A wave of intense rhetoric erupted from a major teachers union following a fatal encounter involving an ICE agent and a protester in Minneapolis. The union’s message, sent to its three million members, painted a stark picture of escalating conflict and federal overreach, igniting passions across the nation.
The incident centered around Renee Good, a 37-year-old activist with a group called “ICE Watch.” She was fatally shot after allegedly accelerating her vehicle toward an agent while attempting to obstruct an immigration enforcement operation. Accounts of the event diverge sharply, with the union characterizing it as a “murder” committed against someone bravely witnessing the “assault” on immigrant neighbors.
Federal authorities present a different narrative. They state Good initially refused to move her vehicle, which was blocking agents, and then accelerated toward an agent who was attempting to open her door. No charges have been filed in the case, leaving a chasm of conflicting interpretations.
Adding to the tension, a separate incident unfolded the same day, involving a five-mile pursuit ending near a high school. The Department of Homeland Security reported the suspect intentionally rammed an ICE vehicle. The union, however, alleges ICE agents unleashed tear gas on the school campus and detained staff attempting to protect students.
DHS vehemently denies targeting the school or students, asserting agents were only present due to the suspect’s actions. They also claim a teacher assaulted law enforcement and that officers used targeted crowd control measures after being attacked with objects and paint, explicitly stating no tear gas was deployed.
The union’s communication condemned the administration, labeling it a “MAGA regime” and accusing it of pursuing power and wealth at the expense of communities and basic freedoms. It also actively promoted upcoming anti-ICE demonstrations nationwide.
Meanwhile, a vastly different crisis unfolds in Iran, where citizens are facing brutal suppression from their government. Protests, fueled by economic hardship and a collapsing currency, have met with a violent crackdown, including internet shutdowns and a chilling threat of public executions.
Estimates suggest as many as 2,000 people have been killed in the Iranian uprising, with a 26-year-old protester facing imminent execution for the charge of “waging war against God.” This desperate struggle for basic rights has, notably, drawn no public comment from the teachers union.
When questioned about the inflammatory language used in its email, the union reiterated its demand for ICE to withdraw from communities, emphasizing its commitment to the safety of students and families. It maintains that the presence of ICE creates an unsafe environment for those it serves.
