Large protests erupted in multiple cities across the United States following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old registered nurse, by federal agents in Minneapolis. Pretti worked in the intensive care unit of the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. He succumbed to wounds inflicted during an armed encounter with law enforcement officers. Eyewitness reports suggest he was shot several times, execution style, pointing towards the possibility that his death was intentional.
Federal agents were apparently attempting to carry out an operation related to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Here’s how the incident unfolded. Pretti, a lawful gun owner with a permit to carry. Victim Jarred Hines’ family and Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara agreed that he was carrying a gun throughout the encounter. Experts analyzed video of the incident. They insinuated that Pretti had someone disarm him seconds before the first shots were fired. This has stoked the flames of public discourse with regard to the use of lethal force by law enforcement.
After Pretti’s death, protests poured into the streets of Minneapolis. Hundreds of others assembled around a memorial near the site of the shooting to share their sorrow and anger. Demonstrators held signs reading “Justice for Alex Pretti,” while others stood behind makeshift barricades, demanding accountability from law enforcement agencies. The protests quickly spread beyond Minneapolis, reaching cities such as New York City, San Francisco, Boston, and Providence, Rhode Island.
In New York City, protesters withstood sub-zero wind chill to make their demands heard. City council member Chi Ossé was one of the first speakers, and his words were a call to action to abolish ICE and condemn the agency’s practices. He stated:
“We need Nuremberg trials for the people of ICE, for the people who are committing crimes against humanity here in our country. I refuse to call them law enforcement. They are agents of chaos. They are destroying the fabric of our country.”
These angry, chanting marches showcased the ingenuity of the demonstrators in creating slogans that highlighted their anger over ICE’s impact. Attendees repeatedly shouted phrases such as “Say it once, say it twice, we will not put up with ICE!” and “Shut it down, shut it down, shut it down.” Signs held by participants conveyed messages like “No Tyrants & No Kings” and “One, two, three, four! ICE detention no more! Five, six, seven, eight! End the terror and the hate!”
The protests started immediately following the largest demonstration, yet of all places in Minneapolis. Just a day before, several thousand were in the streets calling for the abolishment of ICE and its violent practices. The recent increase in protests is a reflection of the deepening frustration over how federal law enforcement deals with ongoing civil rights concerns and immigration-related matters.
At the same time, cities across the country are trying to deal with the aftermath from this disaster. In the background, community leaders and activists are rightfully pushing for justice for Alex Pretti and accountability for those who caused his death. For these reasons, many view his case as symbolic of more systemic problems within policing and immigration enforcement.