Seattleites Hold Week Long Protests after ICE agent Shot and Killed US Citizen

By Marian Mohamed

On Jan. 11, protesters gathered at Cal Anderson park to protest against the violence Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) have inflicted on people throughout the country. (Photo by Marian Mohamed.)

On Jan. 11, hundreds gathered at Cal Anderson Park to rally for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to be removed from several cities throughout the U.S. The protest comes after an ICE agent, who was identified as Jonathan Ross by the Minnesota Star Tribune, shot and killed Renee Nicole Good on Jan. 7 in Minneapolis. Government leaders in Minnesota, including Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey, have condemned the agent and ICE. However, Kristi Noem, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, and the Trump administration have accused Good of being a domestic terrorist despite video and witness testimony disputing those claims. The Marshall Project reported that ICE agents have shot three people over the past five months. 

Since Jan. 7, many protests calling for the abolishment of ICE have taken place throughout the U.S., including here in Seattle. A demonstration occurred at the federal building in downtown Seattle, held by the Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression and Seattle Against War, on Jan. 7 and a vigil for Good and other victims on Jan. 8. 

Multiple protesters hold up an 'Abolish ICE' sign in downtown Seattle at a rally on Jan. 7. (Photo by Kenneth Tran)

At Cal Anderson park, speakers included mayor Katie Wilson and local artist and activist Cameron Lavi-Jones. 

“This should not be happening, and it is unacceptable,” Wilson said. “Now, I’m the mayor, so my job is not just to name things and decry them. My job is to do things. So what do we do? First of all, we uphold our laws that prohibit our local law enforcement from collaborating with ICE. We provide legal support and other resources to our immigrant families. My pledge to you is that we will get creative about the legal and every other tool that we have to protect every person who calls our city their home.”

A demonstrator dressed as a butterfly holds a sign with the message, "Dreams Cross Borders," written across it. (Photo by Marian Mohamed.)

Multiple protesters hold up their hand-made signs. (Photo by Marian Mohamed)

A sign with the name Keith Porter written on it is taped to a protesters walker. Porter was shot and killed by an ICE agent on Jan. 1. His family and friends have been demanding for a transparent investigation into his death. (Photo by Marian Mohamed)

Multiple demonstrators pay their respects to Good by leaving behind flowers. (Photo by Marian Mohamed)

Multiple candles and colorful flowers rest around a framed photo of Porter. (Photo by Marian Mohamed)

Andy, who didn't want to disclose his last name due to privacy concerns, wears an amphibian costume. He said he's showing his support for the protesters in Portland who showed up rallying against ICE while wearing frog costumes. (Photo by Marian Mohamed.)

A pride flag is wrapped tightly around the shoulder of a demonstrator as they hold a sign expressing their fatigue over the Trump administration. (Photo by Marian Mohamed)

Two demonstrators stand in silence as they pay their respects. (Photo by Marian Mohamed)