South Dakota Democrats say they’re disappointed in the lack of acknowledgement of the death of Alex Pretti by the state during session. Pretti died in Minnesota after an interaction with Immigrations Customs Enforcement.
However, some say being quick to speak isn’t always best practice.
Democratic Sen. Jamie Smith expressed frustration with the silence on the death and events happening in Minnesota at a Legislative Press Conference Thursday.
“I think it’s quite clear that what is happening is not normal, it’s not right and it’s not who we are as an Americans. So, to that being said I have been disappointed in this House that we have not had any mention of this action from our leaders here to say that it’s wrong,” Smith said. “Political violence is never right.”
However, some argue issuing a statement immediately following an incident is not necessarily a good thing. That’s what Gov. Larry Rhoden said when asked if he wanted to comment on Pretti’s death at a press conference.
“I don’t have a comment, because I don’t know, I don’t know the details,” Rhoden said. “I’m not privy to the details.”
Rhoden continued, explaining his position.
“And I think that’s a big part of the problem that we face in some of these issues is people jumping to conclusions and then standing their ground and making absurd statements based on conjecture,” Rhoden said. “You owe it as a public official, you owe it to the public, and you owe it to yourself and your own moral conscience to know for a fact that what you’re speaking is the truth before you speak it.”
This comes on the heels of Senate Bill 113, which Republicans announced at a press conference last week. It upgraded disrupting a church service with threats or violence from a misdemeanor to a felony in response toa protest at a Twin Cities-area church. Rhoden was asked whether he had all the facts when that brill was brought forward.
“Those opinions were based on what I had physically seen that was pretty well-documented, and pretty plain,” Rhoden said.
Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen also told reporters that SB 113 is building on existing codified law.
