‘Fight for our own’: Central Virginians rally against ICE after 3 people shot by federal agents
VENN
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Central Virginians were among the many Americans who took to the streets on Friday to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after three people were shot by federal agents in two separate incidents just days apart.
On Wednesday, Jan. 7, during the immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, Minnesota, ICE agent Jonathan Ross shot 37-year-old Renee Macklin Good in the head multiple times, killing her.
Video of Good's deadly encounter shows an unidentified ICE agent approaching Good, who was behind the wheel of her Honda Pilot, and telling her to get out of the car. When she begins to pull forward, Ross pulls his weapon and fires at least two shots into the Pilot.
Good's killing immediately sparked unrest across the nation, including in Richmond. This unrest was further amplified after, the very next day, federal agents with U.S. Customs and Border Protection shot two people in Portland, Oregon.
RELATED: Murder or self-defense? Virginia lawmakers react to deadly Minnesota ICE shooting
There has been significant debate about whether or not these shootings were justifiable. When commenting on both of these incidents, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has claimed that the shooting victims were attempting to run over law enforcement officers.
The afternoon of Friday, Jan. 9, dozens of protesters lined Midlothian Turnpike in Chesterfield County to protest ICE and its operations. 8News was present during this event, as we were during Wednesday's demonstration in Richmond.
Dozens gather in Chesterfield to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Jan. 9. (Photo: Sara Molina/8News)
Dozens gather in Chesterfield to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Jan. 9. (Photo: Sara Molina/8News)
Dozens gather in Chesterfield to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Jan. 9. (Photo: Sara Molina/8News)
Many of the more than 50 protesters carried signs that read things like "Don't shoot me," "How does it feel to shoot and kill young mothers?" and "ICE is just another name for Gestapo."
"If people don't fight back, nothing's going to happen," one protester told 8News. "And the only reason why things have happened in the past is because people thought that we can't trust the administration to fight for us. We have to fight for our own -- and this is our version of fighting for ourselves."
While our team witnessed a heavy police presence at the Richmond protest, we did not see any officers at Friday's protest. The event remained peaceful.
For more on immigration enforcement in Central Virginia, click here.
