This Is How We Answer
Renee Nicole Good was killed by federal immigration agents. This essay offers lawful, humane ways to respond—centered on care for her family, her community, and others at risk.
There are moments when the world shows us something so stark, so unjust, that silence becomes a kind of agreement.
The killing of Renee Good was one of those moments.
I am writing this not to inflame panic, nor to demand heroics from people who are already tired. I am writing because atrocities do not need everyone to burn themselves out in order to be answered but they do need to be answered. Clearly. Persistently. With care for the living and the dead.
If I were murdered by the state tomorrow, this is what I would want:
Say prayers for my soul.
Grieve without spectacle.
Then help my family and my community survive.
Seek justice not just for me, but for everyone still at risk.
Support the people who do this work every day.
And do not let my death become content that fades.
That is what this post is about.
Not rage for rage’s sake.
Not despair disguised as realism.
But grounded, lawful, human actions that ordinary people — especially those at home, across state lines, or caring for families can take today.
It only takes one drop in a collective rain cup to make action.
Author’s note:
It is my moral judgment and personal belief that Renee Good was killed through state violence in a way that constitutes murder. I offer this as a moral position, not as a statement of legal fact, as investigations are ongoing.
You Do Not Have to Do Everything
One of the quiet lies of this moment is that if you cannot do everything, you should do nothing.
That lie benefits power.
In reality, justice movements survive because people choose one lane and walk it steadily. Some give money. Some give time. Some give witness. Some give prayer. Some give documentation. All of it matters.
Burnout helps no one.
Silence helps the abuser.
Rage without action is just a fire.
The goal is not to be consumed by this moment, but to refuse to let it pass unanswered.
What We Can Do Today
This guide is organized for people who:
are not in the same state
are not able to protest in person
want to act legally and ethically
care about families, not just headlines
want their faith, if they have one, to mean something
You do not need to do every item listed here, or to be every person this guide was organized for.
Choose one. Do it with intention. Then rest.
Justice is a long road. We walk it by not collapsing at the first mile… and many of us still have daily lives we must tend to. Living outside of Minnesota or having limited resources? You are not excluded! Small monthly donations when sustained can matter more than one large gift. Writing, connecting and prayer is real support. Sharing verified resources, rather than commentary, helps others act safely.
Speaking of… Are there legal or safety concerns with online vigils or sending letters?
Yes. Keep your engagement lawful, non-threatening, and respectful. Avoid speculation, graphic detail, or naming private individuals. Do not harass organizations or faith communities; silence or quiet prayer is still a response. If a space feels unsafe or hostile, it is okay to leave without explanation. You are not required to expose yourself to harm in order to care.
A Note on Faith, Grief, and Responsibility
For those of us shaped by Christian or Catholic traditions: prayer is not an excuse to disengage, and action is not a substitute for prayer. The two belong together.
Pray for the dead.
Protect the living. Pray for them, too.
Name the sin clearly.
Refuse the lie that cruelty is inevitable.
Anything less is not neutrality; it is abandonment.
There is more we could say here but that can be for another day.
Supporting Renee Good
(and the children and communities left behind)
When a mother is killed by the state, the harm does not stop at her name.
Children lose their parent. Families lose stability. Communities lose trust, safety, and the belief that the world will protect them. Supporting Renee Good means caring for her children and refusing to let her death become isolated or forgotten.
This section focuses on direct care, long-term stability, and narrative protection… the quiet work that actually helps people survive.
Direct Care and Stability
Donate carefully and deliberately.
Verified Fundraisers
Give only through family-confirmed or journalist-verified GoFundMe or mutual-aid links. Avoid rushing to the first link you see shared widely. If you are unsure, pause. Verification protects families from exploitation. Verification does not require detective work just a moment of patience. Just check to see if it has been confirmed by family, attorney or reputable news. Then check links through a few sources not just one viral post. If there is a ‘give now or else’ vibe then wait a bit. Legitimate efforts remain active beyond the first wave of attention.
This fundraiser has been reported by several news outlets and verified on Instagram:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-renee-goods-wife-and-son
Court and Survivor Support Funds
Donate to organizations that specifically support children affected by state or police violence. These funds often cover:
legal guardianship and custody proceedings
trauma-informed counseling
emergency housing and education support
This kind of support helps children stay housed, stay in school, and stay with people who love them.
Suggested organizations (please verify independently):
Minnesota Heals Family Support Fund
https://www.mnallianceoncrime.org/resources/mhfsf/Chicago Torture Justice Center Survivor Repair Fund
https://www.chicagotorturejustice.org/repairfundCommunities United Against Police Brutality (CUAPB)
https://www.cuapb.org/Justice for Children
https://justiceforchildren.org/National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)
https://www.nctsn.orgCovenant House
https://www.covenanthouse.org/Minnesota Crime Victims Reimbursement Program
https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/ojp/for-crime-victims/crime-victim-resources/financial-help/mn-crime-victims-reimbursement-program
Sustained Support (Not Just One-Time Giving)
One-time donations help in emergencies. Sustained support builds futures.
Consider setting up a small monthly donation — even $5–$15 — to a family-support, legal-aid, or survivor-focused organization. Regular giving allows organizations to plan therapy, legal defense, and long-term care.
Examples:
Kids in Need of Defense (KIND)
https://supportkind.org/who-we-areTahirih Justice Center
https://www.tahirih.org/Safe Horizon
National U.S. victim-service provider supporting survivors of violent crime and their families.
Write Condolence Letters Privately
Not just public comments. Not just viral posts.
Write short, respectful letters or emails to:
family attorneys
victim-support organizations
trusted advocacy groups
These messages are often shared with families and matter more than people realize. Keep them simple, focused on care, and free of demands. Handwritten letters carry particular weight.
Mark envelopes or subject lines with:
“Condolences for the family of Renee Nicole Good.”
Example:
Dear [Organization/Attorney/Coordinator],
I am deeply saddened by the loss of Renee Nicole Good and the impact of her death on her child and family. Please know that I am praying for their strength, dignity, and peace. I stand with those seeking accountability and care for the family, and I offer my support in whatever way is appropriate for your work.
With compassion,
[Your Name]
Faith-specific versions may also be appropriate, including pastoral or Catholic requests for prayer and remembrance.
Where to send the letters Condolence Letters & Messages of Support
Please read before engaging:
The organizations and faith communities listed below are shared as starting points, not endorsements or confirmations of involvement. Circumstances change quickly. Please verify contact information, alignment, and current participation before sending letters or donations. Truthfully this applies to everything and everyone that I mention on this page.This post does not encourage harassment, threats, hate speech, or violence of any kind. All engagement should be lawful, respectful, and rooted in care for the family and community.
Civil Rights & Legal Advocacy Organizations
These organizations have publicly spoken about, monitored, or engaged with accountability and civil-rights concerns related to state violence.
ACLU of Minnesota
Role: Demanding accountability and supporting civil rights in Minnesota
Address: 2300 Myrtle Ave, Suite 180, St. Paul, MN 55114
Email: info@aclu-mn.org
Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
Role: Issued a formal statement calling for a full investigation
Address: 1500 K Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005
Online contact form available
NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF)
Role: Monitoring the investigation; publicly condemned the violence
Address: 40 Rector Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10006
Email: media@naacpldf.org
(Attn: Family Support / Renee Good)Coverage reference:
https://blackstarnews.com/legal-defense-fund-condemns-ice-agents-killing-of-legal-observer-in-minnesota/
CAIR Minnesota
Role: Participated in vigils and public advocacy
Address: 3033 27th Ave S, PO Box 6004, Minneapolis, MN 55406
Email: info@mn.cair.com
Background coverage:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2026/01/08/renee-good-ice-who-is/
Faith Communities in the Area
(Please verify alignment and current involvement before contacting)
Inclusion here does not imply endorsement, participation, or agreement.
Some communities may already be engaged privately; others may choose prayer-only responses.
Catholic & Christian Churches (Minneapolis Area)
Church of the Holy Name
3637 11th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55407Holy Rosary–Santo Rosario Church
2424 18th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55404St. Albert the Great Catholic Church
2836 33rd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55406St. Joan of Arc Catholic Community
4537 3rd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55419St. Olaf Catholic Church
215 S 8th St, Minneapolis, MN 55402Hope Community Church (Downtown)
707 10th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55415Church of the Incarnation
3801 Pleasant Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55409Bethlehem Baptist Church (Downtown)
720 13th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55415Westminster Presbyterian Church
1200 Marquette Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403
(Known for social-justice engagement and community ministry)Jubilee Community Church
1628 E 33rd St, Minneapolis, MN 55407Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
3921 Nicollet Avenue S, Minneapolis, MN 55409Truth and Freedom Church
3300 University Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414
Grief & Family Support Services
Brighter Days Family Grief Center
Role: No-cost grief support for children and families after the loss of a loved one
Address: 15764 Teal Haven Court, Eden Prairie, MN 55347
Email: info@brighterdaysgriefcenter.org
Info page:
https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11fylsx2q3
Community Information & Updates
(Use discretion)
r/Minneapolis
https://www.reddit.com/r/Minneapolis/
Local updates and community discussion; moderation and tone may vary.
Please engage with care. This list is offered to support remembrance, accountability, and community care—not to direct anger toward individuals or institutions.
Narrative Protection (This Matters More Than It Seems)
Language is not neutral. It either protects the living or excuses harm.
Refuse dehumanizing language.
Say: “Her children lost their mother to state violence.”
Do not repeat official justifications or dehumanizing rhetoric — even to argue against them. Repetition reinforces harm.
Correct gently, or disengage.
You are not required to debate cruelty into submission.
Honor her as a whole person.
Renee Good was not a headline or a lesson. She was a mother, a community member, and a human being whose life mattered before her death.
Witness Through Vigil, Prayer, and Presence
If you participate in online vigils or prayer services, treat them as sacred space — not comment sections.
When joining:
leave messages of love, grief, and solidarity
avoid speculation or graphic detail
center the children, the family, and the community
If you pray privately, naming her and her children aloud is not symbolic. It is an act of remembrance. Memory resists erasure.
Some spaces regularly host or support vigils and pastoral care in response to state violence. These may be public services, online gatherings, or prayer resources you can engage with quietly from home.
If you pray privately, naming Renee Good and her children aloud is not symbolic. It is an act of remembrance. Memory resists erasure.
Common Spaces for Vigils & Pastoral Care
Catholic Worker Movement communities
Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC) partner events
Local church coalitions offering interfaith or Christian prayer services for victims of state violence
(Availability varies by region and season.)
Online Prayer & Vigil Resources
(Explore gently and choose what feels safe and aligned.)
Catholic & Christian Networks
Justice for Immigrants
https://justiceforimmigrants.org/
Virtual rosaries and prayer vigils for migrants and victims of injustice.
Interfaith Immigration Coalition
https://interfaithimmigration.org
Toolkits and guidance for prayer vigils; some partners host online services.
Vigil guide: https://www.interfaithimmigration.org/2020/09/29/how-to-host-a-prayer-vigil/
Jesuit Refugee Service USA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jrsusa/
Events: https://www.jrsusa.org/campaigns/events/
Prayer toolkit: https://www.jrsusa.org/missionaries-of-hope-toolkit/
Ignatian Solidarity Network
https://ignatiansolidarity.net
Online prayers, reflections, and virtual events rooted in Jesuit spirituality and open to all.
Sisters of Providence
https://spsmw.org
Periodic virtual prayers and justice-focused reflections (check events listings).
General Commission on Religion and Race (GCORR)
https://gcorr.org
Interdenominational online vigils and prayers for justice and courage, often via Zoom.
Prayer Platforms & Media
(For private or asynchronous participation)
Hallow — Rosaries and guided prayer
Rosary Craft App — Physical rosaries and personal prayer (Sword of God Jewelry)
https://www.swordofgodrosaries.com/
Kristin’s Crosses — https://youtube.com/@kristinscrosses
Rosario Mundial — https://rosariomundial.online
40 Days for Life — https://40daysforlife.com (includes online prayer vigils)
A gentle note: Not every space will be right for everyone. It is okay to leave quietly. It is okay to pray alone. It is okay to return later. What matters is that Renee Good is remembered with dignity, and that her children are held in care.
Supporting Legal Protesters and Observers
Legal protesters and trained observers document police and federal actions, protect demonstrators’ rights, and preserve accountability.
Supporting them is one of the most lawful, stabilizing, and effective responses — especially if you cannot protest in person.
The National Lawyers Guild Minnesota Chapter trains and deploys Legal Observers, often identifiable by neon green hats.
Ways to support include training, administrative help, documentation, or direct inquiry.
Legal observation is quiet work. It exists to protect truth, safety, and the rights of everyone involved.
If you’ve read this far, you have already borne witness. That matters.
You do not need to carry every story, solve every injustice, or exhaust yourself to prove you care. Choose one action that feels steady in your hands. Take it. Then let yourself rest. How do I know if my small action is actually making a difference? Well, you might never see the full result but that does not mean you failed. Impact is not always loud. Much of it is quiet and real.
Remember Renee Good by name and by life.
Remember that communities survive because ordinary people refuse to look away — and also refuse to burn themselves out.
Justice is not made only in moments of outrage. It is made in sustained care, quiet courage, and the decision to return again tomorrow.
May the dead be remembered with dignity.
May the living be protected and supported.
May we act with clarity, compassion, and restraint — and may that be enough for today.