SCENE REPORT: Bay Area Marches in Solidarity with Minneapolis

Tens of thousands marched in Minneapolis on Friday despite sub-zero temperatures, fighting against the 3,000 members of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) unleashed in their city, in what some are calling the first general strike in the US in nearly 80 years. These determined actions in Minneapolis inspired solidarity marches across the country, including a march of about a thousand people in Oakland. 

The demonstrations come in the wake of the ICE killing of Renée Good.

Many of us by this point have seen some, if not all, of the video: a 37-year-old Renée Good in her car, having just dropped of her youngest child at school, attempting to drive away from ICE agent, Jonathan Ross, and being shot three times, once in the left forearm, in her right breast, and then her head. 

While death is nothing new for this iteration of ICE, 2025 being its deadliest year in over two decades with 32 people dying in ICE custody, this was a new kind of killing. The use of a hand gun against an unarmed US citizen marks a new era for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and for the Trump administration. As a protester told Bay Area Current in Fruitvale at the solidarity rally, the killing of Renée Good, a mother of three attempting to go about her day, is waking people to the reality of fascism in the United States. “Everybody should be up by now.” An off duty ICE officer also shot and killed Keith Porter Jr., 43, in Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve.

This protest took place before the murder of Alex Pretti, also 37, gunned down by a Border Patrol agent no more than a mile from where Good was killed. Saturday saw another large march in San Francisco, with more planned across the Bay Area and the country broadly. According to Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey during a press conference, DHS officers committed two of the three homicides in Minneapolis so far this year. 

These protests are only picking up from here, and the fight seems to be growing, both in its urgency and momentum, to rid cities of ICE, and this country of this turn to fascism. Below are the responses from some of the protesters we interviewed at the Fruitvale BART station on Friday, January 23.

BOTTLE, Oakland resident

Is the killing of Renée Good a turning point for the fight against ICE?

I think everyone is now finally waking up to what is going on. You know, from DC, Chicago, Tennessee, LA, more people are waking up. Everybody should be up by now. 

What other ways are you showing up for your community, and what other ways can people show up?

I’m always trying to show up for my community, whether it's giving coins to houseless people or sharing food with others and that kind of stuff. Yeah, I'm always trying to do the little things on my block.

MATT, Oakland resident

Is the killing of Renée Good a turning point for the fight against ICE?

I think it's definitely throwing a cup of gas on the fire for sure. Yeah, you know, just because it's so blatant, so obviously reckless on the part of ICE. Also anyone who would consider themselves a law enforcement official obviously is not condoning any of those actions [by ICE] either.

ANONYMOUS, Oakland resident

Is the killing of Renée Good a turning point for the fight against ICE?

I think the fight against ICE is continuous. I think it existed before her and it will exist beyond her legacy. I think for a lot of people, it initiated them coming out. But I think as a Black woman, I already live under a state of questioned citizenship and questioned belonging, whether it be in Oakland or the country in general. And, you know, it's awful to see the way that she was murder[ed], but at the same time I think those images and videos that we see in the media unfortunately are the only way to get people out.

What other ways are you showing up for your community, and what other ways can people show up?

Mutual aid is a big one. I think if you see that people need support, whether it be in getting groceries, helping them get to and from work or school, whichever ways that you can organize in that way, I think are great. Also, join your local tenant union. Here in Oakland, we have TANC but you could also, you know, connect with your labor union. Even if you don't fuck with them, join anyway and push from the inside, if you can. 

NIKEE, Oakland resident

What brought you out today?

Largely just frustration with and disgust with what's been going on in the country.

Is the killing of Renée Good a turning point for the fight against ICE?

I think it might be for the unfortunate reason that you know, just because she's white. I have a feeling that some people who hadn't thought to be mobilized before will probably be mobilized now. And so, I mean, I hate to say it, but that, to me, seems like a reason why it might be a turning point, and hopefully it'll bring more people in.

JOHN, Oakland resident

What brought you out today?

I think seeing people in Minnesota coming out and really showing up for the whole community, coming out to defend their neighbors against ICE, it's very inspiring. I want us to give them whatever kind of morale boost we can by supporting them all over the country.

Do you have any direct stories about your community interacting with ice or maybe yourself?

I have a sister in law who's from Venezuela. She's a citizen now. Her brother was deported and sent to Brazil, for some reason. I don't know why. 

BATMAN, San Jose resident

What brought you out today?

Minnesota is under siege. ICE is killing people in the middle of the street. They're taking children in broad daylight. And I work with a lot of unhoused and homeless children. And there's a little boy I work with who looks exactly like the boy who was used as bait and taken by ICE. And I've had recurring nightmares since then and even before that. I have nightmares that he [the boy I work with] was going to be taken. 

Also, sitting by and saying the right thing, sending money, reposting stuff just isn't good enough right now. We need to be in the street. We need to be active. We need more people. We need more bodies, because right now, the US government is at war with its people, and I refuse to sit by and watch that happen.

Is the killing of Renée Good a turning point for the fight against ICE?

It will only be that turning point if people make it that turning point. Action only comes through the momentum of people. Action doesn't happen on its own. If people want something to change, they need to take up that change and carry that with them, because otherwise, a woman died for nothing. Children have been kidnapped for nothing. People have been put through so much pain for nothing if we don't stand up right now.

What other ways can people show up for their community other than protests?

Take a rapid responder training. They are the people who are on the lookout for ICE on the street. They record ICE presence, stuff like that. If large crowds aren't your thing, you might not be in a large crowd when that happens, and you never know when you're gonna run into ICE. So having that training is incredibly valuable.