Somers vigil honors victims of immigration enforcement shootings

SOMERS, N.Y. - The community gathered at Reis Park on Sunday afternoon for a solemn vigil honoring Renée Good, Alex Pretti, and others whose deaths have been linked to recent federal immigration enforcement actions.

The March 22 event, organized by Somers resident and former town board member Patrick DeSena, brought together local officials, community leaders, and residents in a shared expression of grief, concern, and calls for accountability.

Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, and Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, were both killed in separate encounters with federal agents in Minneapolis earlier this year. Their deaths, along with that of Ruben Ray Martinez and others, have sparked national debate over the use of force and the protection of constitutional rights during enforcement operations tied to the Trump administration’s “Operation Metro Surge.”

“We have all come…to support each other as we grieve for these young Americans who lost their lives acting in defense of their neighbors and in defense of the rights and principles that bind us together as a nation,” DeSena said in opening remarks.

DeSena emphasized unity and civic engagement, urging attendees to “keep marching, protesting, speaking out,” and to remain active in their communities. “The only antidote to anxiety is action,” he said.

Among the speakers was state Sen. Peter Harckham, who stressed the importance of due process protections.

“We should not underestimate how important due process is to our democracy,” Harckham said. “That is the center of everything that holds us together.”

Harckham criticized the scale and tactics of recent immigration enforcement, arguing that many targeted individuals had no criminal history and that the use of heavily armed agents had led to tragic outcomes. He called for independent investigations into the deaths and a return to constitutional safeguards.

Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins echoed those concerns while emphasizing unity and historical perspective.

“We have gone through this before,” Jenkins said, referencing discrimination faced by past immigrant groups. “We need to make sure that we’re opening our hearts… and reminding ourselves that everyone is a human being.”

County Legislator Erika Pierce delivered remarks informed by conversations with officials in Minneapolis, describing what she characterized as a broader pattern of enforcement-related deaths and community impact.

“Can we forget them? No,” Pierce said, leading the crowd in repeating the names of Good and Pretti.

She urged attendees not only to protest and advocate, but also to strengthen local connections. “Community is the most important thing that we can continue to protect,” she said.

Westchester County Board of Legislators Chair Vedat Gashi called the deaths “a moral failure” and said accountability is “the bare minimum of what a democracy owes its people.”

Other speakers highlighted themes of service, compassion, and shared responsibility.

Daniel Guzman, a Marine Corps veteran and candidate for assembly in the 94th district, honored not only Good and Pretti but also several migrants who died in custody, reading their names aloud.

“These lives remind us that when care and fairness are overlooked, real people are affected,” Guzman said.

Susan Cody of Race Amity of Northern Westchester Putnam spoke about the importance of dialogue and unity across racial and cultural lines.

“The only antidote for hate is love,” Cody said, encouraging continued community engagement and understanding.

County Legislator David Imamura drew on his family’s history, including his grandfather’s service in the Japanese American 442nd Regiment during World War II, to frame the moment as part of a longer struggle against discrimination.

“The same fight…against racism and xenophobia, we are fighting today,” Imamura said.

Following the remarks, Rev. Mike Thomas of Church of the Good Shepherd would lead the transition into a moment of silence, drawing an afternoon of solemn reflection to an end.