Los Angeles, California — Protests and vigils are intensifying across Los Angeles following the shooting deaths of Renee Good, a Minnesota mother, and Keith Porter Jr., a resident of the area. Activists are organizing a candlelight vigil in Carson on Saturday to honor the victims and demand justice.
Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis. Authorities claim that the agent acted in self-defense, asserting that Good attempted to run over officers with her vehicle. However, her family contests this account, suggesting she posed no significant threat as she was reportedly celebrating New Year’s Eve by firing a gun into the air.
Civil rights advocates are voicing serious concerns about the use of lethal force by ICE agents. Najee Ali, a local activist, emphasized during a demonstration that these incidents represent a broader pattern of excessive force and accountability issues. “We are here to mourn the loss of innocent lives and to advocate for the truth and justice these families deserve,” Ali stated.
Demonstrators gathered in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday, calling for the arrest of the agent involved in Good’s death. Among the crowd were representatives from various faith-based organizations, including Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice, who work to support marginalized communities.
Earl Ofari Hutchinson, president of the Los Angeles Urban Police Roundtable, criticized ICE for a pattern of excessive force, noting that this is not a new issue in the city. Meanwhile, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemned the shooting and connected it to broader immigration policies under the previous administration, calling such acts “shocking and tragic.”
On Wednesday night, approximately 80 individuals gathered at Placita Olvera in Los Angeles to protest against ICE and its actions. Many carried signs demanding accountability and an end to what they described as “ICE terror.” Congressman Robert Garcia has demanded an immediate investigation into the shooting, stating that oversight is crucial for community safety.
Rep. Derek Tran labeled Good’s fatal shooting a “grotesque violation” of the values the nation upholds. He described the event as not merely a failure of law enforcement but a troubling escalation in state-sanctioned violence.
State Senator María Elena Durazo echoed those sentiments, insisting that ICE’s practices are detrimental to community safety. She called for a withdrawal of ICE agents from urban areas, emphasizing that their actions create fear rather than protection.
Federal officials continue to assert that the circumstances surrounding Good’s shooting were justified. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described her actions as an attack on law enforcement, but footage from the incident appears to contradict that narrative, with no visible evidence of an assault on officers.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey condemned the shooting as reckless use of power by a federal agent, promising a thorough investigation into the incident. Local politicians have expressed outrage, with Assemblyman Mark Gonzáles declaring that the narrative being pushed by officials is a desperate attempt to rationalize unwarranted violence.
In a stark contrast, former President Donald Trump defended the actions of the agent, framing the situation as a product of societal agitation and claiming that ICE agents are under threat from the opposition. His statements have further polarized the conversation surrounding immigration enforcement and agency accountability.
As the community continues to mourn, the growing calls for justice and accountability echo louder, highlighting the urgent need for a national conversation about the use of force and the role of immigration authorities in society.