Hundreds protest in Charlotte after woman fatally shot in Minneapolis by ICE agent
Several hundred protesters gathered at First Ward Park on Thursday night in response to Wednesday’s fatal shooting of a woman in Minneapolis by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent.
The protesters, many of whom carried anti-ICE and anti-war signs, called for the federal agency to be abolished and the arrest of the ICE agent who shot Renee Nicole Good before they marched through uptown Charlotte.
“It was blatant murder,” Aiden Woodall said of the video showing Good being shot by an ICE agent. “He’s not a cop. Cops are trained not to shoot at vehicles.”
Woodall, whose pronouns are they and them, said they didn’t have much faith change would come under President Donald Trump’s administration. But they hoped people fearing for their safety would feel supported by the sight of protesters, both in Charlotte and other cities.
Onyx Dudley, who was with Erick Espinal, said she hoped the protests also sent a message to America.
“I hope people see the power in numbers,” Dudley said.
ICE shooting in Minneapolis
Protests formed across the country in the hours following Good’s shooting Wednesday. Protesters filled streets in cities including Minneapolis, New York and Anchorage, Alaska.
Good’s ex-husband said the young mother was dropping off their child at daycare when the shooting occurred, according to CNN. Footage of the shooting has divided viewers, with finger-pointing over who was the aggressor and who was the victim.
Some, including President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance and other members of Trump’s cabinet, have accused Good of trying to run over the agent, Jonathan Ross, with her car. They also alleged she was interfering with federal operations.
The agent, who was identified by the Minnesota Star Tribune on Thursday, was acting in self-defense when he shot Good several times in the face, Trump said.
But witnesses, including Good’s partner, said she was just trying to get away from the agents who had approached her vehicle. They also said she didn’t come close to hitting the agent, as the president has suggested.
Footage from multiple angles showed the vehicle did not come into contact with Ross, who fired multiple times at Good’s windshield. A New York Times investigation found that the footage contradicted ICE’s version of events.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said ICE needed to “get the f--- out,” and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said he is prepared to launch the state’s National Guard to protect protesters.
More people need to come out
Andrew Canon wore a “Don’t Tread on Me” flag around his shoulders as he chanted along with protesters. The flag, he said, had more to do with its historical meaning rather than its modern association with libertarian politics and the Tea Party.
“I'm a big fan of American history,” Canon said. “I’m frustrated because the system in place isn’t working.”
Congress won’t do its job, Canon said, and ICE’s actions in Minneapolis became his “breaking point.
“They murdered her,” he said.
He said that not only do more people need to go out and protest, but there need to be more sustained changes for the better in the country. There’s too much apathy right now, he said.
After hearing from organizers, protesters began marching. They chanted as drivers honked, and some people cheered from the sidewalk. Many stopped what they were doing to take out their phones and film.
“ICE, ICE you can’t hide. We watched you commit homicide,” the people shouted as they marched from North Tryon Street.
Shortly after returning to the park, news spread of two people being shot by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday evening.
“Shame,” the crowd kept repeating.
This story was originally published January 8, 2026 at 7:57 PM.
