felt personally by many in the community. Online comment sections were flooded with messages of shock, sadness, and anger.

When the Minneapolis bike shop Angry Catfish put out the call to ride in remembrance on January 31, the cycling community responded with overwhelming unity. Within days, hundreds of planned group rides sprung up on the map in nearly all U.S. states and 17 countries worldwide.

On Saturday, the main memorial ride in Minneapolis reportedly saw thousands of riders despite the biting cold, with hundreds joining in Boulder, New York, San Diego, and other cities. The Berlin ride I was part of saw an impressive turn-out of more than 70 riders despite treacherously frozen roads. Our convoy snaked its way from Kreuzberg to the U.S. Embassy at Brandenburg Gate.

Many organizers echoed more radical calls to stand against fascism and authoritarianism, and emphasized the need for self-organization. The Berlin ride, for example, expressed solidarity with all victims of ICE and the people of Minneapolis, called to abolish ICE, and highlighted the increasing need for anti-fascist self-defense given the ongoing shift to the right in German politics.

In a short speech, one of the Berliner organizers noted the parallels in the legal impunity of ICE and German police forces, the brutal violence against protesters in both Minneapolis and Berlin, and the AfD proposal to set up an ICE-style unit amidst rhetoric of a 2026 deportation offensive in Bavaria. Citing some of the recent victories in the fight against ICE, the speech concluded on a hopeful note: Minneapolis shows “solidarity and organizing are our best weapons for resisting authoritarian state violence.”

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