Mass Protests Grip Minnesota After Renee Good’s Death
Protests across Minnesota have intensified following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis earlier this month. Demonstrations have drawn thousands of people demanding justice and accountability after the incident, which has become a flashpoint for national outrage over immigration enforcement tactics.
Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Minneapolis, joined by demonstrators in other U.S. cities, chanting slogans such as “No justice, no peace” and “ICE Out of our streets.” Many marches began near the site of the shooting and spread through downtown areas, with participants calling for an end to aggressive ICE operations and greater oversight of federal agents.
Protests have led to road closures, occasional clashes with federal agents, and reports of property damage. Law enforcement has used crowd-control tactics, including pepper spray and tear gas, in response.
Amid the unrest, a federal judge in Minnesota imposed restrictions on ICE’s actions during protests, prohibiting agents from using pepper spray or detaining peaceful demonstrators without clear cause. The injunction followed a lawsuit alleging constitutional rights violations by ICE.
Pentagon Places Soldiers on Standby, National Guard Activated
In response to the escalating unrest, the U.S. Department of Defense has placed about 1,500 active-duty soldiers on standby for possible deployment to Minnesota. This move aims to assist state authorities if the situation worsens and civil order cannot be maintained solely with local and National Guard forces.
The Pentagon’s alert comes amid threats by federal officials to invoke the rarely used Insurrection Act, which would allow the president to deploy military forces domestically to quell unrest. Officials emphasized that the troop readiness order is a precautionary step and does not guarantee immediate deployment.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has also mobilized the National Guard to support civil authorities, reflecting the seriousness of the unrest. However, the Guard has not yet been fully activated for active duty in protest zones.
Federal-State Tensions and Broader Reaction
The protests were triggered by the controversial shooting of Good, who was killed by an ICE agent during a federal enforcement operation that deployed thousands of ICE and Border Patrol officers to the Minneapolis area. The Justice Department has launched investigations into both the shooting and whether state officials impeded federal enforcement.
Minnesota officials, including Mayor Jacob Frey and Governor Walz, condemned the ICE action and criticized the federal presence in their state. Frey publicly challenged the federal narrative of the shooting, calling official accounts misleading and urging peaceful protest.
Meanwhile, civil rights advocates and national labor groups have amplified calls for changes to federal immigration policies. Some supporters have organised nationwide demonstrations under the banner “ICE Out for Good,” highlighting local and national frustration with aggressive immigration enforcement tactics.
Despite the tensions, many protests have remained largely peaceful, with law enforcement and community leaders urging restraint from both sides. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, working to balance public safety with the right to protest.
As national attention remains focused on Minnesota, officials from multiple levels of government are navigating a complex response to sustained public anger, rising political pressure, and the potential for further unrest.
