Thousands protest across US cities after ICE agent kills woman in Minneapolis, sparking outrage over Trump administration’s immigration crackdown
MINNEAPOLIS: Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Minneapolis on Saturday chanting the name of a woman killed by a federal immigration agent.
The protests were part of more than 1,000 events planned across the United States under the slogan “ICE, Out for Good”.
The slogan also references Renee Good, the 37-year-old mother shot dead in her car by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent on Wednesday.
Thousands braved frigid weather and streamed toward a snow-covered park to mobilise near the scene of the shooting.
At the start of the protest, a voice called out, “Say her name!” with the crowd shouting back: “Renee Good!”
Her death has sparked strong emotions in this Democratic stronghold and across the nation.
“We got ICE shooting women in the face for self-defense. It doesn’t make any sense,” said protester Alex Vega in Boston.
In Philadelphia, protesters marched in the rain from City Hall to the ICE field office.
Others mobilised in New York, Washington and Boston, with gatherings drawing dozens to hundreds of demonstrators.
More protests were planned for Sunday, amplified by the “No Kings” movement of left-wing organisations.
The Trump administration has sought to paint Good as a “domestic terrorist,” insisting the agent acted in self-defense.
This narrative is strongly disputed by local officials, who say footage shows Good’s vehicle turning away.
Cell phone footage apparently taken by the officer shows him interacting with Good, who had blocked the road.
He approaches and circles Good’s car, as she says to him: “I’m not mad at you.”
Another agent can be heard ordering Good to exit the vehicle before she tries to drive off and shots ring out.
The agent filming the video can then be heard saying “fucking bitch.”
The White House insisted the video gave weight to the officer’s claim of self-defense.
Drew Lenzmeier, 30, said he joined the protest “because I feel our rights are being taken away from us”.
“No one is stopping the Trump administration from now murdering citizens and stealing, kidnapping human beings,” he said.
On Friday evening, hundreds gathered noisily in front of Minneapolis hotels believed to be housing ICE agents.
Several people were arrested and then quickly released, according to police.
Officials and residents in Minnesota have expressed concern about being shut out of the FBI investigation.
According to The Trace, Good was the fourth person killed by federal immigration agents since the deportation campaign began.
Seven people have been injured in related incidents.
In a separate incident, two people were injured Thursday in Portland, Oregon, by shots fired by federal border police.
