Hundreds of protesters convened in downtown Cleveland, voicing their fury over the recent fatal ICE shooting of a Minneapolis woman, Renee Good. The demonstrators gathered with signs, chants, and demands for the abolition of ICE, referring to the agency as Gestapo-like in modern times. A protest participant told Cleveland19, "I want ICE to be abolished. I think they shouldn’t exist -- they didn’t exist a few decades ago. Now they’re the Gestapo in a modern age."
Socialist Senate candidate Greg Levy, while addressing the crowd, urged collective responsibility, saying through WOSU, "We are responsible for the society we allow to exist." Levy's comments were part of a larger demonstration that not only sought action against ICE but also memorialized Good. The gatherings, characterized by chants like "Renee Good, Renee Good, say her name," aimed to amplify calls for justice, embodying a regional solidarity against what many view as ICE's overreach and brutality. These sentiments were echoed in a Cleveland19 interview with a demonstrator.
The outrage was widespread, as protests simultaneously took place in Akron and Stow, with individuals like Amy Messmore-Jones speaking to their importance. "This is a message of grief, and that people see and feel that grief not only for what happened to Renee Good yesterday, but for all violence that has been perpetrated by ICE on the streets and in detention centers across America," she explained to WKYC.
The death of Good, a mother of three and U.S. citizen, has sparked a national outcry, particularly after video of the shooting started circulating on social media. Various narratives have quickly emerged regarding the circumstances of the shooting, which occurred when Good was reportedly given conflicting orders while attempting to drive through a protest scene. According to a Minneapolis Public Radio interview, a witness claimed that as Good tried to drive away, an ICE agent identified as Jonathan Ross fired into her car. Federal authorities argue Ross acted in self-defense, a claim under scrutiny by the FBI and Minnesota's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
Following a moment of silence for Good at Willard Park in Cleveland, protesters marched, chanting demands for justice and the removal of President Donald Trump. As reported by WKYC, many plan to attend an upcoming Cleveland City Council meeting to push for legislative condemnation of Good's killing and similar incidents. The incident continues to drive conversation and has amplified calls for ICE abolition as communities across Northeast Ohio and the nation react.
