More than 100 people gathered Monday night in front of Penn State’s Old Main to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations and demand accountability in the recent death of Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis man killed by federal agents earlier this week.
The demonstration drew students and community members and included speeches, a vigil and a march through downtown State College.
The event, organized by the Student Committee for Defense and Solidarity and the People’s Defense Front, began at 7 p.m. in front of Old Main. Speakers addressed the crowd, honoring Pretti and condemning immigration enforcement tactics, before participants marched through local streets in freezing temperatures.
Organizers provided winter clothing, hand warmers and thermal blankets to attendees as frigid conditions persisted throughout the evening.
A speaker on behalf of the Student Committee for Defense addressed the crowd from the steps of Old Main, saying participants had gathered to continue opposing ICE enforcement in the wake of Pretti’s death.
The protest was held in response to the Jan. 24 fatal shooting of Pretti by U.S. Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis, which has garnered national attention and came in the wake of the killing of Renée Good in the city earlier in the month.
Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse with no criminal record, was shot and killed during a federal immigration enforcement operation. According to the Associated Press, law enforcement officials initially claimed he approached agents with a handgun, but bystander video and witness accounts contradicted the federal narrative and sparked widespread outrage.
“We’re here today in light of the people that ICE has been murdering in cold blood in the streets. Most recently, Alex Pretti who was defending a woman from being maced by ICE, who was filming what ICE was doing because he disagreed with it,” the speaker, who declined to be identified, said. “He could have been any one of us who is willing to go out in the streets to make sacrifices that most people wouldn’t make for people we may not even know, for a fight that is larger than just State College, that’s larger than just Pennsylvania or the United States. It’s a worldwide fight that we’re fighting right now against U.S. imperialism, which is what is driving ICE to murder people in the streets.”
Protesters carried two large banners reading “People’s Justice For Alex Pretti” and “Drive ICE Out,” with many holding signs opposing ICE, the Department of Homeland Security and federal immigration enforcement. Some signs read “ICE out of Pennsylvania,” “Make racists afraid again,” “ICE OUT” “ICE doesn’t protect, ICE kills” and “Admin and Klan go hand in hand,” to name a few.
The protest moved off campus around 7:30 p.m., with demonstrators gathering at the Allen Street Gates and entering West College Avenue. Protesters remained in the streets throughout the entire march, with several blocking and directing oncoming traffic with their signs. On College Avenue, protesters appeared to have a close call with a passing vehicle but were not injured and continued marching.
The procession turned onto South Fraser Street and stopped briefly in front of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, where speakers encouraged participants to keep going despite the cold and shouted several chants. Around 8 p.m., the group moved onto Beaver Avenue, blocking traffic once again.
Several drivers leaned on their horns while protesters stood in front of vehicles, and profanities were exchanged between drivers and demonstrators. A white car struck protesters blocking the street but caused no apparent injuries, witnesses said. One passing driver shouted, “Fuck ICE but fuck you guys too.”
Another close call occurred near the intersection at South Pugh Street, where protesters at the back of the march faced oncoming traffic while holding signs to slow vehicles.
There was no visible law enforcement presence on campus or along the downtown route during the protest.
The crowd eventually looped back toward East College Avenue, returned to the Allen Street Gates and concluded the march at Old Main with closing remarks.
Speakers at Monday’s protest emphasized solidarity with Minneapolis activists and criticized federal immigration enforcement.
“People are being killed in the streets in Minneapolis right now, not just Minneapolis, but most recently, in Minneapolis… I know we’re all disgusted with what’s happening, what ICE is doing to people, to working people, separating families,” one organizer said. “We’re out here in the cold, learning from the brave people of Minneapolis, who have been out in the cold every day fighting back against ICE.”
Another speaker added: “It is so inspiring to see so many people out here despite the weather… It is a great day to fight back against ICE and to stand in solidarity with Alex Pretti, with Renée Good and with the brave people of Minneapolis.”
Organizers said they hope events like the protest will draw attention to broader concerns about immigration enforcement and federal agency tactics.
“Carry the flame of Alex Pretti tonight… putting others above ourselves, above our comfort level,” a representative said. “In honor of Alex Pretti and all other victims. We need to get organized.”
Another speaker, speaking on behalf of the Student Committee for Defense and Solidarity, said, “I really appreciate what Alex Pretti did; it was selfless. He was serving the people; he was serving his community. And I see everyone that showed up tonight is following in his footsteps.”
Speakers also urged continued organizing beyond the demonstration.
“I don’t know the last protest State College has had in this kind of weather, with people marching through snow and shutting things down,” one speaker said. “Carry the flame of Alex Pretti tonight. In honor of Alex Pretti and all other victims, we need to keep coming out here, but more importantly, we need to get organized.”
Another speaker said the protest was intended to send a message to the university and local representatives, as well as officials beyond State College.
“I’m hoping people in Minneapolis see that a relatively small part of Pennsylvania stands with them,” the speaker said. “I’m hoping Penn State sees what students and the community want and doesn’t allow ICE to come on campus.”
The protest also highlighted local calls for continued anti-ICE patrol training. According to a flyer distributed at the demonstration, anti-ICE community patrol trainings are scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 1 at 2 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 22 at 2 p.m. The training sessions aim to onboard volunteers into patrol and self-defense networks, teaching tactics for exposing and confronting ICE on the ground to defend immigrant workers from deportation.
“ICE will not want to come here. They will be afraid to come to State College when we get organized. They are already afraid to come here. The patrols have deterred them,” said the speaker.
