Today our country witnessed yet another avoidable tragedy at the hands of ICE/DHS agents. Renee Nicolee Good, 37 years old, was shot and killed through her car window, by heavily armed, but poorly trained, masked agents. The shooting occurred in a quiet residential neighborhood in Minneapolis, MN. Ms. Good is believed to have been a legal observer, on the ground, documenting ICE operations.
While full investigations have yet to be conducted, we feel confident that the hurried statements by Kristie Noem (DHS Secretary) and Pres. Donald J. Trump, accusing this woman of being a domestic terrorist who was trying to kill agents with her vehicle, are complete fabrications. There are videos from multiple viewpoints that completely dispute their “official” accounts. Contrary to Trump’s statement, the agent who shot her walked away from the scene completely unscathed.
A militarized ICE force has been brought into cities to, supposedly, bring order; they are doing the exact opposite. They inflame and terrorize communities that were functioning well. They tear families apart and destroy any fragile trust that exists between immigrants, citizens, and local law enforcement. Tthey are abusing and killing law-abiding Americans.
Repeatedly, federal, state and municipal courts have reiterated that we have the right to bear witness and record law enforcement activities, as long as we do not get in their way. Today has been a vivid reminder of just why that right is so important. At the end of this investigation, the video taken by verifiers and observers who were on the ground during this tragedy will be essential pieces of evidence. The pictures taken of the man who shot Ms. Good will bear witness to his lack of injury. In the last moments of this young woman’s life, it was the verifiers and neighbors of this community who tried to render aid.
The Immigration Taskforce of CUSH works to prepare members of our Kenosha community so that they are ready to unite in defending the rights of our friends and neighbors, if and when ICE shows up here. It starts with “Know Your Rights” trainings, with which we can prepare community members and organizations. In partnership with our friends at Voces de la Frontera, we can train volunteers and turn them into verifiers, as Renee was, alerting our neighbors to the presence of ICE or to dispel unfounded, fear-spreading rumors.
Renee was an asset to her community, working to document federal actions in her community.
We need more people to stand together and join in this work, for our community.
We hope you will join us in building power for the people of Kenosha.
Every life is sacred and no human is illegal.
Kristi Wilson
CUSH Immigration Task Force
