Another U.S. Winter Olympian is voicing concerns about the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minnesota. Rich Ruohonen, an American curler, addressed recent incidents in Minneapolis, particularly the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Preti by federal officers.
“What’s happening in Minnesota is wrong. There are no shades of gray,” Ruohonen stated, adding that he is a personal injury attorney based in Bloomington. He emphasized that these issues affect their community directly.
Ruohonen expressed pride in representing Team USA and acknowledged that times are tough for many. “We have a constitution that safeguards our rights. Unreasonable searches and seizures are just not acceptable,” he said. “It’s absolutely clear that what is happening is unjust.”
This Olympics marks Ruohonen’s first appearance after previously trying and not qualifying. If all goes well, he could become the oldest American to compete in Winter Olympics history. Notably, six out of his eleven teammates hail from Minnesota, which he highlighted during his statement.
He also shared his appreciation for the support shown in Minnesota, saying, “I really love what’s happening right now, with people coming together, showing compassion and respect.” He stressed that they play not just for themselves, but for their families and friends who have sacrificed along the way.
Interestingly, Ruohonen is not alone in voicing his perspective on current events in the U.S. Fellow skier Hunter Hess faced criticism after sharing mixed feelings about representing the country. This statement led to backlash, including reactions from Donald Trump.
Hess had initially described his feelings about representing the U.S. as complicated. “There’s a lot going on that I’m not too keen about,” he noted, indicating the challenges of reconciling national pride with current issues.
Later, he clarified his stance, emphasizing his love for America while acknowledging room for improvement. “We need to unite, especially in these divided times,” he remarked, expressing anticipation for his Olympic debut.
As the USA Curling team heads into the Olympics, they are already turning heads. Recently, they achieved a significant win against reigning Olympic champions Italy in mixed doubles.
While they narrowly lost to Sweden in the gold medal match, they secured silver, marking the seventh medal for the U.S. in these games. More curling matches are lined up, with the team set to compete against the Czech Republic and South Korea shortly.
