Thousands take to the streets in New York for Alex Jeffrey Pretti!
In New York, thousands of people gathered to protest the shooting of Alex Jeffrey Pretti by federal agents. The demonstration moved through several neighborhoods and was directed squarely against the deployment of ICE and the expansion of federal force inside the country. Signs commemorated Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse from Minneapolis who was shot during an operation, despite video footage showing that he was holding a mobile phone in his hand. Many participants spoke of a turning point where fear and anger are blending together. The chants were aimed not only at individual officers, but at a policy that increasingly relies on armed presence. Speakers criticized the lack of accountability and called for an independent investigation. The mood was tense, but unified. Again and again, it was emphasized that this was not about isolated incidents, but about a system that is escalating. New York thus joins a growing list of cities where people are publicly pushing back. The death of Alex Jeffrey Pretti resonates far beyond Minneapolis.
Voices from the NBA – Silence is no longer an option
After another fatal shooting in Minneapolis, the players union of North American professional basketball players declared that silence is no longer an option. The city has for years stood at the center of the fight against injustice, and it is precisely there that another person has been killed. The players make clear that the right to free expression must be defended, especially now, and that solidarity is needed with the people in Minnesota who are protesting and taking real risks to demand justice. The community of NBA players, the statement says, is shaped by people from all over the world, much like the United States itself. This diversity is a strength, not a flaw. They will not allow targeted division to undermine civil liberties that are meant to protect everyone, regardless of origin or status.
In the statement, the players union expressed deep sympathy for the families of Alex Pretti and Renee Good. At the same time, it emphasized that the focus cannot rest solely on mourning. What matters is the safety and well-being of all members of the community, especially at a time when state violence is becoming ever more visible. That professional athletes are speaking out in unison is no minor gesture. It is a clear line being drawn. When even sports no longer remain silent, it shows how deeply this violence has already penetrated the public sphere.
Bovino declares criticism to be complicity
Gregory Bovino said it himself. The highly controversial head of the regional border protection agency claimed that Alex Jeffrey Pretti died because he believed politicians and journalists who criticized ICE after the killing of Renee Good. Not the operation, not the decisions of armed officers, but public criticism is said to have caused the death according to this logic.
Bovino addressed his words explicitly to the media and warned of consequences if ICE continued to be attacked. Reporting is thus framed as a danger and state violence rhetorically shielded, while criticism is criminalized. In this argument, the problem is no longer the weapon, but the word. This exact inversion led in Germany to power shielding itself from the public. Those who name it are accused of escalating. Those who remain silent are deemed loyal. This is not a coincidence, but another step toward fascism.
Thousands gather in front of the Capitol in Boise, Idaho, Idaho
In front of the Capitol in Boise, thousands of people gathered on January 25 to express their solidarity with the people of Minnesota. The rally was directed against the deadly operations of ICE and border protection agencies and demanded justice for Alex Pretti, Renee Good, and all other victims of state violence. Banners, chants, and a dense crowd defined the scene in front of the government building. Many participants see the protests as a necessary response to an escalation that has long extended beyond individual cities. The call for accountability links Boise with Minneapolis and other locations. The gathering sees itself not as a local event, but as part of a nationwide resistance. It is about remembrance, dissent, and the refusal to pretend normality. On this day, Boise stands not on the margins, but at the center of events.
Republican senator draws a clear line
Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski spoke out clearly following the killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. She described the situation as chaos and a tragedy and made clear that the death of a US citizen at the hands of ICE cannot simply be accepted. Murkowski raised questions about officer training and the directives under which they operate. She emphasized that the lawful carrying of a firearm is not a justification for deadly force, especially when footage suggests that the victim had already been disarmed. Her demand was unambiguous: a comprehensive, independent investigation. In addition, Congress must fulfill its oversight responsibilities and hold hearings. ICE agents, Murkowski said, do not have a free pass. Her words mark a rare but clear boundary within her own party.
Thousands take to the streets in Salt Lake City
In Salt Lake City, thousands filled the streets, driven by anger over ICE operations in Minnesota and across the country. The demonstration connects places that are geographically far apart but politically closely aligned. Signs commemorated Alex Pretti and Renee Good, names that are now understood across cities. The crowd moved together, loud and determined. This is not about a single operation, but about an approach perceived as ongoing. Many spoke of fear, others of defiance. The demand for justice stood at the center. The presence shows that Minnesota is not an isolated stage. What happened there echoes all the way to the West. For hours, Salt Lake City becomes part of a nationwide response. Silence is no longer an option. The street takes the floor.
Walz speaks of organized brutality
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz found clear words after the deadly escalation. He spoke of a campaign of organized brutality against the people of his state. Not of an accident, not of a misunderstanding, but of a systematic approach. On that day, this campaign claimed another life. Walz said he had seen the footage from multiple angles. What is visible there, he described as appalling. His statement is directed not only at individual officers, but at a practice that has become entrenched. According to his account, the videos leave no room for whitewashing. It is about violence that has become visible. About decisions that can no longer be justified. Walz thus openly contradicts the official narrative of federal authorities. He does not object quietly, but publicly. His words mark a rupture. And they make clear that this death is not meant to remain without political consequences.
Moment of silence in St. Paul
Before the game between the Sirens and the Frost in St. Paul, a moment of silence was held for Alex Pretti. The arena stood still before the first puck dropped. No commentary, no interpretation, just a moment of pause. The name Pretti was the reason, not a symbol. Many spectators remained standing, others lowered their gaze. It was not a political act, but a response to a death that resonates beyond Minneapolis. For this moment, sports receded into the background. The moment of silence made visible how deeply the events have reached the public. The game then continued. The name remained.
Marjorie Taylor Greene
“There is nothing wrong with legally and peacefully protesting and filming while doing so. Imagine one of our MAGA independent journalists or even just a MAGA supporter standing on the street in front of the home of a so-called J6 defendant while Biden’s FBI is conducting a police operation, a house search, and an arrest there.
Then Biden’s FBI goes up to the MAGA guy who is filming everything, shoves a woman standing next to him to the ground and sprays both of them with bear spray, then throws the MAGA guy to the ground as he tries to help the woman up. Then Biden’s FBI beats the MAGA guy on the ground, disarms him, and finally shoots him dead. What would our reaction have been?”
Phil Scott, Republican Governor of Vermont: “Enough. It is unacceptable ...”
“Enough. It is unacceptable that American citizens are being killed by federal agents for exercising their God-given and constitutional rights to protest against their government. At best, these federal immigration operations represent a complete failure in coordinating appropriate public safety measures, policing, training, and leadership.
At worst, they amount to targeted federal intimidation and incitement of American citizens that leads to the killing of Americans. Once again: enough. The president should suspend these operations, de-escalate the situation, and refocus the federal government on actually criminal undocumented individuals. If the president fails to act, Congress and the courts must step in to restore constitutionality.”
Stitt asks the question no one wants to answer
The Republican Governor of Oklahoma speaks out, without evasions, without whitewashing. Kevin Stitt openly says that many Americans do not like what they are currently seeing in Minnesota. He speaks of bad advice reaching the president and asks a question that has so far been deliberately left unanswered: what is the actual goal of these operations, where is this supposed to lead. Stitt makes clear that, in his view, it cannot be about driving every single person without a US passport out of the country. In doing so, he suggests that political rhetoric and real-world practice are drifting dangerously apart. The images from Minnesota resonate far beyond the state, including in Republican-led regions. Stitt gives voice to a discomfort that no longer exists only on the streets.
“We did not shoot anyone”
“People have had enough. This is the third shooting in less than three weeks. We have been out all year, removed about 900 firearms from the streets, arrested hundreds of violent offenders - and we did not shoot anyone.”
Brian O’Hara draws a verifiable comparison. Over the past year, the Minneapolis Police Department carried out hundreds of violent arrests, seized nearly a thousand firearms, and operated under highly escalated conditions. Despite this strain, there was no fatal discharge of a firearm by the city police. O’Hara’s statement stands as a factual observation - and makes clear that alternatives to lethal force exist.
