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Detroit vigil honors Minneapolis nurse killed during immigration protest

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Detroit vigil honors Minneapolis nurse killed during immigration protest


Detroit — Members of the nation’s largest federal government employee union, elected officials, religious leaders and others held a vigil Sunday to honor an intensive care nurse who was killed by federal immigration agents during a Jan. 24 protest in Minneapolis.

About 50 people gathered for the vigil outside the John D. Dingell Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center on John R. Similar events were held at VA hospitals across the country to honor Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old member of the American Federation of Government Employees union who worked for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

In an incident that is the subject of a U.S. Department of Justice civil rights investigation, Pretti was shot multiple times by federal agents during a protest in Minneapolis against President Donald Trump’s illegal immigration deportation surge and the tactics used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

According to witnesses and video of the incident, Pretti was recording the agents with his phone and directing traffic before intervening in a woman’s arrest. After he approached agents who were struggling with a woman they were taking into custody, Pretti was pepper-sprayed and tackled before an agent removed a handgun from his waistband. Someone yelled “Gun, gun” before at least two agents fired shots at Pretti, killing him.

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Trump administration officials have accused Pretti, who had a concealed pistol license, of unlawfully interfering with an arrest, while critics of the shooting said Pretti was exercising his constitutional right to protest. Pretti was filmed during a Jan. 13 demonstration spitting at agents and kicking the taillight off a federal law enforcement vehicle. In that incident, federal agents tackled Pretti and scuffled with him, although he was not arrested.

Pretti’s death followed the Jan. 7 fatal shooting of Rene Good, who was fatally shot after driving her vehicle toward an ICE agent. Good’s death is not being investigated by the Department of Justice.

Members of the AFGE union, U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, and Pastor Charles Williams II of the National Action Network Michigan Chapter and the Historic King Solomon Baptist Church in Detroit were among those who attended Sunday’s vigil.

“It’s very encouraging to see so many people felt a connection to Alex and wanted to honor him this way,” Tlaib said. “Alex’s parents have asked (people) to please stop spreading lies about (their) son. He liked helping people, and he did that until his last breath.”

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ICE officials did not respond to an email seeking comment Sunday.

Pastor Maurice Rudds of Greater Mount Tabor Church told the gathering: “You are at the right place at the right time. I am grateful to be with people who are making things happen.

“We are going to win,” Rudds said. “It may take a lot of time, but we are on the right side of justice and we are going to win. I was taught as a boy to recite the Pledge of Allegiance … but this is not the America I love.”Christine Kozicki, a retired teacher from White Lake, said she doesn’t like the direction of the country.“I see fascism, coming,” said the retired teacher from White Lake Township. “My grandparents came to this country from Poland in 1905, and I’ve been to Poland and have seen the concentration camps. I hear that same drumbeat here in the United States right now.”Roachal Ford, member of the union Local 933, said ICE is taking money from other federal agencies.“ICE needs to be defunded,” Ford said. “They’re killing people.”Bryanaa Wilkiams, also a member of Local 933, added: “This is affecting my generation. America is no longer free.”The AFGE is the nation’s largest federal employee union, representing more than 820,000 workers.

ghunter@detroitnews.com

(313) 222-2134

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@GeorgeHunter_DN



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Minneapolis, MN

Red Sox at Twins lineups: Crochet Day in Minneapolis

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Red Sox at Twins lineups: Crochet Day in Minneapolis


After a ruff start, the Sox are still a sad 6-9 but are only two games out of first place. Tonight, we ball behind Garrett Crochet to help close that gap in a wide-open AL East (and AL in general). Game’s at 7:40 p.m. and the Sox will face Bailey Ober, who’s had a tuff start to the season himself. Here are the lineups:

Given the venue, I’d like to add: Fuck ICE. Or maybe I’ll just let the Boss do it:



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Minneapolis, MN

FBI Investigating Confrontation at Anti-ICE Protest in Minnesota – Minneapolis Today

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FBI Investigating Confrontation at Anti-ICE Protest in Minnesota – Minneapolis Today


The violent clash at an anti-ICE protest in Minnesota leaves behind damaged evidence of the confrontation.Minneapolis Today

The FBI is investigating a physical confrontation that occurred during an anti-ICE protest at the Whipple Federal Building in Minnesota over the weekend. Several protesters were arrested, with three facing assault charges and one charged with obstruction. A video posted on social media showed a protester, Savannah Hernandez, being knocked down during the incident.

Why it matters

The Whipple Federal Building has been a site of ongoing protests against ICE operations in Minnesota, and this latest incident highlights the tensions and potential for violence at these demonstrations. The FBI’s involvement suggests the incident is being taken seriously as a potential violation of civil rights or other federal laws.

The details

The confrontation occurred during a protest called ‘Bye Bye Bondi,’ referring to former U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. The Whipple Building has been the headquarters for ICE operations in the area, and protests have continued at the site since federal officials increased their presence in Minnesota in December. Savannah Hernandez, a contributor for Turning Point USA, posted a video showing her being knocked down by protesters, some of whom were chanting that they were ‘ANTIFA.’

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  • The incident occurred on Saturday, April 12, 2026 during an anti-ICE protest.
  • Four people were arrested at the end of the demonstration.

The players

Savannah Hernandez

A contributor for Turning Point USA who was filming the protest and was knocked down by protesters.

Pam Bondi

The former U.S. Attorney General whose firing was referenced in the name of the protest, ‘Bye Bye Bondi.’

Hennepin County authorities

Local law enforcement who arrested four people at the end of the protest, with three facing assault charges and one charged with obstruction.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“OK, so I have all this on camera, it’s fine, and because we’re Minneapolis, you can’t press charges against any of these people either. Anyways, so yeah, there we go, there we go guys, there we go. Minneapolis incredible, what am I going to do?”

— Savannah Hernandez, Turning Point USA contributor

“This is now the second time I have been mobbed and assaulted for filming a protest on U.S. streets. Today these Minneapolis protesters were chanting that they were ‘ANTIFA’ and proved it, by mobbing and beating me for reporting on a public protest.”

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— Savannah Hernandez, Turning Point USA contributor

What’s next

The FBI investigation is ongoing, and authorities will determine if any federal charges will be filed related to the incident.

The takeaway

This confrontation highlights the ongoing tensions and potential for violence at protests against ICE operations in Minnesota. The FBI’s involvement suggests the incident is being taken seriously, and it raises questions about the ability of journalists to safely cover such demonstrations in the future.

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Minneapolis, MN

A Viral Vigilante Roams Streets of Minneapolis

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A Viral Vigilante Roams Streets of Minneapolis



Minneapolis’ most talked-about crime fighter doesn’t wear a badge—he wears a skull mask and answers to “NoMark.” The Star Tribune reports the anonymous twentysomething has drawn more than 500,000 followers by patrolling neighborhoods like Dinkytown in all-black gear, posting GoPro-style videos of breaking up fights and recovering stolen bikes. He’s part of a subculture known as “Reals”—everyday people who adopt superhero personas to fight crime in real life—though his version leans heavily on social media. The videos tap into lingering unease after pandemic-era crime spikes and slower police response times, even as overall crime has eased. While some early clips were staged, NoMark says he now focuses on real incidents. “It was a joke,” he said. “And 1776063127 I’m actually trying to do something.”


His origin story isn’t hard to follow: After a nearby shooting and what he considered to be a slow police response, he figured he could help by patrolling at night. His interventions are modest—escorting intoxicated people, mediating disputes, or stepping into fights before they escalate—but visible. He’s also chased viral moments, including tracking down a supposed “Minnesota Pisser” prankster (later revealed to be staged). Similar “real-life superhero” efforts have popped up elsewhere, including in Seattle, where KING 5 reports a nurse known as “Red Ranger” patrols downtown with a group focused less on crime-fighting than care, handing out food, checking on unhoused people, and occasionally de-escalating conflicts.

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But NoMark is one part performer and another part vigilante. He’s also a lightning rod. One video commenter said: “I can’t tell if this is great performance art or if I am actually watching someone fall into a Batman-based psychosis.” Critics say the appeal of figures like him reflects lingering safety fears even as crime declines—and warn that civilian intervention can introduce new risks, especially in unpredictable situations. But NoMark says he carries only a crowbar and pocketknife and uses modest social media income mostly to cover gas. His tangible wins may be small, but fans say the bigger impact is cultural—nudging people to step in rather than stand by. One man who says NoMark helped him with a property dispute said, “People can take a hint from him about the way they’re living their life.”





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