A newly elected Minneapolis city council member, who lost his left eye after being shot with a police rubber bullet during the 2020 George Floyd protests, says a recent fatal shooting by an ICE agent feels frighteningly familiar.
A New Tragedy in a Scarred Neighbourhood
It was only Soren Stevenson's third day in office when Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent on the edge of his district in south Minneapolis. The following day, Stevenson sat in a nearly deserted Plaza Mexico food court, a usually bustling hub for the Latino community, and described a neighbourhood once again gripped by fear.
"Half the stores are closed, and that's because people are afraid to go outside," Stevenson said. His district includes part of George Floyd Square, the epicentre of the 2020 police killing that ignited nationwide racial justice protests.
Personal Trauma and Community Resilience
Stevenson participated in those 2020 demonstrations, where he was shot in the face with a rubber bullet by a police officer. The injury cost him his left eye and much of his sense of smell, leading to a civil lawsuit against the city that was settled for $2.4 million.
"It's been dredging up a lot of feelings from 2020," he admitted. "Hearing the helicopters go over the site... It's really reminiscent in a scary way." He noted that many residents are asking why this intense federal focus repeatedly falls on the same Minneapolis neighbourhood.
Despite the trauma, Stevenson said the community's mutual aid networks have reignited. Neighbours are giving rides, delivering groceries, and supporting those afraid to leave home due to heightened immigration enforcement. He called this collective spirit the community's "immune system."
Demanding Accountability and ICE's Departure
As a council member, Stevenson is resolved to determine how the city can challenge ICE's presence. He has been inundated with constituent emails and calls demanding ICE leave Minneapolis, echoing Mayor Jacob Frey's blunt instruction for the agency to "get the fuck out of Minneapolis."
While Trump's FBI has taken over the investigation into Good's death, Stevenson wants local and state authorities deeply involved, arguing they have a greater stake in a just outcome than federal officials, some of whom have already suggested the agent acted in self-defence.
Beyond investigation, he is exploring ways to "make [ICE's] job harder" and force their swift departure from the city.
Visiting the makeshift memorial at the shooting site—barricaded by locals with wood, old Christmas trees, and garbage cans—Stevenson reflected on the powerful community vigil held for Good, which drew thousands. The scene was strongly reminiscent of the occupied protest site at George Floyd Square.
"We're not gonna go quietly," Stevenson stated, viewing the robust community response as a sign of enduring resolve. "I like that about us."
