On March 15, 2024, businesses and schools across the San Francisco Bay Area will participate in a ‘National Day of Action’ in solidarity with protesters in Minnesota. This movement aims to encourage individuals to refrain from shopping, attending school, and going to work, highlighting their support for the family of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse who was fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis the previous weekend.
In Menlo Park, community members gathered on the evening of March 14 to honor Pretti’s memory. He was employed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and was remembered passionately by attendees. One protester expressed deep frustration, stating, “For me, it was seeing a fellow federal worker getting murdered in the street and seeing nothing from the administration.”
Numerous organizations are backing this initiative, including Veterans for Peace and Raging Grannies, alongside local unions representing government employees. Many federal workers, unable to strike, view this day as a vital opportunity to make their voices heard.
San Francisco resident Josh Zeier articulated the emotional weight of the moment, saying, “I don’t think I’ve ever cried so much over someone I never met. It was really important to say something and to do something to honor his memory and to speak to the values that we hold as people who work in healthcare and take care of veterans every day.”
The planned demonstration encourages community members to boycott shopping and work, with many small businesses, such as those in Burlingame and Oakland, closing their doors for the day. Adrien Sanderson, owner of Arizmendi Bakery, a cooperatively-run establishment, remarked, “We felt that this was part of what it meant to be in solidarity. These small inconveniences are insignificant compared to what is actually happening in the country. It is the least we can do to manage these inconveniences on our end to stand in solidarity.”
As the Bay Area prepares for this day of action, one organizer in Menlo Park emphasized the importance of such demonstrations, stating, “It’s events like these that feel inspiring and show the best in humanity during times when the worst may be on display.” The collective remembrance of Alex Pretti and the actions taken in his honor reflect a community united in advocacy for justice and support for its members.
