Whoever you blame for the death of Renee Good I think there is one thing upon which we can all agree. This is a tragedy that should never have happened.
Full stop. Please reread the last sentence in the first
paragraph again.
She was a 37-year old woman who left a wife and three kids.
If we cannot all grieve her passing, then it’s impossible to have healthy conversation about what happened. If we immediately jump to blame—whoever we blame for being responsible—we won’t change the narrative of violence that has literally gripped the Twin Cities metro area.
Earlier today I joined a couple hundred people, many of them clergy to protest Good’s death. We gathered on Portland Ave right where she died. The entire experience was sobering.
I’ve watched the video of Renee’s death at least ten times. It’s hard for me to say with definitive certainty whether the ICE agent who killed her was in danger of being run over the Good’s car. Full disclosure—I certainly am biased against ICE as I don’t think their presence is needed in the Twin Cities Metro. The number of ICE agents is excessive. This influences the way I look at what happened to Renee Good.
I don’t understand why the agent who shot Good through the front window didn’t shoot at the tires of Good’s car. I don’t understand why the agent even shot at the car. According to the Star Tribune most police departments don’t train their officers to shoot at moving cars.
The rally was peaceful. I had been asked to attend and stand with other clergy behind the speakers. So many clergy were present that I stood behind a pine tree. We were asked to wear a collar or a stole. I have a collar, but I’m actually not sure where it is, so I brought a red stole. To me red seemed to be the color of the day.
JaNae' Bates, co-executive director of Isaiah, spoke first. She shared three demands. 1. The person who killed Renee Good must be arrested; 2. ICR must leave Minnesota; 3. Congress must investigate what happened and show oversight.
Martha Bardwell from Our Saviors Lutheran Church said that “we renounce this evil. Take off the masks. May Renee Good’s name remind everyone of the good.”
An Iman of a mosque in south Minneapolis (I didn’t get his name) said that everyone demands accountability. The family of Renee Good deserves justice. The neighborhood is not a war zone, but a neighborhood. It’s a tragedy that schools are closed because the streets are not safe. This current time is a time to show compassion and mercy.
Rabbi Tamar Magill-Grimm from Beth Jacob Synagogue in Mendota Heights said that what happened is so sad. She is very proud of Minnesota clergy for showing up. Preserving life takes precedence over all the laws in the Torah. Renee Good should be tucking her children into bed. Officers are called to protect people and not harm them.
B Chavez Russell, senior pastor of Greater Missionary Baptist Church said that the church recognizes that we must come together to unite people for justice. When Jesus turned over the tables in the Temple, he did not act in rage. He responded with righteous anger. He closed by encouraging us to say in unison, “We are better together.”
Father Dale Korogi, priest of Ascension parish in north Minneapolis shared that many families who attend his parish haven’t come because they are afraid of ICE. He said that people who are hiding are good people—the best people he knows.
Regina Hassanally, a Lutheran Bishop from southeast Minnesota gave an especially powerful talk. She said that fear is the tool of the oppressor, and hope is the anecdote to fear. She claimed hope not for some day in the future but for this day. Hope is our anchor. It is a hope that shows up. We have hope not just for tomorrow but for today.
Congratulations to Isaiah for having speakers from so many faith traditions!
My hope is this event can be a catalyst for justice as a respond to the killing of Renee Good. I also hope that it might change the trajectory of the presence of ICE in Minnesota.
The entire rally can be seen at: https://www.facebook.com/ISAIAHMN/videos/866843849537634
Whoever you blame for the death of Renee Good I think there is one thing upon which we can all agree. This is a tragedy that should never have happened.
