Celebrities have been speaking out after an anti-ICE protester was killed on Saturday (January 24).
Alex Pretti was fatally shot by a federal immigration officer in the street in Minneapolis, which comes just weeks after mom-of-three Renee Good was killed in her car in similar circumstances.
Following the incident, the Department of Homeland Security said that federal immigration agents fired shots in a move of self-defence, claiming Pretti had a handgun at the time. This contrasts with both witness accounts and video footage, which show Pretti holding a mobile phone, not a gun.
In a statement, Pretti's family have said: "We are heartbroken but also very angry.
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"Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital. 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 hero term lightly. However, his last thought and act was to protect a woman.
"The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs. He has his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down, all while being pepper-sprayed.
"Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man. Thank you."
The events in Minneapolis this weekend have prompted some celebrity responses, too, with several famous faces discussing what happened.
Mandy Moore shared a series of statements and articles on social media, before writing: "We have eyeballs. We've seen the video. They executed someone else. I'm not sure how this ends. This is terrifying territory."
Meanwhile, Ariana Grande posted a tweet from New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani, which read: "As tens of thousands across America protest the violence that ICE sows with impunity, federal agents shot and killed another person in Minneapolis today. ICE terrorizes our cities. ICE puts us all in danger. Abolish ICE."
Singer Olivia Rodrigo added on social media: "ICEs actions are unconscionable but we are not powerless. our actions matter. I stand with Minnesota."
Chrissy Teigen also re-shared a number of posts, including one by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on X.
"Americans are being killed in the street by their government. Our Constitution is being shredded and our rights are dissolving. Resist," she wrote.
"Senate Dems should block ICE funding this week. Activate the National Guard. We can and must stop this."
Pretti had no criminal convictions, with his family noting he had never had any interactions with the police.
On Truth Social, President Donald Trump shared a statement about the incident. Posting an image of a handgun, he wrote: "This is the gunman’s gun, loaded (with two additional full magazines!), and ready to go – What is that all about?
"Where are the local Police? Why weren’t they allowed to protect ICE Officers? The Mayor and the Governor called them off?
"It is stated that many of these Police were not allowed to do their job, that ICE had to protect themselves — Not an easy thing to do!"
Lucy Devine