Wife of Renee Good says couple practiced ‘radical kindness’ in first public look since ICE capturing
Renee Good’s wife said her family practiced ‘radical kindness’ in the first public appearance since her partner was fatally shot by an ICE agent.
Becca Good appeared on stage at Powderhorn Park in Minneapolis on February 7 in front of a large crowd who came to commemorate her partner a month after she was killed, according to the New York Times.
Renee was a 37-year-old mother of three who was fatally shot by ICE agent Jonathan Ross after she ignored demands to get out of her car, reversed it, and tried to drive off during a protest.
At the event, Becca decided not to speak to the crowd but rather gave a statement to Rabbi Arielle Lekach-Rosenberg to read aloud, according to PEOPLE.
‘Becca Good, Renee’s wife, has had to grieve alone for weeks,’ Lekach-Rosenberg said. ‘This is a really important moment — Rebecca gets to share words back to you. So, it is my honor to get to offer Becca’s words.’
The widow’s statement started by thanking people of her city: ‘Minneapolis has shown me that even in the middle of grief and fear, people still show up for each other.’
‘Thank you to this incredible community for showing up again and again — organizing food and rides, making sure our kids get to school, checking in on neighbors, and standing together in the cold. I am so proud to call Minneapolis my home.’
‘Renee was not the first person killed, and she was not the last. You know my wife’s name, and you know Alex’s name, but there are many others in this city being harmed that you don’t know — their families are hurting just like mine, even if they don’t look like mine,’ Becca was referencing the January 24 killing of Alex Pretti, who was fatally shot by a federal agent.
Renee Good’s partner, Becca, made her first public appearance since her wife was killed on January 7 by an ICE agent
Renee was a 37-year-old mother of three who was fatally shot by ICE agent Jonathan Ross after she ignored demands to get out of her car, reversed it, and tried to drive off during a protest
She added how these shootings are happening to neighbors and friends, explaining that they should not happen to anyone.
Becca’s statement went on to speak about her partner’s dependable character and also how she worked as a volunteer and teacher.
‘[Renee was] always helping out, making things a little better for others. Seeing the world now celebrate the parts of her that I’ve always known — the kindness, the humor, the warmth — reminds me of her spirit,’ she noted.
‘Renee and I believed that if we lived every day in the world as we wanted it to be, we could build toward making that world a reality. So I am doing that every day — and every night, as I kiss my son at bedtime and tell him things are going to get better.’
‘Renee and I chose kindness. We believed that every life deserves the same care, treatment, and dignity, no matter who they are or what they look like,’ her statement concluded.
‘That shouldn’t be radical. If it is, then I want Renee and our family to be known for how we practiced radical kindness every day.’
Annie Granger, Renee’s sister, also took the stage to speak, according to the New York Times: ‘Renee was completely hilarious.’
Becca decided not to speak to the crowd at Powderhorn Park which gathered to commemorate Renee. Becca instead gave a statement to Rabbi Arielle Lekach-Rosenberg to read aloud
‘Every time I talked to her, I laughed until I cry-snorted, but she cried-snorted with me. I think Renee’s advice to us right now would be to take care of ourselves, care for our neighbors,’ she said. ‘Receive care from our neighbors, rest and eat, and play and show up.’
Since Good’s death, claims have been made that she has a criminal history and that she committed ‘domestic terrorism’ that day by allegedly purposely trying to hit Ross, according to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, President Trump, and other top officials.
Her family denied the claims of criminal behavior. Public records show no criminal history beyond a minor traffic infraction.
The day she was killed, paramedics arrived on the scene at 9.42am.
They found Good unresponsive inside her Honda Pilot with blood on her face and torso, according to a Minneapolis Fire Department report obtained by the Minnesota Star Tribune.
Good was discovered not breathing, and her pulse was ‘inconsistent.’
First responders reported finding a total of four gunshot wounds: two in her chest, one on her left forearm, and one on the left side of her head.
Paramedics then lifted Good out of the car and brought her to the sidewalk in an attempt to revive her as protesters and law enforcement officers began to clash on the street.
At that point, they reported that Good was still not breathing and had no pulse.
The agent who fired at Renee, Jonathan Ross, reportedly suffered internal bleeding in his torso after Good was believed to have hit him with her vehicle
Paramedics continued to provide lifesaving measures at the scene, in an ambulance, and at a nearby hospital before CPR was finally discontinued at 10.30am.
The agent who shot her, Jonathan Ross, also reportedly suffered internal bleeding in his torso after Good allegedly hit him with her vehicle.
The extent of his condition remains unclear, as internal bleeding can also be classified as a bruise or contusion that causes mild or serious injury.
