A few hundred CT citizens and state representatives attended a vigil at the Capitol building in Hartford on Saturday. It was organized by Connecticut nurses and other healthcare providers and was held to honor ICU Nurse Alex Pretti. Alex was a legal observer of a peaceful protest in Minnesota and was killed without cause by U.S. Border Patrol Agents on January 24th.
The vigil was meant to draw attention to ICE (Immigration & Custom Enforcement) assaulting and shooting peaceful protesters after being sent into state capitols at Trump’s direction. Vigil attendees held signs calling on Congress to defund ICE due to the fatal shooting of Alex as well as Renee Nicole Good, also legal observer who was fatally shot at a Minnesota peaceful protest on January 7th.
CT State Representatives Jillian Gilchrest, also social worker, Rebecca Martinez, a nurse, and State Senator Saud Anwar all spoke about Alex’s passion for medically treating and caring for others, including our veterans. CT State Senators Matt Lesser and Derek Slap were also in attendance.
Similar vigils and protests to honor Alex Pretti and Renee Good were held across the country to demand Congress to stop funding ICE.