Minneapolis protesters regroup after tear gas attack in tense scenes following Alex Pretti's killing.
A Minneapolis protest descended into chaos as US federal officers fired a stream of tear gas at demonstrators. A bystander photographer, Steven Garcia, was documenting the scene when it unfolded, capturing the violence.
The protest had started peacefully but turned into an intense standoff between protesters and federal agents. In the face of increasingly aggressive tactics by law enforcement, some protesters had prepared for such events in the past. Community members told Gaby Del Valle that they had brought safety supplies such as respirators, decon wipes, first aid kits and hand warmers – a response to what many believed was the escalation of policing since George Floyd’s death in 2020.
The protest began at a frozen lake where Garcia found out about the shooting while on assignment. He arrived three hours later only to find that Federal officers had already cleared the scene. Local law enforcement, including the Minneapolis Police Department and Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, took their place but deployed tear gas after protesters blocked roads with trash cans and dumpsters.
"It was like a firework," Garcia said, recalling the moment he ducked for cover to avoid getting hit by tear gas canisters. "I had to duck in an alley because it got through my mask – you have to keep your eyes closed." Garcia experienced burns on his skin from small amounts of the chemical.
In response to the federal presence and aggression, protesters continued to stand firm. Even before the violent turn of events, protesters set up tables with food, water, and hand warmers for attendees as it was cold - temperatures were well below freezing.
Eventually, law enforcement retreated by a block and drove their vehicles over protest signs left on the ground. Despite initial chaos, the crowd remained steadfast in memory of Alex Pretti.
A Minneapolis protest descended into chaos as US federal officers fired a stream of tear gas at demonstrators. A bystander photographer, Steven Garcia, was documenting the scene when it unfolded, capturing the violence.
The protest had started peacefully but turned into an intense standoff between protesters and federal agents. In the face of increasingly aggressive tactics by law enforcement, some protesters had prepared for such events in the past. Community members told Gaby Del Valle that they had brought safety supplies such as respirators, decon wipes, first aid kits and hand warmers – a response to what many believed was the escalation of policing since George Floyd’s death in 2020.
The protest began at a frozen lake where Garcia found out about the shooting while on assignment. He arrived three hours later only to find that Federal officers had already cleared the scene. Local law enforcement, including the Minneapolis Police Department and Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, took their place but deployed tear gas after protesters blocked roads with trash cans and dumpsters.
"It was like a firework," Garcia said, recalling the moment he ducked for cover to avoid getting hit by tear gas canisters. "I had to duck in an alley because it got through my mask – you have to keep your eyes closed." Garcia experienced burns on his skin from small amounts of the chemical.
In response to the federal presence and aggression, protesters continued to stand firm. Even before the violent turn of events, protesters set up tables with food, water, and hand warmers for attendees as it was cold - temperatures were well below freezing.
Eventually, law enforcement retreated by a block and drove their vehicles over protest signs left on the ground. Despite initial chaos, the crowd remained steadfast in memory of Alex Pretti.
So I'm watching this and my heart goes out to the community here. It's like, you're already hurting from losing someone, and then they show up with tear gas? It's like they want to make it worse. 
And all these people are prepared, carrying around safety supplies... it's just a mess. I don't know what to think about this situation. Can we find a way for everyone to just breathe without getting hurt? 
It's hard to see what's going on here.
... I mean, I get that people are still hurting and frustrated, but this just feels like a huge escalation 
. First it's George Floyd, then Alex Pretti... it's like they're not learning from their mistakes 
. The community has been preparing for situations like this, with safety supplies and all, and what do the authorities have to respond with? Tear gas? It's just not fair 
. And can we talk about how cold it is outside? Like, I know people wanted to protest, but did they really need to make it so... hazardous 
? Anyway, at least everyone stayed calm in the end and remembered Alex 
, fingers crossed that this doesn't happen again anytime soon 
.
. It's like, they're trying to keep it peaceful but law enforcement is always gonna try to disrupt that vibe 
. That's just not right. The protesters were prepared, though, bringing their own safety gear and all that 
. It's like they knew something was gonna go down. And the fact that Alex Pretti's name is still being called upon in these protests... it's like, his life matters, you know? 
They need to keep pushing for change, but without getting hurt in the process 
But, like, I don't know if that's enough to really make a difference in the grand scheme of things.
I'm literally shaking my head watching this unfold... like what even is going on here?! They're already escalating policing tactics since George Floyd's death and now they're resorting to tear gas?! That's insane! And what's with the federal officers showing up out of nowhere? Can't we have a peaceful protest without all these extra layers of security?! 