by Karla Ciaglo CTNewsJunkie
HARTFORD, CT — A crowd of nurses and other health care workers gathered Saturday on the north steps of the Connecticut State Capitol to honor Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse killed Jan. 24 by federal agents in Minneapolis, and to press for accountability as Connecticut lawmakers prepare to open the 2026 General Assembly session Feb. 4.
The vigil, organized by nurses and union members with support from Working Families Party, Indivisible Connecticut, and AFT Connecticut, drew about 1,000 attendees.
A small number of counter-protesters stood nearby holding signs supporting ICE, though there was no confrontation between the groups.
Eric Hahn, a registered nurse who has worked in emergency and critical care settings since 1988, attended the vigil holding a sign reading “Justice for Alex.” He said he felt compelled to show up in solidarity.
“Nurses look after each other,” Hahn said. “I know in my heart he’d be here for me if it were the other way around. My family has a long history of serving this country, and I can do no less than stand up for him.”
A crowd composed primarily of health care workers held a vigil for Alex Pretti Jan. 31, 2026 at the CT State Capitol. Credit: Karla Ciaglo / CTNewsJunkie
Speakers at the Hartford vigil repeatedly linked Pretti’s death to immigration enforcement activity they said is already being felt in Connecticut, citing detentions in communities including Newington and Southington.
Paul Banach, an ICU nurse with University Health Professionals in AFT Connecticut who helped organize the vigil, spoke about rejecting efforts to justify the killing and framed the moment as a betrayal of the values nurses are trained to uphold.
“Nurses are kicked and spat at every day in Connecticut hospitals, and none of it justifies us retaliating in any way,” Banick said. “Even if you come at us violently, we are going to keep you safe because nurses are committed to recognizing the dignity in every human being.”
Democratic lawmakers have signaled potential legislation this session that would allow residents to sue federal officers in state court for constitutional violations. Lawmakers have also discussed tightening limits on state and municipal data-sharing with federal immigration enforcement.
State Rep. Jillian Gilchrest speaks at a vigil for Alex Pretti at the CT State Capitol on Jan. 31, 2026. Credit: Karla Ciaglo / CTNewsJunkie
State Rep. Jillian Gilchrest, D-West Hartford, a social worker and US congressional candidate, criticized federal immigration enforcement and denounced recent funding votes in Washington, including a Senate Democratic decision to extend ICE funding for two more weeks.
“If Congress had a fraction of the courage and moral conviction of Alex Pretti, we wouldn’t be facing this nightmare,” she said, calling for President Donald Trump and his administration to be held accountable for constitutional violations.
State Rep. Rebecca Martinez speaks at a vigil for Alex Pretti at the CT State Capitol on Jan. 31, 2026. Credit: Karla Ciaglo / CTNewsJunkie
State Rep. Rebecca Martinez, D-Plainville, a nurse, challenged federal claims that immigration enforcement targets only violent offenders.
“If they were really going after the worst of the worst, they wouldn’t be going into schools,” Martinez said. “They wouldn’t be ambushing people in courthouses … and they damn sure wouldn’t be killing our fellow nurses who show up every single day to care for our communities.”
Martinez grew emotional as she recalled a conversation with her 15-year-old son, born in the United States, who came to her frightened.
“He told me, ‘Mom, it doesn’t even seem to matter — they’re just taking people,’” she said. “A child should never have to question his safety in his own community. These kids are 15. They don’t carry IDs.”
Rep. Kaitlyn Shake, D-Stratford, a union nurse, questioned the response after Pretti was shot.
“What hurts most is that after he was gunned down, they left him on the ground,” she said. “Did those masked agents have the qualifications to stop his bleeding and save his life? The answer is no.”