Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, along with wither former Vice President Kamala Harris, have all released statements slamming the Donald Trump administration following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti — a 37-year-old ICU nurse who was killed by federal agents in a Minneapolis ICE-related incident on Saturday (January 24). Pretti’s shooting follows that of Renee Nicole Good, who was fatally shot on January 7 by an ICE agent.
RELATED: FBI Agent Investigating Renee Good’s ICE Shooting Resigns As Medical Examiner Rules Death A Homicide, Still Had Pulse Nearly 6 Minutes After Incident But Help Was Delayed
On Sunday (January 25), The Obamas shared a joint statement. They called out President Trump and his administration and told Americans to wake up!
“The killing of Alex Pretti is a heartbreaking tragedy. It should also be a wake-up call to every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault.
Federal law enforcement and immigration agents have a tough job. But Americans expect them to carry out their duties in a lawful, accountable way, and to work with, rather than against, state and local officials to ensure public safety. That’s not what we’re seeing in Minnesota. In fact, we’re seeing the opposite.
For weeks now, people across the country have been rightly outraged by the spectacle of masked ICE recruits and other federal agents acting with impunity and engaging in tactics that seem designed to intimidate, harass, provoke and endanger the residents of a major American city. These unprecedented tactics – which even the former top lawyer of the Department of Homeland Security in the first Trump administration has characterized as embarrassing, lawless and cruel – have now resulted in the fatal shootings of two U.S citizens.
And yet rather than trying to impose some semblance of discipline and accountability over the agents they’ve deployed, the President and current administration officials seem eager to escalate the situation, while offering public explanations for the shootings of Mr. Pretti and Renee Good that aren’t informed by any serious investigation – and that appear to be directly contradicted by video evidence.
This has to stop. I would hope that after this most recent tragedy, administration officials will reconsider their approach, and start finding ways to work constructively with Governor Walz and Mayor Frey as well as state and local police to avert more chaos and achieve legitimate law enforcement goals.
In the meantime, every American should support and draw inspiration from the wave of peaceful protests in Minneapolis and other parts of the country. They are a timely reminder that ultimately it’s up to each of us as citizens to speak out against injustice, protect our basic freedoms, and hold our government accountable.”
RELATED: Minneapolis Man Fatally Shot By Federal Agents In ICE-Related Incident Identified As ICU Nurse Alex Pretti, 37
Former VP Kamala Harris also slammed the Trump administration, writing:
“Alex Jeffrey Pretti was an ICU nurse at a VA hospital. His life, through his profession, was dedicated to serving his community and our country. As so many have now seen on video, his final act before he was killed by federal agents was doing everything in his power to protect his community.
Alex and tens of thousands of Minnesotans have boldly defended their neighbors against the murderous occupation of an American city by the federal government. I am enraged and heartbroken for Alex, his family, Minneapolis, and America.”
RELATED: Video Analysis Shows Federal Agents Secured Alex Pretti’s Handgun Before Fatally Shooting Him In Minneapolis ICE-Related Incident
The Obamas and Harris’ statements condemning President Trump and his administration follows a statement shared by Alex Pretti’s parents, Michael and Susan Pretti. Their statement read:
“We are heartbroken but also very angry. 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.”
RELATED: Protestor In Minneapolis Arrested After Allegedly ‘Biting Off Finger’ Of Federal Agent Following Alex Pretti ICE-Related Shooting
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