Minneapolis Protesters Arrested During Demonstration Marking One-Month Anniversary of Renee Good's Death
Several demonstrators were taken into custody on Saturday outside a federal building just south of Minneapolis, as police broke up a protest marking the one-month anniversary of a Minnesota woman's death at the hands of an immigration officer. The incident occurred at the Bishop Henry Whipple federal building, where scores of protesters gathered around midday, leading to a tense confrontation with law enforcement.
Protest Turns Confrontational with Unusual Projectiles
The protest turned confrontational when participants began throwing bottles and sex toys at a line of police officers guarding the federal property. According to reports from the Minnesota Star Tribune, the situation escalated further when the crowd started throwing chunks of ice. A deputy was struck in the head during the altercation, and a squad vehicle's windshield was smashed, as detailed in a statement obtained by the newspaper from the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office.
Police declared the gathering unlawful and ordered protesters to disperse. While many complied with the order, approximately 100 individuals remained in a standoff with deputies, state troopers, and state conservation officers. Video footage circulating on social media captured several protesters being forced to the ground and taken into custody.
Background: Deaths That Sparked National Outrage
The protest was organised to commemorate Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three who was shot and killed by a federal immigration officer on 7th January. Good was driving away from immigration officers in a Minneapolis neighbourhood when three agents surrounded her Honda Pilot SUV on a snowy street near her home. Bystander video shows an officer approaching the stopped vehicle, demanding the driver open the door and grabbing the handle.
As the vehicle began to pull forward, a different ICE officer standing in front of it drew his weapon and fired at close range. The Trump administration has characterised Good as a domestic terrorist who attempted to run over an officer, though state and local officials have rejected this portrayal.
Just weeks later, on 24th January, another Minneapolis resident, Alex Pretti, was killed during a scuffle with immigration officers on the street. Bystander video shows a half-dozen officers taking Pretti to the ground, with one spotting Pretti's legally carried gun and shouting a warning before two officers opened fire.
Parallel Memorial Event and Political Context
Meanwhile, on the same Saturday, hundreds of people gathered in a snow-covered Minneapolis park to honour both Good and Pretti. Event organisers echoed recent criticisms of the immigration crackdown across Minnesota, describing it as a federal occupation. Chief Arvol Looking Horse, a Lakota spiritual leader, led a ceremony attended by people holding signs and American flags, with others sharing music and poetry to commemorate the two individuals who have become central figures in the polarising immigration debate.
The Trump administration's border czar, Tom Homan, announced on Wednesday that the administration would withdraw 700 immigration officers from Minnesota – roughly a quarter of those deployed to the state. This decision came after state and local officials agreed to cooperate by turning over arrested immigrants, though Homan did not specify when the crackdown would end.
Family Statement and Broader Impact
Becca Good, Renee Good's wife, issued a statement on Saturday emphasising that the immigration enforcement efforts are causing widespread harm in Minneapolis. "You know my wife's name and you know Alex's name, but there are many others in this city being harmed that you don't know – their families are hurting just like mine, even if they don't look like mine," she said. "They are neighbours, friends, co-workers, classmates. And we must also know their names. Because this shouldn't happen to anyone."
Law enforcement authorities did not respond to requests for comment from the Associated Press regarding the number of arrests, any injuries sustained, or the specific circumstances leading to the detentions.
