Editor’s note: The names of sources used in this article have been removed for safety reasons and full anonymity has been granted, per The Appalachian’s interim policy.
Boone community members gathered at the Jones House Cultural Center Friday at 6 p.m. in remembrance of Renee Nicole Good and to peacefully protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement-related violence. The event was organized by Indivisible High Country alongside High Country Peace and Justice and Immigrant Justice Coalition. Dozens of individuals showed up to listen to guest speakers and participate in a candlelight vigil.
According to the Associated Press, “An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and killed a Minneapolis driver on Wednesday during the Trump administration’s latest immigration crackdown on a major American city.”
A volunteer with Indivisible High Country said there was an emergency meeting called by Indivisible and other partners to speak with Minnesota leaders Thursday, where “thousands of people joined.” Following this meeting, the “ICE Out For Good” coalition was announced, and branches of Indivisible organized a weekend of nationwide nonviolent protests.
The event opened with a performance of “This Little Light of Mine” followed by several guest speakers from the affiliated organizations. They discussed past, current and future instances of violence conducted by ICE and law enforcement around the United States.
“We’re here to remember Renee Nicole Good, and we’re also here to remember all of the other people who have lost their lives at the hands of ICE and the immigrant detention facilities over the past few years,” said one guest speaker during the event.
Following the speeches, attendees were encouraged to take a moment of silence and place candles and flowers on a wooden coffin with Good’s photo atop. Attendees lined up to pay their respects to Good and others who were affected by ICE-related violence, such as two people who were shot in Oregon by immigration officers the day following Good’s death.
A volunteer medic with Indivisible High Country said it was “wonderful” to see the community come together to remember Good.
“People come out, and they’re afraid, but they do it anyway,” the volunteer said. “It takes courage, and that’s great.”
There was a poster reading “Congresswoman Foxx: We your constituents demand ICE out now,” where attendees were encouraged to write a personal message to Virginia Foxx, who has served as the congresswoman for North Carolina’s 5th congressional district since 2005, on sticky notes.
Future Indivisible High Country events can be found on their Facebook, Instagram or BlueSky.
