Jennifer Aniston is one of a long list of Hollywood stars who have united in their condemnation following the fatal shooting of intensive care nurse Alex Pretti by a US Border Patrol officer in Minneapolis on Saturday.
Ms Aniston, who rarely engages with political matters, shared multiple posts with her 44.7 million Instagram followers, including a statement from Mr Pretti’s parents originally posted by Senator Bernie Sanders.
Meanwhile, fellow actor Mark Ruffalo described the incident as “cold blooded murder on an American street of a man protecting someone he loves,” adding: “Don’t pretend this is okay. We have been invaded by a criminal army from within.”
Oppenheimer star Florence Pugh also posted tributes calling the 37-year-old VA hospital worker a hero.
Jennifer Aniston reposted Bernie Sanders’ update which included a statement from Alex Pretti’s family
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“He was hero. A man that did heroic acts everyday. Not a terrorist. An ICU nurse,” she wrote, alongside footage of the incident stating: “It’s a murder. He was murdered. He was protecting a woman who was thrown on the floor.”
Former President Barack Obama issued a rare and forceful statement describing Pretti’s death as a “heartbreaking tragedy” and a “wake-up call to every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault.”
Bill Clinton delivered an even sharper rebuke, accusing the Trump administration of systematic dishonesty about events in Minneapolis.
“To make matters even worse, at every turn, the people in charge have lied to us, told us not to believe what we’ve seen with our own eyes, and pushed increasingly aggressive and antagonistic tactics, including impeding investigations by local authorities,” the former president wrote.
Jennifer Aniston shared a series of posts in support of Mr Pretti and his family
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Mr Clinton warned that American democracy faces an existential threat, stating: “If we give our freedoms away after 250 years, we might never get them back.”
He urged citizens to “stand up, speak out, and show that our nation still belongs to We the people.”
Mr Pretti’s parents issued a statement pushing back forcefully against the official narrative from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that their son had been armed when shot.
“The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting,” they said. “Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly Ice thugs.”
Jennifer Aniston rarely wades into political matters
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PAThe family insisted video evidence shows Mr Pretti “has his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman Ice just pushed down all while being pepper sprayed.”
They described their son as “a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital.”
The statement concluded with a plea: “Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man.”
At the Sundance Film Festival in Utah, several actors used press appearances to speak out against federal actions.
Natalie Portman, wearing “Ice Out” pins, told Variety: “What’s going on in our country right now is absolutely horrific with the federal government, Trump’s government, Kristi Noem…Ice. What they’re doing is really the worst of the worst of humanity.”
Olivia Wilde expressed similar sentiments, saying: “This country is hurting. I’m appalled and sickened. We can’t go another day accepting this as our new norm.”
Edward Norton drew stark comparisons, stating: “These days it’s: ‘What are we gonna do about mass Gestapo shooting American citizens?’ We are sitting here talking about movies while an illegal army is being mounted against US citizens.”
Federal and state officials remain at odds over the incident. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino claimed Mr Pretti placed himself in danger by entering an active law enforcement scene with a weapon, while Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has pledged a “full, impartial, and transparent” investigation.