Anger flares up at Juneau candlelight vigil after second person killed by federal agents in Minneapolis
- Mark Sabbatini
- 18 hours ago
- 5 min read
More than 200 people gather at dusk for poems, speeches and songs — and to express fears and fury that Trump’s enforcement actions may occur locally
By Mark Sabbatini
Juneau Independent
More than 200 people in Juneau joined others across the country Sunday protesting the killing by federal agents of a 37-year-old man in Minneapolis who was filming Border Patrol agents the day before and the Trump administration’s false portrayals of the shooting.
The late-afternoon gathering was sparked by the death of Alex Pretti, a registered nurse, who is seen in witness videos filming federal officers with a phone camera before they pinned him to the ground, removed a gun he was legally carrying (but did not attempt to draw), and shot him repeatedly. Top Trump administration officials have branded Pretti a "domestic terrorist" who was out to “massacre law enforcement.”
The protests in Juneau and elsewhere also focused heavily on the Jan. 7 killing of Renee Good, 37, as she tried to drive away from officers surrounding her vehicle, and how video footage of that incident and other encounters with federal agencies differ from Trump administration descriptions. Trump has deployed immigration, National Guard and other federal officials to numerous cities — admitting he is targeting those led by Democrats — purportedly to control various types of crimes.
Protesters arriving at dusk at Mayor Bill Overstreet Park picked up real and artificial candles as darkness set in, listening to speeches and poems, and singing songs such as "This Little Light of Mine" in what was promoted as a peaceful "pop-up" candlelight vigil.
But a few angry shouts and threats also erupted from the crowd, and concerns were expressed by many about the possibility of actions such as those in Minneapolis occurring locally.
"I think that before we remember the dead we have to let the living know just how we feel," said Claire Richardson, a volunteer with the group ReSisters, which has organized rallies protesting President Donald Trump since he returned to the White House a year ago. "So on the count of three I will ask you to join me in letting out your anger and sorrow with a roar to wake up Sen. Dan Sullivan, Rep. Nick Begich and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who are hiding in Washington, D.C."
Murkowski, among the few Republicans who have openly criticized Trump, issued a statement Sunday denouncing the shooting, while Sullivan said he wants further investigation of the incident before drawing conclusions. Begich did not issue any statements and an inquiry by the Juneau Independent to a spokesperson for him did not receive a response.
Juneau Assembly Member Maureen Hall said during Sunday’s protest her son is a local nurse who was working during the gathering and didn’t want his kids brought to it for safety reasons.
"He said, ‘I never thought of myself as a domestic terrorist, but I guess I am. I'm a male, I'm a nurse and I own a gun,’" she said.
Several state legislators — all Democrats or independents — also attended the protest and said they are taking official steps in response to Trump administration actions.
Rep. Andrew Gray, D-Anchorage, said the House Judiciary Committee he chairs is scheduled to ask Acting Attorney General Stephen Cox about his recent actions as head of the Alaska Department of Law. Rep. Sara Hannan, D-Juneau, said she’s sponsoring a bill banning police from wearing masks to conceal their identity, but it "has had a lot of pushback."
"But we do not want these militarization tactics to be coming to our state, and unless we prevent it federal guidelines are likely to be pushed down to us," she said.
Similar sentiments were expressed by Richardson in her remarks as emcee of the protest — touching off one of the moments suggesting the restraint of some people is being tested.
"It's all just beginning, as you know, and if you think it's not going to come to Alaska you are more naive than we are," she said.
"We’ll shoot back!" a man yelled from the crowd.
"No, we are peaceful and we're going to follow a non-violent revolution," Richardson responded. "We are not going to raise our guns and become like animals that we are seeing happening around our country. We are going to be for peace."
Richardson, in that spirit, asked people to depart in silence after the gathering ended with a singing of "Blowin' In The Wind." But as most people began to depart, with some leaving their candles near the park’s whale sculpture as they did so, somebody began a chant of "(expletive ICE)" that some others joined.
"Why are we singing songs?" the man who began the chants shouted. "They’re executing us!"
Another Juneau protest by different organizers is scheduled at noon Thursday at the Alaska State Capitol, according to Richardson.
Reactions from Alaska’s political leaders
Murkowski, in a Facebook post Sunday morning, issued a statement declaring "the tragedy and chaos the country is witnessing in Minneapolis is shocking."
"The killing yesterday of Alex Pretti, a U.S. citizen, by ICE agents should raise serious questions within the administration about the adequacy of immigration-enforcement training and the instructions officers are given on carrying out their mission," Murkowski wrote. "Lawfully carrying a firearm does not justify federal agents killing an American—especially, as video footage appears to show, after the victim had been disarmed."
"A comprehensive, independent investigation of the shooting must be conducted in order to rebuild trust and Congressional committees need to hold hearings and do their oversight work. ICE agents do not have carte blanche in carrying out their duties."
A statement issued by Sullivan’s press office Sunday noted he "is closely monitoring reports out of Minneapolis following the tragically fatal shooting this weekend."
"He believes we should gather all the facts and investigate the incident before drawing conclusions — to ensure accountability, restore public trust, and prevent future confrontations that result in loss of life," the statement adds. "Senator Sullivan strongly supports our law enforcement and their ability to do their jobs. He also believes that any loss of life is tragic and hopes that the temperature in Minnesota on both sides can be lowered and that the situation between protestors and law enforcement deescalates and the violence dissipates."
Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act due to the unrest caused by his deployment of federal agents to Minnesota, which would allow him to deploy military troops for domestic law enforcement purposes. Last week his administration ordered 1,500 active-duty soldiers from the Alaska-based 11th Airborne Division to prepare for possible deployment to Minnesota.
A spokesperson for Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a strong supporter of Trump’s, did not respond to an inquiry from the Juneau Independent on Sunday about whether the governor supports such a deployment.
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.
