A day after a federal immigration officer fatally shot a ICU nurse in Minneapolis on Saturday, Jan. 24, nearly 300 Iowa City residents gathered on the University of Iowa Pentacrest to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Alex Pretti, 37, died Jan. 24 after he was fatally shot by a U.S. Border Patrol agent during a protest. Videos appear to show Pretti holding a cellphone and trying to help another attendee when he was taken to the ground by Border Patrol agents and shot.
Pretti had a holstered handgun that he had a legal permit to carry. Video of the shooting appears to show that an agent had taken the gun from Pretti as he was being restrained on the ground right before he was shot multiple times.
In Iowa City, bald eagles circled above the Pentacrest as hundreds gathered for the “Emergency Protest Against Ice” at 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, organized by the local chapter of the 50501 movement, a progressive grassroots political organization that protests the actions of the second Donald Trump administration.
A poster advertising the event said, “We stand for Renee Good, Alex Pretti and ALL impacted by ICE violence.”
The protest comes two weeks afterIowa City organized a protest and candlelight vigil for Renee Nicole Maklin Good, who was killed during an immigration enforcement action in the Twin Cities, a day after hundreds of Homeland Security agents were deployed to the area.
Good was shot up to four times on Jan. 7 by ICE agents after she tried to drive off when an agent grabbed her door handle. Another agent fired through the front and side windows, as she swerved around him, possibly striking him. She died at the scene.
The protest brought out hundreds, including local politicians such as Johnson County Board of Supervisors Chairperson Jon Green, Iowa City Councilor Oliver Weillen and candidate for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Chris Jones.
The subzero temperatures did little to cool residents’ anger. Among the many, Emerson Klever, who calls Minnesota’s efforts to stand up to ICE “inspiring.” Noting that protests can generate momentum, but continued action with local organizations like Escucha Mi Voz, mutual aid funds and “pressuring local officials to take legislative action against ICE” must continue.
“I think (Minnesota’s) tactics for organizing are something that can be copied and should be copied throughout the country,” Klever said. “It’s great to see everybody coming together, but it’s also sobering and upsetting that we have to do that in order for our administration to listen to us and stop violating rights that we’ve all agreed should be granted to everyone.”
In Minnesota, hundreds of businesses were closed on Jan. 30, many of which have banned ICE agents from entering without a judicial warrant, while residents protested in the streets demanding the withdrawal of federal authorities. More protests and candlelight vigils have been held since Pretti was slain.
Pretti’s family said in a statement he was “a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital.”
Federal officials have called Pretti a domestic terrorist who had come to hurt or kill agents. They have not commented on the videos at the scene that appear to contradict their account.
In Iowa City, chants of “ICE out now,” “(DHS Secretary Kristi) Noem has go to go,” and “No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcomed here” took over the Pentacrest, with many holding up signs.
Alec Neva, a psychology student at the University of Iowa, had other plans for his Sunday afternoon, but after hearing of the protest at a local skate shop, he decided he had to go, quickly making a sign to tape to his skateboard and holding it up while chanting.
“I’m not as informed as I should be, but this is the first step to getting informed,” Neva said. “It is great to be out here and persisting, because persistence is what we need right now. It’s supposed to be a free nation, and we are supposed to have a choice in this. What is happening now is atrocious.”
Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and education reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at JRish@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rishjessica_
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Iowa City protest draws hundreds after fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis
Reporting by Jessica Rish, Iowa City Press-Citizen / Iowa City Press-Citizen
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