In a world so heavily mediated and driven by immediacy, athletes, who serve as amplifiers for many messages, are often expected to speak out when certain moments seem to demand it.
This is the context surrounding the recent ICE raids carried out in Minnesota, where two people were killed by agents from the agency. Those events led to an intensification of protests by residents, despite the freezing temperatures gripping the region.
People are already fed up with the harsh tactics being used to detain immigrants and with the fact that two citizens were killed simply for speaking out against actions that, in many cases, are widely viewed as inhumane.
Against this highly volatile backdrop, the media asked Minnesota Timberwolves player Anthony Edwards this past Sunday, January 25, 2026, about his feelings and thoughts regarding the actions taken by ICE agents against protesters, which have already resulted in two deaths.
Anthony Edwards’ response to the ICE shootings against protesters
It is worth remembering that the most recent victim of what many have described as insensitive and inhumane ICE agents was a 37-year-old man named Alex Pretti. On that note, the Timberwolves star chose to respond in a very cautious manner.
Edwards expressed his support for the people of the city where he plays, Minnesota, and remained squarely in the middle, avoiding controversy related to the killings carried out by ICE agents.
This approach did not sit well with many people, who were expecting him to speak out strongly and forcefully against these anti-immigrant policies.
I just love Minnesota.”…”all the love and support that they show me. So I’m behind whatever they with. I don’t really have social media, so I’m not in tune with everything. But I’ve heard about the stuff that’s going on. Me and my family definitely praying for everybody.
Ant-Man said,
In this way, one of the most popular players in the NBA avoided controversy and settled on an ambiguous statement.
For many observers, his comments could have carried a far greater impact on US society, which is precisely why they were upset with the player.
Anthony Edwards has always been a loser so I’m not shocked by his continued loser behavior.
One fan wrote.
Another added,
If Anthony Edwards came out and said ‘we are not taking the court until ICE is out of our state’ he would be the most beloved athlete since Muhammad Ali.
For other fans, his response also carried political undertones, in the sense that it did not commit either positively or negatively; in other words, it said one thing, then another, and ultimately said nothing at all.
Smart answer, a star athlete knows that he will offend 50% of the people with whatever he says.
One user posted on X.
Another wrote,
I’m glad Ant didn’t take the bait.
The situation surrounding these increasingly hardline anti-immigrant measures remains far from simple under the current administration, where immigrants are often portrayed as a problem while the many benefits they bring to communities are conveniently forgotten.
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