Hundreds gathered peacefully at Marion Square in downtown Charleston, South Carolina, for an emergency protest following the fatal shooting of Alex Jeffrey Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis—the second such incident there after Reene Good. Community members voiced solidarity against perceived violence and intimidation, emphasizing national connections to events near the George Floyd site.
Protest Demands
Organizers like Matt Colburn and Alfred Peeler highlighted unity across borders, calling for ICE removal, accountability from the Trump administration, and congressional oversight amid dissatisfaction with justice policies. Groups involved included Charleston chapters of Community Services Organization, FRSO, DSA, and others, framing the action as First Amendment-protected values over partisan divides.
Key Voices
- Midge Moran (Berkeley County resident) attended to resist intimidation.
- Sydney Loving (Minnesota resident) linked the deaths to ongoing unrest.
- Mac Deford (SC-1 Democratic candidate, veteran) urged Congress to act as a co-equal branch.
- Daniel Schlindwein (Goose Creek resident) noted Pretti’s Second Amendment rights amid the controversy.
Incident Outcomes
The rally stayed mostly peaceful, but two arrests occurred: Joel Vincent Gratton (42, Minnesota) for disorderly conduct and concealed knife, and Julia Tucker (36, Maryland) for violating Charleston’s mask ordinance. Demonstrators stressed urgency for community action amid national protests.
