Be Not Weary in Doing the Work of Justice
For months now, folks all over this country have been protesting the expanded use and increased militarization of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the National Guard. These protests and complaints have been rooted in a meaningful question about our democracy and our ability to move freely and protest.
They have also been rooted in a caution to our government that continued escalation of the use of force on the streets of our cities is not prudent and flies in the face of all the values that we hold dear.
Renee Nicole Good was killed in Minnesota last week by ICE agents. Renee was a mother, an artist, a wife, and a community activist.
That killing, along with the many incidents of violence we have witnessed on television and on social media over the last year, goes to demonstrate the profundity of the critiques that organizations and protesters have raised against the use of force by our government.
We have to step back and locate this single act within a larger context.
This is not just about the individual officer. Fire him, hold him accountable, do all the things. But what remains is a federal government bent on deploying its might against citizens. In a recent interview with reporters from The New York Times,the President offered no remorse whatsoever concerning the public killing of Renee. In fact, he even seemed to justify the use of deadly force.
As people of goodwill, we have to reckon publicly with what it means for our government to be comfortable watching its citizens shot down in the public square. We must condemn that kind of apathy.
Then we must consider the conditions that compelled her to the streets. ICE is no longer just protecting borders. The images we have seen show an agency that has become a kind of masked vigilante group, chasing people down in the streets.
This use of ICE is contemptuous. It is about stoking fear and driving people and communities underground. It is one thing to claim to be in the business of protecting borders; it is another to be chasing human beings through neighborhoods and jumping out of vehicles while masked. That feels and looks like gang behavior.
We must all remember that as an agency, ICE is barely twenty years old. This means that most of us have lived in a world without ICE. No wonder so many folks are calling to abolish ICE. That is not synonymous with abolishing rules or processes that govern how people enter this country. It is about abolishing the use of public resources to form paramilitary groups, especially as evidence that they are effective in their mandate continues to dwindle.
So what is next, and what is our call as people of faith and goodwill in this moment?
First, while protest intensity grows, we must also bring into the conversation others who have been victims of ICE violence. While Renee is a focal point, let us also name the people and communities who have perished at the hands of ICE.
Marimar Martínez, 30, a United States citizen, was wounded by an ICE agent, who bragged about the shooting. Video documentation refutes federal claims against Martinez, which eventually led to charges against her being dropped.
Silverio Villegas González was 38 and originally from Mexico, living in the Chicago suburbs. He had just dropped his two children off at school when he was profiled by ICE and boxed in by their vehicles. When he tried to escape, he was shot and killed at close proximity.
Calls for justice must be about systemic change. The demands must be that we rethink how this agency is being used. They must be for greater accountability of our government to its people. They must be to abolish the deployment of ICE into the streets of our cities.
This is a moment to declare our homes, churches, communities, and cities sanctuaries. That is to say, we must make it known that we will welcome the stranger, and we will stand with those who face the brutality of the state.
Finally, we must never be numb to state violence. That is a hard commitment, especially as it feels like we are bearing witness to increasing violence. To resist numbness, we must stay close to people on the front lines, remain grounded in community, and refuse to turn away from suffering even when it is uncomfortable.
Join us in carrying out this critical work at 12:00 PM CT on January 19, Martin Luther King Jr. Day. At Community Renewal Society member congregation Kenwood United Church of Christ, we will gather for Confronting Pharaoh: A Free Community Organizing and Movement Training to uplift Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision for a harmonious and Beloved Community where each person can thrive in dignity. Learn more and register now!
With Love and Lament,
Keron Blair
Community Impact and Special Projects Consultant