In the wild world of Minneapolis politics and protests, it seems that sometimes, chaos takes the wheel and drives right into the trouble zone. A recent event featuring a guy named Alex Pretty—who is anything but deep in thought—is turning heads and raising eyebrows. Now, before anyone goes jumping to conclusions, let’s unpack what’s happening here, because it gets juicy.

Picture this: it’s January 13th, and federal agents are blocking streets like they’re playing a game of red light, green light, only no one wants to play. Enter Alex Pretty, a not-so-peaceful protester, who, instead of holding a sign demanding change, decides to channel his inner soccer player. What’s his first move? Kicking the tail light of an ICE vehicle. Yep, you heard that right. For all those wondering if that’s an appropriate protest method, the answer is a resounding “NO.” Pro tip: kicking isn’t as effective as voting, even if you’re a little miffed at the government.

Now, things escalated quickly from there. In what sounds like a scene from an action movie, agents fired tear gas and pepper balls into the crowd as if they were playing a really intense game of dodgeball. Who would’ve thought protesting could come with a bonus round of chemical warfare? And don’t even get me started on the group dynamics. It’s never a good sign when your protest ends up involving a whole pack of screaming liberal cat-ladies. It’s enough to make anyone question their life choices if they find themselves amidst that ferocious feline squad.

Here’s the kicker—maybe all this is a lesson in self-reflection? If you’re surrounded by loud folks throwing shade at federal agents, it might be time to reconsider your life’s direction. Newsflash: being held down by law enforcement while protesting with a bunch of passionate individuals does not generally lead to a fulfilling life. And let’s not forget the Minneapolis PD—had they been cooperating with ICE, they could have turned this whole scenario around. Arresting a guy for damaging property could have kept him from becoming the star of a news segment that probably wasn’t how he envisioned his 15 minutes of fame.

In the end, Alex Pretty’s moment of misguided activism serves as a great reminder. Sometimes, when the smoke clears and the tear gas sets in, it’s not just the law that gets hurt; it’s the message too. So here’s a thought: instead of swinging kicks at vehicles and rolling with a crowd that’s more about the drama than the solutions, maybe take a step back and engage in a little peaceful dialogue? Just a couple of cents from someone who’d prefer not to be mopping up the aftermath of such a chaotic day in Minneapolis. Who knew protesting could be this entertaining and, yet, shockingly tragic at the same time?