Local organizations in Charleston, South Carolina, organized a protest at Marion Square on Sunday against a fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by a federal ICE officer in Minneapolis. Hundreds gathered with anti-ICE signs amid national unrest over the Saturday incident, which involved disputed claims of self-defense during an immigration operation.
Protest Events
Charleston Police reported the demonstration concluded peacefully, with two arrests: Joel Vincent Gratton, 42, of Minnesota, for disorderly conduct and carrying a concealed knife; and Julia Tucker, 36, of Maryland, for violating the city’s mask ordinance.
Broader Context
SC 1st Congressional District candidate Mac Deford, a former law enforcement officer, addressed the crowd, decrying “lawlessness” in ICE actions despite his support for police. The Minneapolis shooting has sparked bipartisan scrutiny, with videos showing Pretti, an ICU nurse and U.S. citizen, filming rather than threatening agents.
