Hundreds protest immigration enforcement in Coeur d’Alene

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — Hundreds of protesters lined Highway 95 in Coeur d’Alene, taking a stand against immigration enforcement and demanding justice for Alex Pretti, who was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis on Saturday.

The protest grew throughout the day as people of different ages and backgrounds gathered with the same goal in mind: to oppose the current administration’s immigration enforcement and demand change.

“Well, I’m very proud of Coeur d’Alene. We have consistently done this. And it gets bigger and bigger every time,” said Mary Rosdahl, a protester.

Protester Hadyn Kaminski explained why people gathered.

“We’re here because ICE is taking away the people that do not deserve it. And are killing people. And so we are protesting against them,” Kaminski said.

For some protesters, the issue was deeply personal. Amelia Reed spoke in both Spanish and English about her background.

“Yo, soy Amelia. Estoy Chicana con un padre de México. Una madre de America. I said first of all, my name is Amelia and I am Mexican American,” Reed said. “I am first generation. From my dad’s side, he is an immigrant. And I am here fighting because I believe humanity exists in everyone and it doesn’t matter where you come from.”

The protesters received mixed reactions from passing drivers. While many cars showed support by honking, others booed the protesters or gave them thumbs down.

The negative reactions did not discourage the demonstrators. Protester Abby Fitzgerald said the current moment requires people to speak out.

“Ultimately, there has never been a more important time to be loud than right now. And our younger generation holds so much power in transforming the world that we live in,” Fitzgerald said.

Organizers hope events like this will encourage more people in the Coeur d’Alene community to speak out and put pressure on government officials at every level to make changes to immigration enforcement policies.