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V O L U M E 5 | ISSUE 1
FEBRUARY 2, 2026
Destination DC held its annual Global Marketplace seminar at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C., on January 29. The organization’s global representatives from the U.K., Germany, Mexico, Brazil, India, China, and Australia attended and discussed visitor perception and market dynamics. Pictured here: Elliott L. Ferguson II (back row, center, with glasses), President & CEO, Destination DC; Destination DC staff; and international representatives. Credit: Chip Dizard Studios
Associations React to Demonstrator Alex Pretti’s Death By Todd McElwee
The January 24 shooting death of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis has elicited responses from across the association landscape. Sadness and outrage have been accompanied by calls for greater transparency and accountability and social engagement. Multiple associations from the nursing, guns rights and law enforcement sectors issued statements, with responses beginning on the day of Pretti’s death and continuing throughout the ensuing week. Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, was mourned by the American Nurses Association (ANA) and American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). “The American Nurses Association (ANA) is deeply disturbed and saddened to learn of the death of Alex Pretti, a registered nurse, in Minneapolis earlier today. We extend our condolences to Alex’s loved ones, colleagues, and the community at large,” the association stated. “ANA
condemns violence in our communities. The seriousness of this incident and others demand transparency and accountability. ANA calls for a full, unencumbered investigation, and urges that findings be shared promptly and clearly so Alex’s loved ones and the public have answers. One in four nurses already experience workplace violence. As incidents with federal law enforcement continue to rise across the country, we are deeply concerned for the safety of nurses, both on the job and in the communities they serve.” ANA added that nurses are advocates for the safety and well-being of their communities and it remains committed to preventing violence in the workplace and in our communities. AACN said the death of a member of the nursing community is a solemn occasion and the association supports a complete and transparent investigation. It urges that findings be made available promptly. “In this moment, let’s band together in our grief,” AACN said. “We recognize that Alex’s death is especially distress-
ing among the nursing community. We encourage nurses to support each other and seek peer or professional counsel as needed. Our well-being is paramount to our ability to provide excellent care to patients and their families.” The American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, International Council of Nurses and various state nursing associations also expressed their sadness over the death while encouraging support and action from the industry. As Politico noted, Pretti’s killing led to a rare rebuke of top Trump administration officials by Second Amendment advocates. “Multiple national gun-rights organizations, as well as a prominent Minnesota gun rights group, have expressed horror at top Trump administration officials’ criticism of Pretti for being armed with a handgun that he had a legal permit to carry,” Politico said. The National Rifle Association
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