Minneapolis protest ends fatally, campus reacts

The death of a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse during an altercation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers on Jan. 24 has sparked reactions nationwide and on campus.

Alex Pretti was present during an anti-ICE protest in Minneapolis, according to The Associated Press. Video footage of the encounter shows Pretti being tackled to the ground while holding a phone, before a federal agent removes a gun from Pretti’s waistband. A series of gunshots can be heard afterward.

His death came about two weeks after the killing of Renee Good, a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident, on Jan. 7.

Good was driving in her neighborhood when she was shot and killed by an ICE officer as she appeared to drive away from the encounter in video footage posted online.

Julio Lopez, a 23-year-old social work and human services major, said the situation was unfortunate but not surprising.

“I believe in what I saw, and what I saw was a U.S. citizen that was wrongfully shot down in the streets,” Lopez said.

Alejandra Lozano, a 19-year-old social work and human services major, said she had discussed the incident in her Sociology 321 class, Race, Ethnicity and Inequality in the United States. She said she believes public opinion plays a role in the severity of law enforcement actions.

“It makes us wonder, ‘How many people are in California thinking this way?’ because that is going to affect the violence,” Lozano said.

Josue Gutierrez, a 30-year-old architecture major, said the incident has only raised his concerns about the current administration.

“Maybe the intentions seem like they’re coming from a good place, but the way they’re being carried out to me doesn’t feel humane,” Gutierrez said.

Pretti’s death has since inspired the organization of commemorative events in Sacramento. Local nurses held a vigil in his remembrance on 48th Street on Wednesday, and community members rallied in an anti-ICE protest at the Cesar Chavez Park on Friday.

Hong An Nguyen, an 18-year-old biology major, attended the protest in hopes of supporting her community.

“The walk itself was energizing, and everyone was feeding off of each other’s anger and directing it in a productive way,” Nguyen said.

The death of Pretti has elicited conflicting responses from those involved, with Trump administration officials defending the actions of ICE.

Lozano acknowledged that differing opinions will always exist but criticized the country’s bipartisan divide.

“Of course, we are going to have different opinions on any matter regarding politics because it’s normal and it’s good in some ways,” Lozano said. “But I think sometimes it is a problem.”