Tributes Pour In for Bay Area ICU Nurse Killed by ICE Agent in Minneapolis
A somber yet determined crowd gathered at Sutro Heights Park in San Francisco on Sunday night to honor Alex Pretti, a dedicated ICU nurse who was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis last Saturday. The outpouring of support is part of a growing wave of protests against ICE's actions, with many Bay Area residents and healthcare workers coming together to show their solidarity.
The vigil, organized by Indivisible SF, drew hundreds of people who were united in their grief and outrage over Pretti's tragic death. Many attendees, including nurses and healthcare professionals, spoke about the senseless brutality of Pretti's killing, which they saw as a chilling reminder of the dangers faced by those who work in vulnerable populations.
"We're going to save this country," said one nurse at the vigil, who wished to remain anonymous. "With your name, with Renee Good's name, and with everyone else that ICE is suppressing and hurting. We're going to be putting our country back together."
Nurses, activists, and community members from across the Bay Area joined forces in a show of support, many of whom had personal connections to Pretti or had lost loved ones to similar tragedies.
"This is not just about Alex," said Mark Smith, an occupational therapist at the San Francisco VA Hospital who participated in the vigil. "It's about the thousands of people being held in detention facilities, the families being torn apart, and the communities that are being devastated by ICE's actions."
The vigil also saw the presence of faith leaders, who called for nonviolent resistance as a means to challenge systemic injustices.
"We can't let fear dictate our actions," said Reverend Steve Pingston. "We must love, respect, and pursue justice. The time for change is now."
As protests continue to spread across the Bay Area, local officials are urging residents to remain vigilant and prepared for potential federal presence in the region.
Meanwhile, a group of volunteers from Gandhi Team, who promote nonviolent intervention, held an interfaith prayer vigil at Westminster Presbyterian Church in San Jose. The event aimed to raise awareness about de-escalation techniques and the importance of peaceful resistance.
"We need to stand together as a community," said Joanna Thurmann, a peace ambassador with Gandhi Team. "Non-violence is actually more successful than violent movements. It's time for us to take action and demand justice."
As the country continues to grapple with the complexities of immigration policy and national security, it remains clear that the actions of ICE agents like those who killed Alex Pretti will not be tolerated.
"The real threat isn't immigrants or people protesting in the streets," said Smith. "It's armed and militarized immigration enforcement happening in our communities."
The protests serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of advocating for policy change and holding elected officials accountable for their actions.
"We must demand justice, not just for Alex Pretti but for all those who have been affected by ICE's brutal policies," said Thurmann.
A somber yet determined crowd gathered at Sutro Heights Park in San Francisco on Sunday night to honor Alex Pretti, a dedicated ICU nurse who was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis last Saturday. The outpouring of support is part of a growing wave of protests against ICE's actions, with many Bay Area residents and healthcare workers coming together to show their solidarity.
The vigil, organized by Indivisible SF, drew hundreds of people who were united in their grief and outrage over Pretti's tragic death. Many attendees, including nurses and healthcare professionals, spoke about the senseless brutality of Pretti's killing, which they saw as a chilling reminder of the dangers faced by those who work in vulnerable populations.
"We're going to save this country," said one nurse at the vigil, who wished to remain anonymous. "With your name, with Renee Good's name, and with everyone else that ICE is suppressing and hurting. We're going to be putting our country back together."
Nurses, activists, and community members from across the Bay Area joined forces in a show of support, many of whom had personal connections to Pretti or had lost loved ones to similar tragedies.
"This is not just about Alex," said Mark Smith, an occupational therapist at the San Francisco VA Hospital who participated in the vigil. "It's about the thousands of people being held in detention facilities, the families being torn apart, and the communities that are being devastated by ICE's actions."
The vigil also saw the presence of faith leaders, who called for nonviolent resistance as a means to challenge systemic injustices.
"We can't let fear dictate our actions," said Reverend Steve Pingston. "We must love, respect, and pursue justice. The time for change is now."
As protests continue to spread across the Bay Area, local officials are urging residents to remain vigilant and prepared for potential federal presence in the region.
Meanwhile, a group of volunteers from Gandhi Team, who promote nonviolent intervention, held an interfaith prayer vigil at Westminster Presbyterian Church in San Jose. The event aimed to raise awareness about de-escalation techniques and the importance of peaceful resistance.
"We need to stand together as a community," said Joanna Thurmann, a peace ambassador with Gandhi Team. "Non-violence is actually more successful than violent movements. It's time for us to take action and demand justice."
As the country continues to grapple with the complexities of immigration policy and national security, it remains clear that the actions of ICE agents like those who killed Alex Pretti will not be tolerated.
"The real threat isn't immigrants or people protesting in the streets," said Smith. "It's armed and militarized immigration enforcement happening in our communities."
The protests serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of advocating for policy change and holding elected officials accountable for their actions.
"We must demand justice, not just for Alex Pretti but for all those who have been affected by ICE's brutal policies," said Thurmann.
. Can't let them just walk around killing people and getting away with it 
. We need real change, not just empty promises 
.
. The fact that someone as selfless and caring as Alex Pretti, working in an ICU, gets killed by some overzealous ICE agent? It's just not right. 
. We need more of this kind of solidarity and activism. It's clear that ICE's actions are causing harm not just to immigrants but also to the communities they're supposed to be serving. 
. Nonviolent resistance is a powerful tool for change. And it's time for us to take action and demand justice for people like Alex Pretti, who was just trying to do his job with compassion and care 
.
. We need better systems in place to protect both our communities and our immigration laws. It's not an either-or situation; we can have a more just and compassionate society without compromising on security 
.
can't believe this is still happening 
. an ice agent literally gets away with murdering a nurse and the only thing we get are protests and vigils 
i mean, i'm not saying we shouldn't be outraged or that we shouldn't be fighting for justice, but come on guys 
. we need to see some actual systemic changes happening here 
. and btw, what's up with all these "nonviolent resistance" vibes? doesn't that just mean they're too scared to actually do something about it 
?
300 people just chillin at this vigil in SF 
and it feels like the whole city is still reeling from what happened to Alex Pretti 
. Like, how's that supposed to be legit? 
.
. Nonviolent resistance is key here 
. That's just not okay 
. We need to hold ICE agents accountable for their actions and demand justice for Alex Pretti and all those affected by these policies 
. We need to stand together and make some noise until we get some real change 
. As we gather to pay tribute and show our solidarity, it's clear that this tragic event has reignited the conversation around systemic injustices and the need for policy change 
.
.
. We owe it to Alex Pretti and all those who have been affected by ICE's brutal policies to keep pushing for a more just and equitable society