MIAMI – “I am heartbroken and angry about the murder of our union sibling and fellow nurse Alex Pretti, who was ruthlessly executed by ICE in Minneapolis on Saturday morning. An ICU nurse at a VA hospital, Alex posed no threat. He was trying to shield a woman who had been pushed to the ground and pepper sprayed.

That instinct to step in and protect others is why tens of thousands of working people—nurses, physicians, airport workers, baristas—were in the streets just days ago after the killing of Renee Good, demanding ICE out of our communities. When a nurse is killed for trying to help others, none of us are safe, and ICE must be removed from our communities now.

We will not stop organizing and speaking out. We must ensure that this tragedy is a turning point, and not allow it to break our momentum. Alex was there to help. ICE was there to hurt. We won’t forget him.”

Martha Baker, RN, is the chair of the SEIU National Nurse Alliance, which represents 85,000 nurses nationwide. She is the president of SEIU Local 1991.

###