Hundreds Gather at Nurses' Vigil for Alex Pretti and ICE Out Protest

Hundreds of residents turned out in Eureka for two consecutive public actions that linked grief over a nurse’s death to broader protest against federal immigration enforcement. A Friday evening candlelight vigil outside Providence St. Joseph Hospital drew more than 200 people to honor nurse Alex Pretti, and the following day an estimated 2,000 people gathered in front of the Humboldt County Courthouse for a noon-to-2 p.m. “ICE Out of Everywhere” protest.

The vigil, organized by the California Nurses Association, featured electric candles and an altar with photos of Alex Pretti and others whose lives were described as cut short by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. Eureka City Councilmember G. Mario Fernandez urged the crowd to move beyond private concern to public action, saying, “I’ve been thinking about the last words, and it’s cheesy, but we’re saying it over and over, ‘are you OK?’ And I don’t really see those as just a call to someone to make sure they’re all right. It’s become a call to action.” Nurse Shelly Lyell also addressed attendees and called for specific actions to follow the vigil.

The Saturday protest at the county courthouse occupied both sides of 5th Street and brought together a national strike element and local activist groups. The action was described as organized nationally by 50501, with local supporters including Food Not Bombs, Humboldt Young Democratic Socialists of America, Cal Poly Humboldt Students for a Democratic Society and the Humboldt Anti-War Committee. Dozens of high school students who walked out from Eureka High School joined the crowd, chanting, “No one is illegal on stolen land.”

Family voices were visible among protesters. Shawna, a mother who left work to join her children, said, “They walked out and I followed after work,” and “I’ve cried like five times today; I’m so proud of them.” Her daughter Autumn said, “I think this is a very important cause because we’re Mexican American Native women and we need to be willing to fight.” Autumn’s sister Summer added, “Especially young people.”

Local law enforcement framed its role around California law and city policy. Eureka Police Chief Brian Stephens stated the department does not “enforce civil immigration laws” or “participate in immigration detainers or holds,” that it will operate under California law and the city’s Sanctuary City resolution, and that “When matters fall beyond our jurisdiction or authority, we defer to the appropriate legal processes and agencies, as required by law.” Stephens added, “as a veteran of the United States Army, having served to protect our country and the rights we all enjoy, I strongly believe in the First Amendment.”

For Humboldt County residents, these back-to-back events tie community mourning and organized labor concerns to a larger political moment. The California Nurses Association represents several hundred nurses at Providence, and sustained protests or union actions could affect hospital staffing, service scheduling and bargaining dynamics. Large demonstrations centered downtown may also influence local business activity and public-safety planning in the near term.

Full public details about the circumstances of Alex Pretti’s January death and any federal investigations have not been released. City officials, union leaders and protest organizers plan further conversations about next steps; residents should expect additional community meetings and possible labor or policy actions in the weeks ahead.