The murder of Renee Good by ICE is tragically yet another instance of the brutal violence that ICE is inflicting on people–citizens or not–all over the country. She was the latest among at least 32 people killed by ICE, in just over a year of the Trump administration’s ethnic cleansing campaign.
Less than two weeks ago, Keith Porter was killed by an ICE agent in Los Angeles. The violence continued apace the day after Renee was killed, with another couple shot and injured in Portland.
By all accounts, Renee was simply a person who cared enough about her neighbors to come out and support them. Renee was murdered with callous disregard, when her vehicle posed no threat. In stark contrast, a federal vehicle knocked down a mourner with impunity at a vigil for Renee right in Hartford, Connecticut–with many others enduring pepper spray by masked agents outside the federal building at 450 Main Street.
Can anyone doubt what would have happened, if someone in harm’s way pulled out a firearm and killed the driver of that federal vehicle? Would they have been allowed to leave, protected, exalted, or defended publicly like Renee’s murderer was?
Our people didn’t go out of their way to hurt others like the American Gestapo. Our people aided the downed pedestrian before they could be run over. Our people were first concerned with each other’s safety. Our people responded with solidarity first. Our people saved at least one life. Let that fact reassure our communities that we keep us safe.
Let us also be clear: as democratic socialists, we understand that Renee’s murder lays bare the violence ICE has inflicted under every administration–Republican or Democrat–since the agency’s creation in 2003. Politicians in both parties have peddled racist, xenophobic rhetoric; and enabled years of heartless policy against immigrants that paved the way for this brutality.
In fact, the Democratic Party establishment at every level of government has utterly failed to reign in the power of ICE to terrorize our communities.
Just last June, Connecticut members of Congress Joe Courtney and Jahana Hayes voted to thank ICE. In 2024, they voted for the Laken Riley Act, requiring no-bond detention of immigrants solely on the basis of a charge or arrest.
Many politicians are now calling for ICE to leave their states. However, it should never have taken a murder for politicians to make this minimal demand. Frankly, evicting ICE from our communities is the conservative position.
Indeed, abolishing ICE is the moderate position. As members of the Democratic Socialists of America, we are proud to belong to an organization that has called to Abolish ICE since 2018.
“Abolish ICE” is not just a demand to end the nationwide violence on citizens and immigrants alike. It is a demand to stop scapegoating people based on their race or national origin, when it is Trump and his corporate, billionaire allies who are committing the crimes of robbing the working class.
“Abolish ICE” is a demand to stop our tax dollars from going to kidnapping children at home and bombing children abroad; and instead go to funding our public schools and services, to creating universal healthcare, to ensure affordable housing.
“Abolish ICE” is a demand to end a system based on profit, violence, and domination. It is a demand for a society and economy based on care, peace, and humanity. It is a demand for the better world that we know is possible.
As Socialists in Office in Connecticut, we call on elected officials across our state to stand up for immigrants and against ICE terror. We call on Governor Lamont to use all available means to stop ICE’s illegal actions and evict ICE from Connecticut. We call on our federal representatives to support abolishing ICE now.
As organizers, we know that only a mass movement of the working class organizing in our streets, workplaces, neighborhoods, and ballot boxes can stop ICE terror. We invite you to join us in that movement. ABOLISH ICE NOW!
In solidarity,
Abdul Osmanu, Hamden Legislative Councilor, District 3
Maurine Crouch, Hamden Legislative Councilor, At-Large
Nathan Simpson, New Britain Alderman, Ward One
Jeff Hart, New London City Councilor, At-Large