Hundreds of people protested this Sunday in the center of Minneapolis over the death of Alex Pretti, who died on Saturday from several shots by federal immigration agents. Protesters again called for an end to the massive migrant raids ordered by the government of U.S. President Donald Trump. Several crowds marched through the city despite the high of 3 degrees (-16 Celsius) and gathered around City Hall or the Hennepin County Government Center, a county that is part of Minneapolis and where Pretti died. Local media also showed people protesting in the neighboring city of Saint Paul, around the Federal Whipple building, headquarters for the thousands of agents that Washington has sent since early January to carry out migrant raids. Throughout the day, groups of citizens also went to the place where Pretti died, on Nicollet Avenue, to lay flowers and honor his memory. Business leaders in Minnesota urge calm. Meanwhile, more than 60 chief executives of major companies based in Minnesota, such as Best Buy and Target, signed an open letter urging state, local, and federal officials to reduce tensions following Pretti's death. 'After yesterday's tragic news, we call for an immediate de-escalation of tensions and for state, local, and federal officials to work together to find real solutions,' the executives declared to government officials in a letter released by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. Among the companies that signed the letter are the major retailers Best Buy and Target, as well as 3M, General Mills, UnitedHealth Group, Sleep Number, and the NFL's Minnesota Vikings. All of them, according to the letter, have had 'close communication with the governor, the White House, the vice president (JD Vance), and local mayors.' Second fatal incident in three weeks in the city. Authorities in the state of Minnesota and the city of Minneapolis have reported that the protests have been tense, but are mostly peaceful so far. The city currently has a large police deployment and, in certain areas, the National Guard at the request of the state itself to guarantee security. Immigration agents shot and killed Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, yesterday during an operation to arrest an immigrant, marking the second such incident in less than three weeks in Minneapolis, where on January 7 a woman, Renee Good, died from the shots of an ICE official. Pretti died after placing himself between immigration agents and two women who were protesting against their operations. Several officers surrounded the man, immobilized him, and seized a weapon from him before shooting him several times while he was on the ground, according to numerous videos of the event. The Department of Homeland Security, in charge of immigration operations, has assured that Pretti tried to attack the agents and brandish his weapon, despite none of the multiple images of the incident showing anything similar, and the department's secretary, Kristi Noem, accused the man of 'domestic terrorism'. The Trump government ordered large-scale raids in Minneapolis in early January, when a documentary from a conservative YouTuber once again put the spotlight on cases of federal embezzlement by nurseries managed by members of the Somali community.
