#41 ¿Que pasó? with Señor B - week of 1/4

By now, you have most likely heard the name Renee Nicole Good and the devastating news of how she was killed this week by an ICE agent in Minnesota. It is in these moments of grief and outrage that we must demand absolute accountability, transparency, and an immediate, independent investigation into ICE.

This weekend, I am urging everyone to step out into their communities and join an ICE Out For Good Vigil. While many vigils took place yesterday, there are still hundreds occurring today, Sunday, January 11. Our presence is a necessary witness to the lives lost and a demand for change.

You can find a local vigil near you at the link below: Find an ICE Out For Good Vigil

We must also remember that Renee’s story is part of a much larger, often silent, crisis. There are many individuals whose stories never receive media coverage but who have been deeply harmed by this system. 2025 was ICE’s deadliest year in two decades. We cannot allow this violence to be normalized. Please join us today in standing for justice and ensuring that no more names are added to this list.

This week, the community in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is mourning the loss of Renee Nicole Good, who was killed by an ICE agent while in her car. Despite being stopped perpendicularly in the street, video evidence shows Renee was simply waving traffic by and attempting to move her vehicle so as not to block the road. After engaging with agents for about a minute, Renee began driving forward. It was then that an ICE agent, now identified as Jonathan Ross, fired three shots, ending her life.

The people in power are incredibly skilled at rewriting history. We are already seeing the administration spread misinformation, labeling Renee a “domestic terrorist” and claiming she attacked agents who were supposedly helping her move her car from the snow. The video tells a different story. It calls into question any narrative suggesting that Renee was resisting in a way that required deadly force. Renee Nicole Good was a mother, a wife, a poet, and a writer. She deserved to be here.

Renee’s story also brings to light the death of Keith Porter, who was killed on New Year’s Day in Southern California by an ICE agent. His story received almost no media coverage until this week; a silence no doubt influenced by the fact that he was a Black man. Keith was participating in a decades-long New Year’s Eve tradition of celebratory gunfire. While illegal, his lawyer rightly stated that this should not have resulted in a death sentence from an ICE agent unequipped for the situation.

Though several people at the complex were firing guns into the air that night, only Keith was killed. A father of two and a "jack of all trades" known for bringing laughter to every room, Keith was immediately labeled an “active shooter,” while the off-duty officer was hailed as a hero before an official investigation could even begin.

We must refuse to let these state-sanctioned narratives stand. We honor Renee and Keith by demanding the truth and refusing to let their memories be buried under a mountain of misinformation.

We must also acknowledge the systemic pressures making life increasingly difficult for millions across the country. When we look at the data, the reality of the "cost of living" is staggering. This conversation started when someone critiqued that people were protesting in the US (after what happened in Venezuela); and said that we shouldn’t complain since we have water, food and people are safe. The reality is a bit different.

Skyrocketing Food Costs According to the US Department of Agriculture, food prices are rising faster than overall inflation. In late 2025, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for food increased by 0.4 percent in a single month, leaving food prices 3.2 percent higher than the previous year. For many, these aren't just numbers, they are the difference between a full pantry and a missed meal. This crisis is exacerbated by the fact that the federal minimum wage remains frozen at a meager $7.25 per hour, a rate that hasn't moved since 2009.

The Water Crisis Beyond the grocery store, a basic human necessity is becoming a luxury: clean water. Research continues to find dangerous contaminants in drinking water systems across the US. The CDC estimates that at least 1.1 million people in the United States get sick every year from germs in their drinking water, roughly 1 in every 300 people.

Healthcare Under Attack Finally, healthcare remains a mounting burden. With the recent "One Big Beautiful Bill" Act (H.R. 1) and the slashing of Affordable Care Act (ACA) provisions across several states, costs are projected to rise significantly in 2026. The expiration of enhanced tax credits means many families will see their premiums double, deterring people from seeking the very life-saving care they need.

The common thread is clear: whether through state violence or economic neglect, the systems meant to protect us are failing. We must continue to organize, provide for one another, and demand a future where basic survival is not a struggle.