GP said X sucks. You respond by saying Y sucks too.
Concurring that X does indeed suck as well doesn't fundamentally change your statement.
I was raising the fact that the same things happens nearby - and one might feel the same sickness over it. And maybe do something about it.
You're arguing based on technical details of the particular definition you chose here.
If I were to say well, ICE is indeed terrible, but innocent dogs in your local animal shelter are being abused and suffering and you can easily do something about it by adopting one - would you say that's not whataboutism because I was not responding to an accusation or difficult question?
I think this kind of statement captures the meaning of whataboutism perfectly.
I am not defending ICE, what they do is terrible, but it is not even remotely comparable to the scale and seriousness of human rights violation in NC torture camps.