Citizens of Emporia and beyond gathered together Saturday afternoon to join a national movement calling for increased accountability by Federal agencies, specifically ICE.
The Stop ICE Terror demonstration was held outside of White Auditorium, with residents gathering to share their voices with others across the nation, condemning the work of ICE agents and the recent shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minnesota. The shooting occurred on January 7th during what agents called an “Enforcement operation,” with Agents saying they were acting in self-defense when they shot Good, claiming she had been blocking agents with her vehicle before she “weaponized her vehicle” in an attempt to harm or kill the agents.
The incident would immediately ignite debate across the nation, with some, including US President Donald Trump, claiming Good was seeking to incite violence. Others would go on to condemn the actions of the agents involved, claiming it is the latest incident of violence and fatal actions by Federal officers in situations where it was not required.
The day following the killing of Good, another incident would quickly grab national headlines, this time in Portland, Oregon, when a Border Patrol agent shot two individuals during a traffic stop.
It took little time following the incidents for protests to develop across the nation, with demonstrations reported in several states, including Minnesota, Oregon, North Carolina, Texas, New Mexico, Florida and, as of Saturday, Kansas.
Saturday’s protest in Emporia follows a pair of No King’s Rallies that took place in June at Emporia’s Fremont Park, with the second occurring in October along Commercial Street.
