On Jan. 7, Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three from Minnesota, was shot and killed by a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent who was allegedly in fear for his life.

Today, much of America is caught in a heightened and divisive reaction to what occurred. Last year was already marked by dozens of protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that continued across the U.S., driven by heightened anti-immigrant sentiments following the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

As demonstrators have protested against increased ICE crackdowns, federal agents responded by taking action through a defensive stance. They focused on immigrant communities, all while citing an executive order aimed at strengthening border control.

Then came a public display of that response at the corner of 34th Street and Portland Avenue that caused national outcry for justice as Renee Good’s wife screamed in terror in the street.

This weekend, thousands of mourners and faith leaders held a somber memorial at Powderhorn Park to honor Good. Led by U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), those gathered laid flowers, candles, and photos in Renee’s memory. In the background, city clergy members sang the hymn “We Rise,” creating a moving moment of remembrance.

The shooting has sparked national protests in Renee Good’s name, sparking another anti-government movement reminiscent of the George Floyd police murder, ironically, which also happened in Minneapolis, Minn., five years previously.

At the citywide gathering of mixed faiths, several faith leaders spoke up in Good’s defense.

Good was “an accidental martyr,” said the Rev. Jim DeBruycker of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Community. “She was shot and killed doing the right thing…doing what Jesus would have done.”

Those who oppose that sentiment began with U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Defending her agents initially, Noem called Good a “domestic terrorist,” but later retracted that description.

Noem said that Good refused to obey orders to get out of her car, “weaponized her vehicle,” and “attempted to run” over an officer. Minnesota officials disputed Noem’s account, citing videos showing Good attempting to drive away from perceived threats.

One local faith leader who took exception to that idea was Rev. Neal Rich, pastor at Cedar Valley Church in Bloomington. “We are a land of laws,” he said, adding that believers should mourn Good. “I am not promoting open borders. I am just promoting that we stop and grieve.”

Another was Rev. Dana Neuhauser, a United Methodist minister, who was recorded singing “We Rise” on local news broadcasts.

“We’re gathered because somebody was murdered by agents of the government,” she said. “[These incidents from ICE are] all just too much, but my faith requires me to show up.”

Hundreds of similar protests have occurred in many metropolitan areas across the nation. That momentum led faith leaders across the country to gather in front of the White House on Jan. 9.

The interfaith network Faith in Action, which operates in 24 states, organized a peaceful protest at the White House. The group is calling for Jonathan Ross, the ICE officer involved in Good’s shooting, to face charges, possibly even for murder. They also urge ICE to halt all operations nationwide.

During the vigil, attendees, including Rev. Stephanie Vader, senior pastor of Capitol Hill United Methodist Church, and Rev. Rachel Landers Vaagenes, pastor of Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church, told the media that they were there to “make hope visible” and to stand up for their faith.

Rev. Starsky Wilson, president and CEO of the Children’s Defense Fund, displayed the stuffed animals found in Good’s vehicle, emphasizing that they serve as poignant reminders of the children affected.

“Those comforting items were splattered with blood,” he explained. “We gather here because this violence has reached our children,” he added, emphasizing that someone must “give account for the trauma to our children.”