Tragic Death of Poet Renee Nicole Good Sparks Nationwide Protests

Fri Jan 09 2026 11:45:42 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother and acclaimed poet, was shot dead by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis. Her passing has ignited protests demanding justice across the country.

Renee Nicole Good, an award-winning poet and mother of three, was fatally shot by an ICE agent during a confrontation in Minneapolis. Good's death has led to significant protests and raised concerns about the actions of federal agents. While statements from the White House label her as a 'domestic terrorist,' city leaders argue the agent acted recklessly. Good's family and friends remember her as compassionate and loving, further fueling calls for justice.

The woman shot dead by a federal immigration agent in Minneapolis has been identified as Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three who had just moved to the city.

She was a prize-winning poet and a hobby guitarist, and according to Minnesota Senator Tina Smith, a US citizen.

City leaders have said Good was a legal observer of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities. But the Trump administration has called her a domestic terrorist.

Good's death has sparked protests across the country, with many people holding signs that read Justice for Renee.

Her mother, Donna Ganger, told the Minnesota Star Tribune that her daughter was probably terrified during the confrontation with officers that saw her fatally shot and that she was one of the kindest people I've ever known.

Good's father, Tim Ganger, mentioned that she had a good, but challenging life. A fundraiser for Good's family raised more than $370,000 within 10 hours of being set up.

Good was an advocate for rights, studying creative writing at Old Dominion University and winning accolades for her work.

Despite claims of her activism, her family contends she was not a militant, emphasizing her compassionate character. The contrast between her advocacy and the portrayal by some political figures forms a potent narrative in the continuing fallout from her death.

In the aftermath of her shooting, local leaders and advocates are calling for justice and accountability, highlighting a broader conversation on the treatment of citizens by enforcement agencies.