Mid-Missourians protest ICE after second agent-involved shooting death
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
About a week after Alex Pretti was shot and killed by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Minnesota, Mid-Missourians are gathering to protest his death.
Pretti was the second person shot and killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis in January. His death came a little more than two weeks after federal agents shot and killed Renee Good.
CNN analyzed video of Pretti's death, which shows the man's interaction with ICE agents before he was shot. According to CNN, the video does not show Pretti acting aggressively or holding his handgun, which officers pulled from his waistband moments before he was shot.
A Border Patrol official stated that Pretti was actively impeding law enforcement duties, according to CNN. It's unclear what Pretti was doing prior to the bystander videos.
As part of the daily Mid-Missouri Peaceworks protest, about 30 people gathered at Columbia City Hall on Sunday to oppose the Trump Administration's immigration crackdown.
One protester held a sign that said "Immigrants make America great." Another sign said, "Trump lies, America dies."
Peaceworks Director Mark Haim said the organization protests daily at the city's Key Hole, and it matters that people come out.
"What really matters is that people feel empowered enough to come out and make their voices heard. There's kind of a cycle that happens because people feel like they can't make a difference," Haim said. "If they don't try, they won't make a difference."
A vigil for Pretti is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sunday at the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital, located at 800 Hospital Drive.
Pretti was an ICU nurse and worked for the Minneapolis VA Health Care System.
Sunday night's vigil is hosted by the American Federation of Government Employees Local 3399.
Check back for updates.
