The death of Renee Nicole Good has sparked outrage around the United States, and many at Utica University are upset about the incident as well.
Good was fatally shot behind the wheel of her vehicle by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement(ICE) officer. The 37-year-old Minnesota native and mother of three had dropped off her youngest child at an elementary school in Minneapolis. Good, her wife and their children had recently relocated to Minneapolis from Kansas City, Missouri, according to an AP News article.
Senior Madison Jordan, a Political Science major, said she first heard about this incident through an Instagram post and then watched the video.
“My first reaction was obviously shocked and scared because these people are not even federal law enforcement,” Jordan said. “They are just like random people who are putting a police tag on their back, just harassing people. Also, the fact that they are allowed to have a gun and to shoot this woman was terrifying.”
Jordan said the United States thrives on immigrants and immigration and forcibly stripping people from their families and homes is “horrible.”
“[This incident] has not changed my views whatsoever,” Jordan said. “I believe that this is getting this much attention because she was a white woman. We need to keep on fighting and be educated on our laws, and know what to do in these situations. We have to vote in the midterms. If Democrats win, then we can impeach Trump.”
Senior Widmarc Thomas, a Health Management major, said he was in the middle on the issue where he was shocked, but also “don’t do certain things” that might instigate trouble with law enforcement.
“There is no justification for her losing her life, but since that time, I’m still in between about it because as an African American man, I myself am scared of police or of authority so because of that I also follow every single rule. I’m not going to ask questions,” Thomas said. “I’m going to do everything they ask me to do and that’s just how it is because I feel like that’s how I maximize the chances to keep my life.”
Just because a person is scared, according to Thomas, does not mean you act frantic. ICE might make people nervous, “but I would still follow every rule because in this situation I’m going to be thinking about my life.”
Nursing major and sophomore Annabella Jayson found herself at odds when she first heard the news and watched the video.
“But surprisingly, I was not surprised, and that’s the saddest part; it was disgusting. I was disgusted,” she said.
Jayson said she has always felt immigration enforcement is unjust, but is hopeful that if people come together, then they can bring change.
“This should not silence us because I feel like that is exactly what they want,” she said. “They want us to be scared by fear.”
