MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Tensions flared on Saturday as police arrested several demonstrators outside a federal building in Minneapolis, during a protest commemorating the one-month anniversary of Renee Good’s death at the hands of immigration officers.
Good was killed on January 7 while attempting to escape immigration enforcement in her vehicle. Her death has become a flashpoint for criticism against the Trump administration’s stringent immigration measures, exacerbated by another fatal incident involving Alex Pretti just weeks later.
Protesters gathered in significant numbers across from the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, engaging in confrontations with law enforcement. According to reports, the protest escalated when demonstrators began throwing projectiles, leading police to declare the gathering unlawful. A few were arrested for their actions, and the incident intensified when a police deputy was injured and police vehicles damaged.
Despite the police order to disperse, around 100 protesters maintained their stance against law enforcement, reflecting the anger and frustration shared among many regarding federal immigration policies.
Meanwhile, in a separate event held nearby, hundreds congregated in a park to honor Good and Pretti. The gathering featured a ceremony led by Lakota spiritual leader Chief Arvol Looking Horse, focusing on the need for awareness surrounding immigration enforcement's impact on communities.
Good, a mother of three, was shot in her car by an ICE officer as agents attempted to detain her. Bystander videos depict the chilling moments leading up to the shooting, further fueling discussions around police conduct and immigration strategy in the U.S. Following her death, Minnesota officials criticized the portrayal of Good by federal authorities, who labeled her a domestic threat.
The Trump administration's recent decision to withdraw a significant number of immigration officers from the state offered a glimmer of hope, though it remained unclear how this would affect enforcement in practice.
Statements from community advocates and Good’s family urged for recognition of all lives impacted by aggressive immigration enforcement, with Becca Good expressing solidarity for those whose struggles remain unseen. She stated, 'We must also know their names. Because this shouldn’t happen to anyone.'
