Louisville vigil for Minnesota victims draws counterprotest, sharp debate on immigration

LOUISVILLE, Ky (WDRB) -- Protests across the country Friday called for ICE to be defunded as activists stand in solidarity with Minnesota protesters calling for a national shutdown from work, school and shopping.

In Louisville, a candlelight prayer vigil was held at Joe Creason Park to honor Renee Good, who was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer, and Alex Pretti, who was killed Saturday by Border Patrol officers.

But the vigil turned tense when a small group of counterprotesters showed up — and quickly found themselves in heated exchanges with attendees over immigration.

About four or five counterprotesters stood on the edge of the circle throughout the event, occasionally engaging with those gathered in prayer and song.

As the vigil organizer Dave Cooper prepared to speak, the conversation was overtaken by sharp words.

“No, you can’t explain that away.”

“No, I can explain it away.”

“What you want to do is, if a white person — a Charles Manson or a Timothy McVeigh — commits some horrible crime, we justly say that that person's an aberration. But what our current administration is trying to say is that some of these people represent an entire group, and that is not the case.”

“No, these are people that were murdered.”

In the cold night air, opinions and tempers flared.

“Yes, but they’re here illegally. They’re here illegally brought in,” one woman said as voices rose across the park.

At the center of the vigil stood Congressman Morgan McGarvey, who called for compassion and unity.

“Inalienable rights endowed upon them by their creator — among them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” McGarvey, D-Louisvile, said. “To protect those, we would have a government of, by, and for the people.”

The vigil was organized to remember Good and Pretti, who were killed in Minnesota during a Department of Homeland Security operation — and to call for reforms to immigration enforcement.

“When I see people stand up and say no, I know there are still people who love liberty and who love this country," Wyatt McMurry said. "And I think there’s nothing more patriotic than what the citizens of Minneapolis are doing today.”

Across the parking lot, Karen Lukasik held a handful of laminated signs. She said she supports immigration enforcement and believes many protesters in Minnesota are being paid to stir division.

“They’re paid to argue and fight and cause chaos,” Lukasik said. “The ICE people are just doing their job, and they’re making life hell up there.”

Despite the tense exchanges, the vigil was peaceful. For a few minutes, both sides stood just yards apart — separated by signs, opinions and a deep divide.

The vigil came as the U.S. Department of Justice opens a federal rights probe in to Pretti's death. However Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has said a similar probe is not warranted in the Jan. 7 death of Good.

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