Standing in the Cold for Accountability
On a cold, rainy day in downtown Ithaca, New York, hundreds of people gathered to protest the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and to demand accountability after an ICE officer shot an unarmed woman, Renée Good, in the face multiple times during an encounter that, by all public reporting so far, did not warrant lethal force.
For nearly two hours, we stood in warm shoes and winter coats at a busy intersection — not for spectacle, not for attention, but because silence has consequences. People came from different backgrounds, age groups, and political affiliations, united by the same conclusion: this level of violence by a federal agency cannot be normalized or ignored.
This protest, organized under the message “ICE Out For Good,” was not about abstract ideology. It was about a specific event, a specific loss of life, and a broader system that continues to operate with limited transparency and insufficient accountability.
Why People Showed Up
The killing of Renée Good has intensified long-standing concerns about ICE’s role, scope, and oversight. Unlike local police departments, ICE operates as a federal agency with broad authority and limited public scrutiny. When deadly force is used — particularly against civilians — the burden of explanation should be high. Instead, families and communities are often left waiting for answers that never fully arrive.
People stood in the rain because anger alone isn’t enough. Public presence matters. Documentation matters. Community pressure matters.
The signs people carried reflected this clarity:
● Calls to remove ICE from local communities
● Demands for independent investigations and accountability
● Opposition to federal agents operating with military-style force against civilians
● Support for immigrant rights and basic human dignity
This was not chaos. It was organized, determined dissent.
What the Protest Looked Like
The crowd lined the sidewalks and corners in downtown Ithaca, holding signs, chanting, and engaging passersby. Cars slowed. Drivers honked — so many showed their support. People arrived on short notice, and stayed despite the cold.
I saw moments of visible grief. Moments of anger. And moments of quiet resolve.
One image that stayed with me: people standing shoulder to shoulder, refusing to leave, despite the cold weather — not because it was comfortable, but because leaving would have been easier.
Why This Matters Beyond One City
While this protest took place in Ithaca, the issue it addressed is national.
When federal law enforcement agencies operate without meaningful accountability, the consequences extend far beyond one incident or one family. Trust erodes. Fear increases. And the line between enforcement and abuse grows dangerously thin.
Criticism of ICE is not anti-law. It is pro-rule-of-law — the belief that power must be constrained, transparent, and answerable to the public it serves.
If a federal agent can shoot an unarmed person multiple times without immediate, clear justification, then the question isn’t political. It’s structural.
Documenting, Not Forgetting
I recorded this day not to sensationalize it, but to document it.
Protests like this are often dismissed once the news cycle moves on. But they are part of the historical record — proof that people did not accept violence quietly, that communities spoke up, that dissent existed.
For ongoing posts on civic engagement, travel, and life in New York State, consider subscribing to this blog. Thanks for taking this journey with me. ✌🏻
See also: NO KINGS Protest in Ithaca, NY (June 14, 2025)
Oh, Kae. 
Leave a comment