Following the shooting of Alex Pretti, photographer Steven Garcia documented the peaceful demonstrations as participants endured tear gas from ICE agents.
Steven Garcia, recounted to Gaby Del Valle:
I was situated on a frozen lake when I received a notification from the Minnesota Star Tribune regarding a shooting incident. I was covering a pond hockey event, and a participant expected to play later expressed their likelihood of not attending due to anticipated protests and demonstrations.
I arrived slightly more than three hours afterward. Federal agents had already vacated the area — the FBI had been on-site for investigations — leaving only state and local authorities: the Minneapolis Police Department, their SWAT team, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, and the Minnesota State Patrol.
Protesters gathered at various intersections. Streets were obstructed with trash bins and dumpsters, and some mattresses were strewn about. Demonstrators were taunting officers, although no physical confrontations occurred. Ultimately, law enforcement withdrew a block back and began deploying tear gas, driving over mattresses in their retreat.
When tear gas canisters explode, they make a popping and banging sound similar to fireworks. Numerous canisters were detonated. Even at the start, there were four to six canisters being deployed simultaneously. I had to take cover in an alley briefly since the gas penetrated my mask. It’s an unpleasant experience, even in small doses. You must keep your eyes closed; it irritates the eyes and mouth. For some, it can cause skin irritation and nausea. A fellow reporter mentioned experiencing burning on his neck and having to use a decontamination wipe.
Given the events surrounding George Floyd in 2020, participants were more equipped to react. Gregory Bovino, the head of the US Border Patrol present throughout, acknowledged that the community in Minneapolis is very well-prepared. Many individuals I spoke with mentioned, “I had my respirator ready from 2020,” and they merely replenished their safety supplies, including decontamination wipes and first-aid kits. Even if they weren’t fully prepared, they could quickly adapt to these types of situations. At every event I’ve attended, volunteers would set up tables to distribute food, water, and hand warmers. The temperatures were particularly low that day — it was forecasted to remain below zero degrees.
After the clearance by officers, individuals gathered at the intersection of 26th and Nicolette, just a short distance from the spot where Alex Pretti was shot. Some community members initiated an impromptu vigil for him at the site of his death, arranging pinecones to spell out his name and leaving flowers.
