Los Angeles, California — Protests erupted Friday in response to the fatal shootings of Renee Good in Minneapolis and Keith Porter Jr. in Los Angeles, both involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. A candlelight vigil is planned for Saturday evening at Carson Park to honor their lives and call for accountability.
Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was shot while in her moving vehicle during an ICE operation in Minnesota on Wednesday morning. Meanwhile, Porter Jr. was killed on New Year’s Eve in Los Angeles by an off-duty ICE agent who, according to federal authorities, was responding to an active shooter situation. Porter’s family maintains he fired the gun into the air in celebration and posed no real threat.
Civil rights advocates gathered outside the downtown Los Angeles federal building on Thursday, denouncing the killing of Good and demanding justice for both individuals. Najee Ali, head of Project Islamic Hope, voiced concern over a pattern of excessive force displayed by law enforcement and emphasized the need for accountability. “We are mourning together and calling for truth and justice,” Ali stated.
Earl Ofari Hutchinson, president of the Los Angeles Urban Police Roundtable, highlighted a troubling trend of violence from ICE, criticizing what he described as an agency operating unchecked in the community. He remarked that this violence is not a recent development, implying it is part of a broader issue within the agency.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass expressed outrage over Good’s death, describing it as shocking and tragic. In a recent statement, she criticized policies from the previous administration that she believes contributed to such incidents. “These actions have only served to instill fear in communities,” Bass said, expressing her condolences to Good’s family.
Demonstrators continued to voice their anger, with gatherings at locations such as Placita Olvera, where attendees demanded charges against the officer responsible for Good’s death. Signs reading statements like “Stop ICE terror now!” were prevalent among the crowd, emphasizing the growing discontent with ICE activities.
Calls for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Good’s killing amplified as local representatives spoke out. Rep. Robert Garcia, a Long Beach Democrat, urged immediate legislative scrutiny, stressing that the community deserves answers regarding these tragic events.
Critics within the state government also condemned the actions leading to the fatal shootings. State Sen. María Elena Durazo noted the urgency for ICE to withdraw from urban areas, while Assemblyman Juan Carrillo highlighted the pressing need for oversight within law enforcement to prevent future incidents of violence.
Federal officials have defended their agents’ actions, claiming that Good attempted to use her vehicle as a weapon. However, eyewitness accounts and video footage from the incident appear to contradict this characterization. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey described the shooting as recklessly executed, urging swift justice for the victims.
With tensions running high, the ongoing discourse concerning immigration enforcement and community safety highlights a significant and urgent issue gripping many American cities. As the community seeks justice for Good and Porter Jr., it remains to be seen how these events will impact the broader conversation around law enforcement practices and immigration policies.