The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:
Ronald Eustice
The response to the tragic killing of Renee Good, U.S. citizen in Minneapolis, by an ICE agent shows America at its worst. The torrent of untruths, half-truths, and smears unleashed by the White House, and amplified by its social media and cable television acolytes, to douse the flames has become pervasive. Equally troubling is that Minnesota investigators have been denied access to evidence to investigate the incident. This is beginning to look like a cover-up. An independent investigation is crucial to bring closure to this tragedy. Efforts by the government to prevent a full and unbiased investigation will further foment distrust, suspicion and violence.
People in positions of power, from the president to the vice-president, to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, quickly put their “spin” on the tragedy and passed judgment almost as soon as the story broke. Normally, officials call for calm, de-escalation and let investigations play out. Investigators need time to examine evidence, talk to witnesses and make educated decisions. This did not happen.
Each side sees what it wants to in videos taken at the scene. AI manipulation of some videos further fogs the facts.
The DHS said the 37-year-old mother was a terrorist and shot by the officer in self-defense. To justify the killing, Tricia McLaughlin, a DHS official, declared in a post on X that “one of these violent rioters weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers in an attempt to kill them — an act of domestic terrorism.” Multiple ICE officers were hurt, she insisted. Videos of the shooting showed this is false.
President Trump told New York Times reporters, “She behaved horribly. And then she ran him over. She didn’t try to run him over. She ran him over,” and added in a Truth Social post, “It is hard to believe he is alive, but (he) is now recovering in the hospital.” There is no evidence that the officer was “run over.” The video shows he may have been slightly brushed by the slowly moving car, had no trouble retaining his balance and fired three shots at the driver.
What type of training do ICE officers receive? Properly trained officers do not stand in front of moving vehicles, risking their lives and increasing the potential for confrontation. There are ways to immobilize a moving vehicle without killing the driver.
Vice President Vance, in an angry rant directed at the media during a White House press briefing, said, “It was obvious to everybody that Good was so brainwashed by leftwing ideology that she was determined to kill a law enforcement officer." At no point is Good’s car seen accelerating toward officers in a manner that would constitute an immediate threat.
Videos show that Good was not “disorderly.” She reversed her car and allowed at least one ICE vehicle to pass before other agents confronted her. A separate video shows that the officer walked up to the front of Good’s car and fired a shot through the windshield. He uttered the words “f****** b****" as the car turned away from him and fired two more shots through the side window. The officer remained on his feet as the vehicle passed him. The video shows the officer holstering his weapon immediately, and then walking calmly away from Good’s crashed car, with no apparent injuries.
Our leaders have become experts at manipulating social media with falsehoods that filter down and fuel the flames of discord. There is a credibility gap and deepening distrust of messages from the White House.
The previous administration was ousted partly because Americans were tired of illegal immigration. Most Americans feel Trump’s mass deportation policy has gone too far. The Minneapolis killing must be thoroughly investigated by independent investigators. Anything less than total transparency will cause this wound to fester, make Renee Good a martyr and become a rallying cry for more anti-ICE protests. The voices will become louder and the huge protests more violent. Trump would be wise to calm the storm. That’s not his way. Unfortunately, we can expect more violence. How many more tragedies will occur before we say "enough"?
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