Washington, DC — The following is a reflection from Vanessa Cárdenas, Executive Director of America’s Voice, on the killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis yesterday:
“I stand in solidarity and outrage over Renee Good’s horrific killing yesterday. I am also deeply angry that this tragedy was predictable and preventable and how it fits into a larger, unchecked pattern of abuse, violence and provocation under an administration intent on ripping us apart.
First, brutal killing is a visceral reminder how the mass deportation crusade harms and threatens all of us – immigrants and citizens alike. When thousands of over-militarized immigration agents descend on American communities akin to an invading military force, it seeks to “shock and awe” and actively harms public safety and raises the likelihood of violence. Meanwhile, the mass deportation agenda is diverting money, manpower, investigative attention and resources away from real threats – like child exploitation, drug trafficking investigations and FEMA disaster preparedness funding – all for the purpose of becoming foot soldiers in Stephen Miller’s anti-immigrant crusade.
Second, the mass deportation agenda is being used as a pretext and the tip of the spear for a broader assault on Americans’ rights, liberties and democratic norms. Minneapolis is the latest example of the Trump administration’s effort to normalize the massive domestic deployment of federal agents, and in some cases the U.S. military, against the will of those communities and their elected representatives. In city after city over the past year, the targeting of the “enemy within,” as Trump infamously phrased it, includes neighbors and friends; parents and children; and U.S. citizens and non-citizens alike. These deployments are deliberate provocations that trample on core democratic traditions, keep our nation divided and subvert core rights such as due process and First Amendment protections.
Third, it is clear that the Trump Administration is intent on continuing their assault. In the 24 hours after Ms. Good’s killing, federal officials including the President, are defending the ICE agent’s actions and smearing Ms. Good, while ICE continues to deploy its agents across our cities, harassing and detaining immigrants and citizens alike.
This is why it is imperative that Americans from all backgrounds and political persuasions call out the violence and demand accountability. Much like how the family separation cruelty of Trump’s first term cut across traditional party lines, Americans of any political and ideological viewpoint should watch the video in Minneapolis, hear the lies and smears from the Trump administration about the events and make their own determinations about responsibility. In the process, we all should remind ourselves about our democratic norms and values and recommit to do better– this is not who we are as a nation.”
