On Tuesday, Angelina Jolie publicly joined other celebrities in backing protests following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse, by ICE agents. This growing movement has drawn significant attention to the circumstances of Pretti’s death and the ongoing demands for justice.
Prominent Figures Raise Their Voices After Nurse’s Death
Several well-known personalities, including Jennifer Aniston, Ellen DeGeneres, Katherine Schwarzenegger, Patrick J. Adams, and Billie Eilish, have spoken out condemning the killing of Pretti, who was deeply respected for his work in intensive care. Their statements have amplified the call for accountability and reform.
Mary Turner Highlights the Tragic Loss at the Protest Site
Angelina Jolie shared a video on her Instagram stories featuring Mary Turner, president of National Nurses United and an ICU nurse in Minneapolis. Turner spoke from the location where Pretti was killed, emphasizing the profound impact on the nursing community.
Mary Turner said,
“We’re at the site where one of our own nurses, Alex Pretti, was murdered.”
She added,
“He was a VA nurse, an ICU nurse that cared for our most venerated patients, our veterans. And that day, he was just doing like what every nurse does, care for the patients and care for the people.”
Turner further urged,
“And that’s what he was doing when he was murdered. Nurses across this country: We need to stand up and say, ‘Enough is enough.’ We need to fight back because these are our patients and these are the people, and that’s who we care about. This is who we care for.”
The Broader Importance of the Protests and Next Steps
The involvement of Angelina Jolie and other celebrities has helped draw widespread attention to the incident and the larger issues surrounding ICE’s conduct. The protests not only honor Alex Pretti’s memory but also highlight the calls for systemic change to protect vulnerable communities and healthcare workers across the country. The movement is expected to continue pushing for justice and policy reform in the coming weeks.
