A woman attending a memorial for a victim of a fatal shooting by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis has publicly questioned her place there, citing her racial privilege. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, has triggered widespread demonstrations and a bitter political dispute.
A Memorial Marked by Guilt and Protest
The woman, who was not identified, spoke to a Daily Wire reporter at the corner where Renee Nicole Good, 37, was shot three times in the face by federal agent Jonathan Ross. She nervously admitted she felt uncertain about her presence. "It feels wrong in some way, I don't know why," she said. "Part of it is being a white woman that I'm privileged. I have a lot of privilege. So, I feel like white tears are not always helpful or necessary when black and brown people have been experiencing this for a long time."
Her comments came as mourners maintained a vigil at the site. Good's death has sparked protests in several US cities, including New York, Portland, and Phoenix. In some demonstrations, protesters were seen burning American flags and chanting slogans such as "Save a life, kill an ICE" and "Kristi Noem will hang," targeting the US Homeland Security Secretary.
Escalating Tensions and Conflicting Narratives
The situation escalated further on Thursday when two more people were shot by federal agents during operations in Oregon, fuelling anti-ICE sentiment nationwide. In response to the unrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz activated the National Guard, and Minneapolis Public Schools cancelled classes for the rest of the week.
The Department of Homeland Security announced it is sending additional agents to the city, with reports suggesting at least 100 more are being deployed. This follows the department's largest-ever immigration enforcement operation, which has already seen over 2,000 officers sent to the area.
Official accounts of the shooting are in direct conflict. Federal authorities claim both the Minneapolis and Portland shootings were acts of self-defense. However, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, a Democrat, labelled the ICE explanation 'bulls**t' and demanded the agency leave the city. "We stand rock solid with our immigrant and refugee communities," he stated on social media.
Homeland Security has controversially described Good's actions as an "act of domestic terrorism," while local officials have called her death a "murder."
Questions Surrounding the Fatal Encounter
Witnesses and officials claim Good, a mother of three, and her wife were acting as legal observers, filming a protest when the incident occurred. Video footage shows an officer approaching Good's stationary Honda Pilot SUV, which was stopped across a road. After demanding she open the door, the vehicle began to pull forward. A different ICE officer standing in front of the car then drew his weapon and fired at least two shots at close range.
After the shooting, the SUV sped forward, colliding with two parked cars before coming to a stop. It remains unclear from the videos if the vehicle made contact with the officer. The FBI is investigating the incident.
The city remains on edge, with further protests outside the Minneapolis immigration court on Thursday. Demonstrators carried signs reading "ICE Out Now" and chanted for justice, underscoring the deep divisions and raw emotions the shooting has exposed across the United States.
