Prison Nation stands with the millions of people around the world who are remembering Renee Nicole Good.
Renee was a victim of an ICE agent’s targeted execution. It is not a defense or acceptable to say Renee “weaponized” her car and drove toward the ICE agent. The video circulating online disproves that excuse. Besides that, when using deadly force, a law enforcement officer can not create the exigency that justifies the use of deadly force. Simply put, a law enforcement officer can not initiate the life-threatening danger.
A lot of people are aware that police across the country make pretextual traffic stops. For example, who hasn’t heard of the phenomenon referred to as, “Driving while black”? Pretextual traffic stops lead to constitutional and civil rights violations, resulting in numerous arrests, and excessive force resulting in death.
Here, the ICE agent knew or had reason to know Renee Good was not trying to run him over, whether she was purposely interfering with the ICE agents or not, she was a person–another human being and mother–caught in the midst of the ICE agents’ presence. Demonstrators, protesters, and bystanders were to be expected. Indeed, the ICE agent who fired the fatal shot that killed Renee Good, had special training and was present for that reason.
All the ICE agent had to do was step back from the danger he stepped in front of. Instead the ICE agent stepped back, took a stance, and took a kill-shot.
Emotions and tensions were going to be high, and ICE knew this beforehand, so this ICE agent was sent there to help keep the lid on things; you know, so that some trigger-happy ICE agent wouldn’t start popping off rounds at some mom in an SUV. And the video circulating online show you what happened next.
People miss the point when they blame Renee Good. When ICE claims Renee Good “weaponized” her car, they mean she was “driving” her car. Renee Good was driving her car when the ICE agents were attempting to remove her from car. Whether Renee Good obstructed the ICE agents or interfered with their official duties, or resisted arrest by fleeing, is besides the point:
THAT DOES NOT GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO USE LETHAL FORCE!
The public already knows about pretextual traffic stops and “Driving while black.” The public sees videos of the police making pretextual traffic stops and then punching drivers in the face, or people being dragged from their cars and beaten to death or shot in the back of the head execution-style. Now under ICE’s rules of engagement, if a person interferes with ICE’s objective, ICE agents are justified in using lethal force. That is the official position of the United States, according to the President, Vice-President, Attorney General, and ICE.
Now that use of lethal force is discretionary, ICE agents in Portland have shot two more people. Renee Nicole Good’s death wasn’t the first at the hands of ICE agents, and clearly it won’t be the last as long as the government sanctions this lethal force policy.
Renee Good’s wife, Becca Good, provided this statement:
“First, I want to extend my gratitude to all the people who have reached out from across the country and around the world to support our family.
This kindness of strangers is the most fitting tribute because if you ever encountered my wife, Renee Nicole Macklin Good, you know that above all else, she was kind. In fact, kindness radiated out of her.
Renee sparkled. She literally sparkled. I mean, she didn’t wear glitter but I swear she had sparkles coming out of her pores. All the time. You might think it was just my love talking but her family said the same thing. Renee was made of sunshine.
Renee lived by an overarching belief: there is kindness in the world and we need to do everything we can to find it where it resides and nurture it where it needs to grow. Renee was a Christian who knew that all religions teach the same essential truth: we are here to love each other, care for each other, and keep each other safe and whole.
Like people have done across place and time, we moved to make a better life for ourselves. We chose Minnesota to make our home. Our whole extended road trip here, we held hands in the car while our son drew all over the windows to pass the time and the miles.
What we found when we got here was a vibrant and welcoming community, we made friends and spread joy. And while any place we were together was home, there was a strong shared sense here in Minneapolis that we were looking out for each other. Here, I had finally found peace and safe harbor. That has been taken from me forever.
We were raising our son to believe that no matter where you come from or what you look like, all of us deserve compassion and kindness. Renee lived this belief every day. She is pure love. She is pure joy. She is pure sunshine.
On Wednesday, January 7th, we stopped to support our neighbors. We had whistles. They had guns.
We had whistles.
They had guns.
Renee leaves behind three extraordinary children; the youngest is just six years old and already lost his father. I am now left to raise our son and to continue teaching him, as Renee believed, that there are people building a better world for him. That the people who did this had fear and anger in their hearts, and we need to show them a better way.
We thank you for the privacy you are granting our family as we grieve. We thank you for ensuring that Renee’s legacy is one of kindness and love. We honor her memory by living her values: rejecting hate and choosing compassion, turning away from fear and pursuing peace, refusing division and knowing we must come together to build a world where we all come home safe to the people we love.”
There has to be a better way. A world where we all come home safe to the people we love. Rest in peace Renee Nicole Good.
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