Minneapolis Teachers Unite Against ICE's Presence in Schools, Mourn Renee Good's Loss
The Minneapolis Public Schools community is reeling from the devastating loss of Renee Good, who was tragically shot and killed by an ice officer. The family has released a statement expressing their unbearable grief, saying they miss her more than words can convey.
As families struggle to cope with the emotional toll of Renee's passing, education leaders are sounding the alarm about the dangers posed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on school grounds. Educators from across the district have shared harrowing stories of intimidation, fear, and anxiety sparked by ICE's presence in schools.
Monica Byron, President of Education Minnesota, described how ICE agents have been circling school properties, waiting to pounce on families who dare to pick up their children. "Every moment ICE remains near our schools endangers children, educators, and families," she warned. Catina Taylor, Minneapolis Federation of Educators, echoed similar sentiments, recounting the traumatic experience of grown men using pepper spray on terrified high school students on school property.
Chris Erickson, president of the St. Cloud Education Association, shared a chilling account of how ICE's presence has altered the daily routine for teachers in his district. "The fear as they load their students onto the bus at the end of the day, not knowing whether that child will return to their family or to an empty house," he said.
In Minneapolis, parents and teachers gathered at Hiawatha Park to demand accountability for Renee's killing. They chanted slogans, held signs, and protested the unjustified presence of ICE agents in schools. Natasha Dockter, a member of the Minneapolis Federation of Educators, condemned the use of chemical irritants by federal agents on school property, while Clara, whose daughter attends an elementary school with ICE activity, described witnessing federal agents outside her child's classroom.
The district has announced plans to offer remote learning for families affected by ICE operations. However, educators are clear: immigration enforcement should never be allowed on school grounds. "Let me be very clear," said Dockter. "Immigration enforcement should never, under any circumstances, be on school grounds." The community is coming together to provide support and protection for immigrant students and their families, who are already struggling to cope with the trauma inflicted by ICE's actions.
The Minneapolis Public Schools community is reeling from the devastating loss of Renee Good, who was tragically shot and killed by an ice officer. The family has released a statement expressing their unbearable grief, saying they miss her more than words can convey.
As families struggle to cope with the emotional toll of Renee's passing, education leaders are sounding the alarm about the dangers posed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on school grounds. Educators from across the district have shared harrowing stories of intimidation, fear, and anxiety sparked by ICE's presence in schools.
Monica Byron, President of Education Minnesota, described how ICE agents have been circling school properties, waiting to pounce on families who dare to pick up their children. "Every moment ICE remains near our schools endangers children, educators, and families," she warned. Catina Taylor, Minneapolis Federation of Educators, echoed similar sentiments, recounting the traumatic experience of grown men using pepper spray on terrified high school students on school property.
Chris Erickson, president of the St. Cloud Education Association, shared a chilling account of how ICE's presence has altered the daily routine for teachers in his district. "The fear as they load their students onto the bus at the end of the day, not knowing whether that child will return to their family or to an empty house," he said.
In Minneapolis, parents and teachers gathered at Hiawatha Park to demand accountability for Renee's killing. They chanted slogans, held signs, and protested the unjustified presence of ICE agents in schools. Natasha Dockter, a member of the Minneapolis Federation of Educators, condemned the use of chemical irritants by federal agents on school property, while Clara, whose daughter attends an elementary school with ICE activity, described witnessing federal agents outside her child's classroom.
The district has announced plans to offer remote learning for families affected by ICE operations. However, educators are clear: immigration enforcement should never be allowed on school grounds. "Let me be very clear," said Dockter. "Immigration enforcement should never, under any circumstances, be on school grounds." The community is coming together to provide support and protection for immigrant students and their families, who are already struggling to cope with the trauma inflicted by ICE's actions.
... I mean, what's next? Police at daycare centers or something? It's like they think we're not even living here 
. I'm all for keeping our communities safe, but this is a whole different story. Renee's passing was already so heartbreaking, now we gotta worry about ICE ruining kids' lives too? 
And those stories from the teachers... pepper spray on high school students?! Are you kidding me?! 
this is just heartbreaking I can only imagine how scared those kids and teachers must be every time they see ice agents on school grounds it's like they're living in a war zone 
my heart goes out to renée good's family and all the families who have been affected by ice's actions in schools we need to do everything in our power to keep these beautiful kids safe 
ICE has no business being on school grounds, it's like they're taunting families & putting kids in harm's way 
i mean, who needs that kind of stress & anxiety? 
gotta stand w/ the teachers & parents on this one 
remote learning might b a good start, but let's make sure ICE doesn't just be waiting in the wings 4 their next move 
. It's not exactly a welcoming environment for families who are already dealing with enough stress.
. I mean, it's not like it fixes the problem or addresses the root issue. What we need is real change - a law that keeps ICE agents out of schools and supports our educators instead of pitting them against their own students. 
The fact that teachers have to worry about their students' safety every single day because of these agents is just unacceptable.
. As a teacher myself, just thinking about those federal agents patrolling our campuses and using pepper spray on scared kids is giving me chills 
. We need to think about the emotional toll this takes on families and students... they're already vulnerable enough, what do we need more? 
. We need more support for our immigrant students and their families, not just remote learning as a Band-Aid solution 
.
... Minneapolis parents and teachers are speaking out loud and proud, refusing to be silenced or intimidated 
. This is exactly what we need more of – solidarity, love, and support for our students and families 
.
I'm still trying to wrap my head around what happened to Renee Good. It's just heartbreaking to think about her family and how they're dealing with this senseless loss 
. I get that the district wants to offer remote learning options for families affected by ICE operations, but shouldn't we just keep schools safe and free from intimidation? 
I'm all for supporting Renee's family, but what about protecting our students' right to learn in a distraction-free environment? 
and what's even crazier is that they have to deal with all these ice agents on school grounds too?! like, isn't that just super stressful for teachers and students already? 
she was a teacher and should've been safe in school. it's not right that ICE can just show up and intimidate teachers & parents like that... schools are supposed to be places of learning, not fear zones 