MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Saturday morning began quietly on Minneapolis' famous 'Eat Street' before a tragic event escalated tensions in the area. A protester was shot dead by a federal immigration officer, setting off a chaotic afternoon of protests and clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement.
What began as a peaceful morning morphed into a scene of outrage as videos circulated online showing federal agents restraining the man moments before the gunshots were fired. By the afternoon, angry crowds had taken over the streets, creating barricades and burning incense around an impromptu memorial for the deceased, identified as 37-year-old Alex Pretti.
The incident occurred only 1.5 miles from a location where a local woman was fatally shot by an ICE officer earlier this month, leading to heightened tensions in the community. Activist groups had already been organizing daily protests against immigration enforcement, resulting in an increasingly volatile situation.
As federal officers withdrew from the area amidst the growing anger, many protesters shouted demands for ICE to leave Minnesota. The crowd's mood mirrored that of past protests in Minneapolis, particularly after the killing of George Floyd in 2020, though today's gathering focused solely on immigration-related grievances.
Minneapolis police and members of the National Guard were deployed to maintain order, but local businesses closed their doors in response to safety concerns. As night fell, many gathered for a vigil at the site, still grappling with sorrow and uncertainty.
'It feels like every day something crazier happens,' said local resident Caleb Spike. 'What comes next? I don’t know what the solution is.'
