On day of anti-ICE protests, ‘Idaho chose solidarity,’ honored shooting victim
Hundreds of protesters gathered on the Idaho Capitol steps Friday afternoon as immigration rights advocates across the U.S. called for “no work, no school, no shopping” as part of a nationwide strike.
The latest protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s violent tactics and the Trump administration’s crackdown came in response to the killing of two people in Minneapolis — Nicole Good and Alex Pretti — by ICE agents. Both were gunned down, Good in her vehicle and Pretti on the street.
Later in the day, a vigil for Pretti was held at the Boise VA Medical Center. He was a nurse at a Minneapolis VA hospital.
Advocates from organizations including the Party for Socialism and Liberation, Idaho 50501, the Sierra Club and immigrant rights organization PODER of Idaho spoke to the crowd, calling for protections for immigrant communities, federal accountability for the killings and the abolishment of ICE.
The actions in Idaho were in coordination with demonstrations in hundreds of other cities. In Boise, some businesses observed the strike by closing for the day or donating proceeds of sales to immigrant aid organizations.
Estefania Mondragón, executive director of PODER of Idaho, said that by turning out Friday, demonstrators were building “collective power.”
“Idaho is standing in solidarity,” Mondragón said. “We are here on a national day of action to show up for Minnesota, for our communities who are facing occupation, intimidation and state violence at the hands of the highly militarized ICE force unleashed by the Trump administration.”
Speaking to the crowd, she encouraged people to reflect on how their money is spent and “who stays silent, and who speaks up.”
“Today, Idaho chose to transform, today Idaho chose solidarity,” Mondragón said. “Today Idaho said, ‘We see you, Minnesota, we see you, immigrant communities, we see the lie, and we reject it.’”
Terra Cameron, a nurse who works at Boise’s Veterans Affairs Medical Center, also spoke at the rally and said “she couldn’t stay silent.” Cameron spoke about the killing of Pretti, who was a VA nurse in an intensive care unit.
“(This administration’s) lack of outrage for the murder of a VA nurse, nurse Pretti, speaks volumes, but nurses at the bedside do care,” Cameron said. “Now the veterans in that ICU have one less wonderful nurse to care for them when they are at their sickest. As a VA nurse, I am devastated that national and regional leadership have sent nothing to employees about the murder of one of our own.”
The speakers read aloud the names of others who have been shot by ICE agents across the country, including Good, Keith Porter — who was shot by an off-duty ICE agent in Los Angeles — and Silverio Villegas González, who was shot in Illinois in September, among others.
Many gather for VA vigil honoring Alex Pretti
Veterans, nurses and members of the public gathered in front of the Boise VA center on Fort Street to honor Pretti and his work.
Many units of the American Federation of Government Employees union were holding vigils across the U.S. The AFGE 1273 in Boise, which represents federal employees at the medical center and regional office, set out candles, flowers and photos in front of the building’s sign.
The union also set up a table for people to write letters to be sent to the Minneapolis VA hospital for the staff who worked with Pretti.
Union member and nurse Rachel Hall read a statement Pretti’s family posted online. In the message, the family said that when Pretti was shot in Minneapolis, he was attempting to help a woman who was shoved by ICE agents, which news sources including The New York Times confirmed through video analysis.
“Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately, he will not be with us to see his impact. I do not throw around the term hero lightly. However, his last thought and act was to protect a woman,” part of the statement read.
Hall told the Idaho Statesman that it was “painful” to see another VA nurse shot and killed during a time when the work they do has been “under attack.” She said she was overwhelmed with emotion seeing community members show up for Pretti’s vigil.
“It’s heartwarming to see the community come out and support, support us. Even though he wasn’t a member of the Boise AFGE, he was still one of our own, and seeing one of your own executed in the streets when they were trying to help someone is absolutely devastating,” Hall said.
Dianna David, an Idaho resident who called herself an advocate and part of a family with many veterans, said Pretti’s life should be honored “through action and by speaking out.“
“How can every American not be here?” David said. “After what we saw, I don’t understand why everyone isn’t here standing up to this.”
