For Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, it was a final visit. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer was the one who shot and killed her. Her murder has sparked outrage and protests in several cities across the Nation, as her family continues to fight for justice and accountability. They are calling for a conversation rooted in “humanity, empathy, and care for the family most affected” by this heartbreaking incident.
Renee Good’s youngest son, six-year-old Macklin, was tragically left an orphan. In a fateful decision, she left her first two children from a previous marriage with their father in Colorado. The family expressed their anguish over losing Renee, who they described as “an extraordinary mother, devoted, fiercely loving, and always putting her children at the center of the world.”
Renee Good’s large extended family issued a lengthier public statement. They even had the grace to emphasize the need for privacy and support as they adjust to life without her. They reaffirmed her right to “privacy, protection, and care” as she heals in peace through this challenging time. No one other than her widow, Becca Good, had given such a full, public response — until that statement, which represented a milestone.
Becca Good has talked about her grief with Minnesota Public Radio. She continued to remind listeners that, in her late wife’s memory, they should all choose love over hate. It’s time for us to reject hate and choose compassion, she said. It’s time—we’ve had enough—for all of us to get together and work together toward providing a safe space for everyone.
Jessica Fletcher, a family advocate, spoke to those feelings during a recent interview. She shared that she did not want to add to the tensions building over Renee’s death.
“I don’t want to open it up into this huge fight with the opposing side,” – Jessica Fletcher
Fletcher recognized the political undertones of the debate and called for a less combative, more empathetic discussion.
“That would just be pouring more gasoline on the fire. But not saying something is political too,” – Jessica Fletcher
The family’s call for unity comes amid ongoing protests that have mobilized citizens advocating for justice in Renee Good’s case. Now, in its investigation into her death, the FBI is proceeding without the cooperation of Minnesota law enforcement. This decision has led to a remarkable lack of transparency or accountability from the EIS plaintiff authorities.
Given the situation of Renee’s death, Divina and her family want to turn the public conversation in a more unifying direction. They believe that she would have wanted people to “cheer for those who fight for justice and stand with the people, causes, and community she loved.”
In her own words, Jessica Fletcher detailed how her family has been affected by the senseless tragedy they have faced.
“It feels deeply wrong that Renee died in this way,” – Jessica Fletcher
In their outreach, the family emphasized that Renee was a talented singer and human being whose voice needed to be shared. In doing so, they emphasized that the very last thing she would have wanted was violence perpetrated in her name.
As protests continue to spread across the nation, Renee Good’s story underscores the urgent need for empathy in discussions about justice reform. Her family’s wishes are that their message of compassion will find a home in all of us. Their purpose is to encourage a more thoughtful discussion surrounding her premature death.