The shadow of George Floyd's murder still looms large, but now, another tragedy in Minneapolis demands our attention. On May 25, 2020, the world watched in horror as a Minneapolis police officer took George Floyd's life, sparking a national outcry. Fast forward to January 7, 2026, and a similar scene unfolded, barely a mile from where Floyd was killed. This time, an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three.
Good, a self-described 'poet, writer, wife, and mom,' had recently moved to Minneapolis. Her 'crime'? Allegedly, she refused to comply with ICE's demands. The details are chilling: the killing occurred in plain view, witnessed by onlookers, and captured on cellphone videos that quickly went viral.
But here's where it gets controversial...
In the wake of Floyd's murder, the nation demanded reform. Now, the question is: how will we respond to Good's death? It's crucial that we say 'no' to the violence we witnessed and demand accountability for ICE. The circumstances surrounding Good's death raise serious questions about the use of force by law enforcement. ICE agents arrived at the scene, immediately resorting to shouting and issuing commands. Instead of de-escalating the situation, they escalated it.
And this is the part most people miss...
ICE's own use-of-force policy, updated in 2023, emphasizes de-escalation techniques and respect for human life. Yet, these guidelines were seemingly ignored in Good's case. The video evidence shows Good attempting to drive away when an agent opened fire, a moment when the agent's life was not in danger. Forty years ago, the Supreme Court ruled in Tennessee v. Garner that lethal force cannot be used simply to stop a suspect from fleeing. Justice Byron White emphasized the sanctity of life, stating that lethal force is permissible only when an officer has a good-faith belief that a suspect poses a significant threat.
It's a matter of debate:
Was the use of lethal force justified in Good's case? Under the Trump administration, ICE appears to be employing violence as a common tactic, with this being the ninth shooting since September. This is not an isolated incident. ICE seems to be enacting a vision of a world 'governed by strength, force, and power'. We must not accept this view. Justice White's words offer a better path: 'It is not better that…felony suspects die than that they escape.' This is the view we should embrace and rally behind in the wake of Good's death.
What are your thoughts? Do you believe the use of force was justified in this situation? Share your opinions in the comments below.
