Yesterday morning, January 7, the wound of state violence was reopened in Minneapolis when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents fatally shot 37-year-old Renee Nicole Macklin Good in her car, just a mile from where George Floyd was killed in 2020. This tragic event has prompted nationwide mourning and mobilization in memory of Good, celebrated as an award-winning poet and writer, devoted mother, and cherished wife. Her death, as a U.S. citizen, occurred shortly after the Trump administration dispatched 2,000 ICE agents to the Twin Cities for a major immigration operation targeting the Somali community in the area.
Bystander videos from various angles captured three masked ICE agents approaching Good’s vehicle, which was stopped across a road. They were seen attempting to open the door and demanding she “get out of the fucking car.” Good briefly reversed before veering right as the agents advanced on foot. As she appeared to drive away, one officer fired three shots, fatally striking her in the head. Her car then collided with two parked vehicles as she slumped over. Onlookers were prevented from checking her pulse, including one who identified as a physician.
The footage of the shooting rapidly spread online, inciting public outrage. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem characterized Good’s actions as “an act of domestic terrorism,” alleging she had been obstructing the ICE agents throughout the day. President Donald Trump also labeled Good a “professional agitator” in a Truth Social post, claiming she “violently” attacked the ICE agent. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey condemned the use of deadly force and urged ICE to leave the city, promising a thorough investigation while cautioning residents against inciting further violence.
In response, thousands gathered on Portland Avenue for a vigil that doubled as a peaceful protest demanding ICE’s departure from the Twin Cities. The crowd carried signs, flowers, and candles, commemorating Good’s life and protesting against ICE. Vigils soon spread across the Midwest and the nation, accompanied by online tributes expressing shock and frustration. Many artists and organizers have utilized Noem’s and Trump’s statements in their protest pieces, highlighting differing views on “domestic terrorism.”
Memorials for Good in Minneapolis have featured the word “remember” alongside a sky-blue butterfly motif, symbolizing migration and solidarity with immigrants. Artists have honored Good through portraits and visual narratives, capturing her life and the impact of her death. A protest sign read, “In a world full of Trumps and Noems, be Good,” referencing her surname. In an interview with the Minnesota Star Tribune, Donna Ganger identified Good as her daughter, stating she had no involvement with the protesters. Good had recently relocated to Minneapolis from Colorado Springs with her son and partner, Rebecca Good. An avid reader and writer, she graduated from Old Dominion University in 2020, winning a prize for her poem “On Learning to Dissect Fetal Pigs,” which reflects on the intersection of spirituality and biology.
