Tribute Held for Slain VA Nurse Amid Calls for Accountability
A somber gathering outside the Jesse Brown Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Chicago marked the lives lost to a senseless act of violence. Alex Pretti, 37, a U.S. citizen and ICU nurse at the hospital's VA unit, was shot by a Border Patrol agent on Saturday, sparking outrage and demands for justice.
Those who gathered outside the hospital, including healthcare workers, union members, and faith leaders, were united in their grief and frustration. Scott Mechanic, an intensive care unit nurse at University of Chicago Medical Center, likened Pretti's fate to his own, stating that "it could have been any one of us" who was killed by federal agents.
The outpouring of support for Pretti came as the Trump administration faced mounting pressure over its immigration policies. Gregory Bovino, commander of the U.S. Border Patrol, was replaced by Tom Homan, a seasoned border enforcement expert, amid calls for accountability.
Aimee Potter, a federal health worker and union steward with the American Federation of Government Employees, highlighted the dangers faced by healthcare workers who must de-escalate volatile situations on a daily basis. "An injury to one is an injury to all," she said, emphasizing that Pretti's death could have been anyone else.
Nicolette Alberti, a resident physician at the University of Illinois Hospital, echoed these sentiments, pointing out that federal agents are not trained in de-escalation tactics, unlike healthcare workers. "This is nothing short of a public health crisis," she said, listing off several cases where federal immigration agents have killed or injured civilians.
Mechanic and Alberti emphasized the need for collective action to challenge the status quo and advocate for policies that prioritize human life over border enforcement. As Mechanic said, "We will not stop until ICE is abolished." The crowd's call for justice and accountability continued long after the rally had concluded, leaving behind a sense of solidarity and determination among those who mourned Pretti's loss.
A somber gathering outside the Jesse Brown Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Chicago marked the lives lost to a senseless act of violence. Alex Pretti, 37, a U.S. citizen and ICU nurse at the hospital's VA unit, was shot by a Border Patrol agent on Saturday, sparking outrage and demands for justice.
Those who gathered outside the hospital, including healthcare workers, union members, and faith leaders, were united in their grief and frustration. Scott Mechanic, an intensive care unit nurse at University of Chicago Medical Center, likened Pretti's fate to his own, stating that "it could have been any one of us" who was killed by federal agents.
The outpouring of support for Pretti came as the Trump administration faced mounting pressure over its immigration policies. Gregory Bovino, commander of the U.S. Border Patrol, was replaced by Tom Homan, a seasoned border enforcement expert, amid calls for accountability.
Aimee Potter, a federal health worker and union steward with the American Federation of Government Employees, highlighted the dangers faced by healthcare workers who must de-escalate volatile situations on a daily basis. "An injury to one is an injury to all," she said, emphasizing that Pretti's death could have been anyone else.
Nicolette Alberti, a resident physician at the University of Illinois Hospital, echoed these sentiments, pointing out that federal agents are not trained in de-escalation tactics, unlike healthcare workers. "This is nothing short of a public health crisis," she said, listing off several cases where federal immigration agents have killed or injured civilians.
Mechanic and Alberti emphasized the need for collective action to challenge the status quo and advocate for policies that prioritize human life over border enforcement. As Mechanic said, "We will not stop until ICE is abolished." The crowd's call for justice and accountability continued long after the rally had concluded, leaving behind a sense of solidarity and determination among those who mourned Pretti's loss.
Alex was only 37!!! how could some border patrol agent do something so senseless & violent?! 
it's not right that these agents are allowed to carry guns without proper training or accountability... I mean, what if they were dealing with a medical emergency in the ICU instead of a migrant? 
our healthcare workers are already putting their lives on the line every day and now we're adding federal agents who might not know the first thing about de-escalation?!?! this is a public health crisis for sure... I'm so tired of these border politics getting in the way of human life 
- Aristotle 
can't believe what happened to Alex Pretti 
she was just trying to help ppl & get shot by some border patrol agent 
and now we got another case where a gov employee kills someone & no one is held accountable 
what's gonna happen to those ppl who are demanding change tho? 
shouldve been done years ago, it's time for ICE to be abolished once & for all 
just saw that tribute for Alex Pretti outside VA hospital in Chicago and i'm still shook 
anyway, if u care about social justice & human rights, follow @aclu & @amnestyusa 
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This incident is just so sad... I mean, can't we just talk about this stuff without someone getting shot? 
It's got me thinking about how all this affects healthcare workers too - they're already dealing with crazy situations and then some agents show up with guns... what are we even doing here? 
I cant believe its come to this, a nurse killed by a border patrol agent? its just not right 
. Healthcare workers are already doing the most important job they can – saving lives. They shouldn't have to worry about getting killed on the job either 
. And yeah, it's a big deal when you consider how much we're relying on people like Alex Pretti who genuinely care about their patients' well-being 
. We need change, and we need it now!
. But at the end of the day, it's still about human life and making sure that our laws are serving people, not just perpetuating a system that prioritizes enforcement over empathy.
meanwhile the politicians are more worried about getting reelected than solving real issues 
IT'S LIKE, WE'VE GOT NURSES LIKE ALEX PRETTI WHO ARE ALREADY STRESSED OUT WITH PATIENTS AND now YOU'RE TELLING US THAT FEDERAL AGENTS CAN'T HANDLE THE SAME KIND OF SITUATIONS?! 
IT'S TIME FOR SOME REAL ACCOUNTABILITY OVER THERE!!! 
. It's time for our government to listen to the voices of its citizens and make some real changes to prevent this kind of tragedy from happening again 
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It's not just about immigration policies or accountability; it's about recognizing the humanity in every individual, regardless of their profession. We need to shift our focus towards creating systems that value human life above all else. 
. It's outrageous that a Border Patrol agent would shoot someone for no reason at all 
and the lack of accountability from our leaders 
! We need to stand together as a community and demand better policies that prioritize human life over border enforcement 
. We gotta make some noise 
and fight for justice 
. It's time for the Trump administration to take responsibility and make sure their agents are held accountable. The fact that they're already changin' commanders because of pressure from the public is pretty tellin'...like they knew somethin' was off all along 
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. I mean, come on! Can't we just focus on findin' solutions to our problems instead of pointin' fingers at each other? 
my point is, we should try to understand each other better instead of just being angry or defensive. And yeah, I think healthcare workers are doing an amazing job de-escalating volatile situations all the time - they deserve our support and respect! 