Following Friday’s National Shutdown Day, which numerous Florida organizations, businesses and schools participated in, more anti-ICE protests are planned for the weekend.
Activists in disagreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement called for Americans to skip school, work and avoid shopping Friday. They also advised supporters to attend one of various rallies taking place over the weekend.
All of this is in response to the fatal shooting in Minnesota of Alex Pretti, a U.S. citizen and registered nurse who treated veterans. Pretti was shot and killed by a Border Patrol agent after confronting immigration authorities on Jan. 24.
Federal officials said Pretti was carrying a gun he intended to use to “kill law enforcement.” Videos from bystanders — and a witness account in court filings — do not show Pretti brandishing a weapon when he approached agents.
Border Patrol commander-at-large Gregory Bovino blamed Pretti for the shooting and said in a news conference the government’s “immigration mission continues unabated here in Minneapolis despite yesterday’s tragedy that was preventable by folks making better choices.”
The shooting occurred in a city already on edge following the killing of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good. The mother of three and U.S. citizen was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer Jan. 7.
Where are anti-ICE rallies planned in Florida this week?Saturday, Jan. 31
Clermont: 10 a.m. Between W. Ave. and 8th Street on S.R. 50
Englewood: 10:30 a.m. W. Dearborn Street and N. Indiana Ave.
Lakeland: 11 a.m. 124 Florida Ave. South
Lake Worth: 4 p.m. 414 Lake Ave.
Miami: 3:30 p.m. 7701 S.W. 76th Ave.
Palm Beach Gardens: 10 a.m. corner of PGA Blvd. and Military Trail
St. Augustine: 3 p.m. 75 King Street
Tallahassee: 3 p.m. Florida Capitol Building
The Villages: 11 a.m. County Road 466A and Morse Boulevard
Wilton Manors: 10 a.m. 1150 NE 26th Street
Sunday, Feb. 1
Cocoa: 3 p.m. Corner of State Road 520 and U.S. 1
Mount Dora: 2 p.m. N. Donnelly Street and U.S. 441
Clearwater: 4 p.m. 14450 49th Street N.
Michelle Spitzer is a journalist for The USA TODAY NETWORK-FLORIDA. As the network’s Rapid Response reporter, she covers Florida’s breaking news. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Anti-ICE rallies this weekend in Florida. See where, when