Thousands protest in NYC after ICE shooting death of a man in Minneapolis.
On Saturday afternoon, thousands of protesters gathered in downtown Manhattan to voice their outrage over the fatal shooting of a man by federal agents earlier that day in Minneapolis. The demonstration, organized under the banner of “Stop ICE Terror,” drew approximately 2,000 participants who congregated in Union Square at around 4 p.m. Activists carried placards proclaiming messages such as “Abolish ICE,” “ICE OUT OF NEW YORK,” and “Stop Fascism,” as they marched towards Madison Square Park. The crowd was united in opposing the recent death of 37-year-old Alex Pretti, raising concerns about federal law enforcement practices.
Brooklyn Councilman Chi Osse took to the microphone before the march began, calling for the abolishment of ICE. He expressed his perspective on the agency’s actions, referring to them as agents of chaos rather than legitimate law enforcement personnel. Osse emphasized the urgency of holding ICE accountable, advocating for significant reforms.
The atmosphere at the protest was charged, with demonstrators chanting slogans such as “Shut it down!” and “ICE off our streets now!” The gathering highlighted a growing sentiment among many in the community who feel strongly against the current immigration enforcement policies in the United States.
Participants expressed a collective sense of anger and a need for action. Kristy Jensen, a 41-year-old Brooklyn resident, held a sign that read, “We see the murders, we hear the lies, we will fight back.” Jensen articulated her concerns regarding misinformation spread by the government, asserting that the public must recognize and respond to what she described as fascism embodied by ICE.
The protest, coordinated by The People’s Forum, followed a distressing incident reported by the Department of Homeland Security. Authorities stated that at approximately 9:05 a.m. Central Time, agents were attempting to detain an undocumented individual wanted for a violent crime. During this operation, Pretti allegedly approached a Border Patrol officer while armed with a 9-mm. semiautomatic handgun. According to DHS, agents attempted to disarm him but he resisted violently, prompting one officer to fire in self-defense. Emergency medical personnel arrived on the scene but were unable to revive Pretti, who was pronounced dead.
This incident marks another chapter in a series of controversial shootings involving ICE agents, stoking public anger and raising questions about the agency’s tactics. Recently, Minneapolis has seen protests following the shooting of another individual, Renee Good, further amplifying calls for an end to ICE’s current practices. Mayor Mamdani of New York City has joined the chorus for reform, calling for the abolition of ICE altogether, reflecting widespread discontent over immigration enforcement methods across the nation. The growing pushback against ICE underscores an increasingly vocal demand for a reevaluation of immigration policies that impact communities throughout the United States.
As tensions continue to rise around these incidents, many in New York City and beyond are advocating for a fundamental change in how immigration enforcement is carried out, seeking a more compassionate and humane approach to immigration issues.
