Thousands of cyclists gathered at Washburn Fair Oaks Park in Minneapolis on Friday (January 31) to honor the life of Alex Pretti, a registered nurse and avid cyclist whose death has sparked grief, anger and renewed calls for accountability in the Twin Cities.

Pretti was a mountain biker who was shot and killed by federal agents during an ICE operation on January 24, 2026.

Minnesotans say Pretti, found freedom on two wheels. Patrick Moore, a Minnesota resident and cyclist, said the ride was about honoring Pretti in the way he would have wanted.

“Alex can't ride a bike anymore and we can and we're here to just honor him by doing something he enjoyed doing,” Moore told Reuters.

Bike wheels rolled onto the city streets as thousands pedaled together, with bystanders making noise and cheering as the group passed.

Moore said the tragedy has brought deep sorrow, but also a powerful display of unity.

“Through all of this, obviously, it's just a ton of pain and heartache, but I've also never been more proud to be a Minnesotan," Moore said. “People showing up, especially last weekend, and it was like 20 below yesterday, it was freezing, but everyone's showing up and that's what Minnesota's all about.”

For many riders, the event was both a celebration of cycling and a protest against what they view as an unjust killing by ICE.

“There's just a lot a joy in writing bike, and I just wanted to do something joyful while also commemorating something that was so sad and so unpleasant and so stinkin' illegal,” said biker Becca Combs-Cawley.

Others connected Pretti’s death to broader concerns about immigration enforcement operations and public safety in Minneapolis.

“I'm working on my own conceal and carry, it could have me out there, it's just awful what happened,” Derek Sparks, a Minnesota resident told Reuters. “We showed support last week to Renee Good. Alex deserves the support as well, and we just need to get ICE out of here.”

Organizers said dozens of bike rides across the country took place Friday (January 31) to honor Pretti.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 31, 2026)(REUTERS - Access all)

1. BIKERS GATHERING IN WASHBURN FAIR OAKS PARK

2. BIKER RECORDING A VIDEO ON HIS PHONE

3. SIGN THAT STATES ‘WE RIDE IN UNITY’ + ‘RIDE TOGETHER. STAND TOGETHER’

4. BIKERS GATHERING IN WASHBURN FAIR OAKS PARK

5. BIKER SAYING: ‘And remember we are one’

6. SIGNS ON BIKES THAT STATE: ‘BE PRETTI GOOD’ AND ‘BRING LIAM HOME’

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MINNESOTA RESIDENT, BIKER, 40, PATRICK MOORE, SAYING:

“Alex can't ride a bike anymore and we can and we're here to just honor him by doing something he enjoyed doing.”

8. VARIOUS OF BIKERS LINING UP TO START RIDING

9. BIKE WHEELS MOVING MOVING ALONG THE ROAD

10. BIKERS LINING UP TO START RIDING

11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MINNESOTA RESIDENT, BIKER, 40, PATRICK MOORE, SAYING:

“Through all of this, obviously, it's just a ton of pain and heartache, but I've also never been more proud to be a Minnesotan. People showing up, especially last weekend, and it was like 20 below yesterday, it was freezing, but everyone's showing up and that's what Minnesota's all about.”

12. BIKERS RIDING

13. PERSON MAKING NOISE AS BIKERS PASS BY

14. BIKERS RIDING BY

15. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MINNESOTA RESIDENT, BIKER, 40, BECCA COMBS-CAWLEY, SAYING:

“There's a lot of joy in riding bike. There's just a lot a joy in writing bike, and I just wanted to do something joyful while also commemorating something that was so sad and so unpleasant and so stinkin' illegal.”

16. VARIOUS OF BIKERS RIDING ON THE ROAD

17. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MINNESOTA RESIDENT, BIKER, 33, DEREK SPARKS, SAYING:

“It could have been any one of us, just he had his conceal and carry. That's the reason for all of that. I'm working on my own conceal and carry, it could have me out there, it's just awful what happened. So just coming out here, showing support. We showed support last week to Renee Good. Alex deserves the support as well, and we just need to get ICE out of here.”

18. VARIOUS OF BIKERS RIDING BY

19. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MINNESOTA RESIDENT, VOLUNTEER, 47, JENNA WADE, SAYING:

“We just want justice. I mean, it's unbelievable what is happening in our city right now. And sometimes it feels like there is so little that we can do. And so, like honoring Alex with a ride and bringing all these people together to show that they really care is unbelievably important.”

20. VARIOUS OF WADE STANDING AND HOLDING A SIGN THAT STATES ‘JUSTICE FOR RENEE + ALEX’

21. VARIOUS OF BIKERS GATHERING IN WASHBURN FAIR OAKS PARK