Marchers mark four weeks since Alex Pretti was fatally shot in Minneapolis
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Marchers in south Minneapolis on Saturday marked four weeks since the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents.
The march started at Whittier Park, a few blocks from where Pretti was killed, and ended at the scene of the shooting on Nicollet Avenue. Organizers said they wanted to honor and remember Pretti, and the community brought together in the wake of his death.
They also said they’re staying vigilant, even after the White House said it’s winding down the surge of federal immigration agents in Minnesota.
“There’s a lot of activity going on, especially in the suburbs. They’re doing a lot to try to keep it away from our eyes,” said Morgan Budiandri, a volunteer with the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee. “A lot of restaurants are still getting their doors knocked on by federal agents asking to see a ... manifesto of their employees. So you know, we’re seeing less of these kidnappings off the streets, but it’s becoming more surgical.”
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In addition to calling for an end to the federal immigration operation in Minnesota, Saturday’s march also pushed for:
a halt to any cooperation between local and federal agencies on immigration enforcement
accountability and justice for the deaths of Pretti, Renee Macklin Good and other people who have died in encounters with federal immigration agents
an eviction moratorium to help people who’ve faced economic hardship and housing instability due to the federal operation
And there were calls from people at the march to halt funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as that debate continues in Washington.
“We’re not backing down, just because they pulled off a little bit,” said Wes, who asked that his last name not be used. “I think the position of most people, and not just progressives, is that ICE is not an institution that is working for the people, so we’re not going to stop until ICE is abolished. That’s our position.”
Saturday’s march also remembered Good, who was fatally shot by a federal agent in Minneapolis on Jan. 7, and Victor Manuel Diaz, who was detained in Minneapolis in January and later died at a federal detention facility in Texas.
At a rally before marchers took to the street, Erik Jamison-Ekeling of St. Paul reflected on the community response in the four weeks since Pretti was killed, and since the federal operation started.
“I haven’t been more proud of the Twin Cities than I have been since the occupation started,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that this has been kind of the catalyst for as much community organizing as it has been. And I know that people of color and poor people have had to organize in this way and not get the same attention. So (I’m) a little bit frustrated that it’s just now getting the momentum that it has.”
Jamison-Ekeling said he remains skeptical that the federal operation is truly coming to an end. He said there’s still a need “to mobilize and resist what’s going on.”
Kaleo Crowson, an Air Force veteran from St. Paul, said that Pretti’s death “was horrific, everyone saw the video. But I’m proud of the community. Everyone showed up. There’s been even more people out with him and with Renee Good. I couldn’t be more proud of my state.”
This story is part of our live coverage. Go to live updates.
