The Tamesis
The Minneapolis Institute of Art, the city’s leading art museum, announced Sunday it would remain closed Sunday “for the safety of staff and visitors,” according to a statement posted on Instagram.
The agency was one of many in the city to close on Friday as part of “Day of Truth and Freedom,” a statewide protest in response to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Minnesota communities in recent weeks.
On Saturday, a Border Patrol agent shot and killed 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Jeffrey Pretti in Minneapolis during an ICE operation. After the shooting, federal officials said the agents acted in self-defense and claimed Pretty “approached U.S. Border Patrol agents with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun,” according to Homeland Security Department Kristy Noem. She further said the police “tried to disarm Preeti” but he “violently resisted”.
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But multiple eyewitness videos posted on social media contradicted the Trump administration’s account, and the killing heightened tensions in the city. In the video, Pretty is seen helping a man who was pushed by federal agents. Six agents knocked Preeti down before opening fire. In at least one of the videos, a federal agent appears to take a gun from Pretty before he is shot.
The shooting happened at Nicollet Avenue and 26th Street, just a few blocks from MIA. The facility was open Saturday but closed early after news of the shooting. A statement posted on Instagram read: “Due to ongoing local events, the museum will be closing early today… The safety of our visitors, staff and community is our top priority.”
While other organizations have not made similar announcements, the NBA responded by postponing Saturday’s game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors, saying it did so “to prioritize the safety of the Minneapolis community.” However, it did say the game will be played on Sunday night.
