About 50 demonstrators, most of them students, gathered outside Fayetteville City Hall in a peaceful show of solidarity. Students from Methodist University, Fayetteville Technical Community College, and Fayetteville State University participated, holding signs and chanting as they called for an end to what they described as political unrest and aggressive immigration enforcement.
The demonstration was the latest in a series of nationwide protests responding to recent immigration policies and the deaths of Good and Pretti in Minnesota, which have fueled renewed scrutiny of federal law enforcement practices.
"We are here, and we stand, and we do have a voice," said Lathan Whitworth, a freshman at Methodist University, as demonstrators chanted nearby.
Whitworth said mounting tensions surrounding immigration enforcement and public safety motivated him to take part in the protest.
"People are tired of just being walked over," he said. "Immigrants are being treated like second-class citizens. It's really bad. People are being killed in the streets. While there is a lot of fear, it's good to be strong in numbers. It's good to come out to these kinds of things so you can show that we do have a voice."
Despite cold temperatures, students said they felt compelled to attend, calling the issue too important to ignore.
In the wake of the shooting, the Department of Justice on Friday opened a federal civil rights investigation into the incident.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blance said during a press conference that investigators are examining all available evidence.
"We're looking at everything that would shed light on what happened," Blance said.
Demonstrators in Fayetteville said the timing of the investigation reflects growing public concern over law enforcement practices and accountability.
Cindy Correy, a 20-year veteran and protester, said the issue is deeply personal for her.
"ICE needs to be taken out of our streets now," Correy said. "They're not following the Constitution. They're not following the rule of law. They're gunning our citizens down in the streets. It's illegal and it's immoral."
Following Pretti's death, President Donald Trump said the administration would continue efforts to identify and remove "any and all criminals" in Minnesota, reinforcing the administration's stance on immigration enforcement.
Protesters in Fayetteville said they plan to continue speaking out as demonstrations persist nationwide.
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