Additional Coverage:
- Bill Ackman donates $10,000 to GoFundMe for Alex Pretti’s family (businessinsider.com)
Hedge Fund Titan Bill Ackman Donates to Family of Second Person Killed by Immigration Officers in Minneapolis, Calls for Calm Amid Protests
Minneapolis, MN – Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman has once again found himself in the spotlight, this time for a $10,000 donation to the family of Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis nurse fatally shot by a Border Patrol agent. This contribution marks Ackman’s second high-profile donation amidst escalating tensions between protesters and immigration enforcement in the city.
The donation to Pretti’s family followed a direct public appeal from Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, on social media. Watts highlighted Ackman’s earlier $10,000 donation to a fundraiser for Jonathan Ross, an ICE officer involved in the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good. “This family could use the $10,000 you donated to Renee Good’s killer,” Watts posted, urging Ackman to contribute.
Less than five hours later, Ackman confirmed his donation to the GoFundMe page, titled “Alex Pretti is an American Hero.” In his post, Ackman stated, “Done. That said, I don’t agree with the gofundme that he is an American hero, but his loss is tragic for him and his family.”
This latest donation comes after Ackman’s earlier attempt to donate to Good’s GoFundMe, which he stated was closed at the time. He clarified his previous support for Officer Ross was “not to make a political statement,” but rather to assist with defense costs, and that supporting Good’s family was “the right thing to do.”
The GoFundMe for Pretti’s family has rapidly surpassed $1 million in donations, with over 29,000 contributions as of Monday morning. Alex Pretti’s father, Michael Pretti, is listed as the beneficiary of the funds.
Ackman is among several prominent business leaders who have publicly called for calm following recent clashes between protesters and ICE agents in Minneapolis. On Saturday, he posted a statement urging Americans to “take a deep breath and reserve judgment before this gets even more out of control.”
Pretti’s family released a statement last week expressing their profound grief and anger over the killing. “Alex wanted to make a difference in this world,” the family stated.
“Unfortunately, he will not be with us to see his impact. I do not throw around the hero term lightly.
However, his last thought and act was to protect a woman.”
Read More About This Story:
- Bill Ackman donates $10,000 to GoFundMe for Alex Pretti’s family (businessinsider.com)