Tension in Minneapolis was at a fevered pitch this week in the wake of the death of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother who was shot and killed by ICE officers while disrupting their operations in the city.
On Thursday night the Timberwolves held a moment of silence for Good, which was preceeded by the team PA announcer wishing for “healing and unity in this troubling time.” As the crowd fell silent one fan yelled “GO HOME ICE!” to which another responded “F*** ICE!” leading to cheers echoing through the Target Center.
Good was shot in her vehicle shortly after ICE agents grabbed the handle of her SUV and attempted to open the door. The Federal Government is stating that the woman attempted to assault the ICE officer with her vehicle, while witnesses claim she was trying to leave the scene as instructed, and any contact with the officer was incidental. At best the shooting was a questionable use of force, at worse it was murder — with Minneapolis citizens taking to the streets to protest the raids and door-to-door tactics ICE are using under the guise of removing “violent criminals” who are residing in the United States illegally.
Meanwhile local law enforcement are being frozen out of the investigation into Good’s death, which has been assumed by the FBI. Initially the FBI said that state investigators would have access to evidence in the case, but reversed course and have since blocked The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension from having any ability to investigate the shooting. This has raised serious questions about the veracity of an FBI investigation into an agent working on behalf of the administration.
Protests are scheduled to continue in Minneapolis on Friday.
