Dozens of people packed into Charles Krutch Park in downtown Knoxville on Friday night for a candlelight vigil honoring Alex Pretti, the Minneapolis ICU nurse killed earlier this year. Participants raised electronic candles, stood in a long moment of silence, and joined a short program of speeches and song, moving between quiet grief and firm calls for accountability.
Photos from the evening show neighbors and activists clutching electric candles and a sheet of music for “We Shall Overcome” as local speakers recalled Pretti’s work at the bedside. The Knoxville News Sentinel’s gallery, shot by Caitie McMekin, features Corwin Lester among the speakers and Lisa Henry leading a vocal tribute. The full set of images and captions is available through the Knoxville News Sentinel.
The vigil was promoted by local organizers, including the Knoxville Area Activist Coalition and United Volunteers of Tennessee, which urged attendees to bundle up for the cold and noted that electronic candles would be on hand. Organizers said family members, friends, and community leaders would be welcome to share memories during the hourlong gathering. Event information and logistics were posted by United Volunteers of Tennessee on Mobilize.
Why People Gathered
Pretti was shot and killed on Jan. 24 by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis during an enforcement operation, a case that has sparked nationwide protests and a series of solidarity events. Multiple bystander videos and news reports have raised questions about parts of the official account and helped drive vigils, nurse-led gatherings, and local demonstrations. That sequence of events and the details of the shooting were reported by The Associated Press.
Investigations and Accountability
Federal officials have opened reviews into the killing, and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has said the Justice Department launched a civil-rights probe, with the FBI now leading the federal investigation. Homeland Security has stated that Homeland Security Investigations will support that inquiry, while Customs and Border Protection conducts its own internal review. Advocates and observers have pressed for transparency around body-camera footage and other evidence. These developments were summarized by PBS NewsHour.
Local Reaction and Next Steps
The Krutch Park vigil followed student-led walkouts and downtown protests earlier in the week, as Knoxville residents joined a wider national wave of actions calling for answers and for limits on federal enforcement in public spaces. Local coverage has documented the student demonstrations and the school district’s warnings about on-campus walkouts, underscoring how quickly the issue has become a community flashpoint. Organizers said the vigil was intended both to honor Pretti’s life and service and to keep pressure on investigators, as noted in reporting on the ICE walkout showdown…