Labour’s metropolitan mayors have voiced their support for the mayor of Minneapolis following the recent ICE shooting incident that has caused outrage in the city.
Mayor Jacob Frey gained attention for his swift reaction to the shooting of Renee Good, instructing ICE to leave Minnesota. Video footage released recently, captured from the ICE agent’s perspective, shows Good attempting to drive away when she was shot three times by the agent, who also used derogatory language towards her.
Contrary to claims made by Donald Trump and JD Vance, the newly released footage contradicts the assertion that Good was intentionally trying to harm the agent. In response, Labour’s metro mayors have issued a statement backing Mayor Frey, highlighting the essential role mayors play in safeguarding communities with empathy and factual information.
The statement, signed by various prominent mayors including Sadiq Khan and Andy Burnham, emphasizes the importance of upholding human rights and dignity for all residents. Meanwhile, protesters gathered outside a Minneapolis hotel where ICE agents are believed to be staying, disrupting their rest in protest.
JD Vance and Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin suggested that the video supports the officer’s self-defense claim, which Mayor Frey has dismissed as baseless. Policing experts noted that while the video did not alter their views on the use of force, it raised concerns about the officer’s training methods.
The video analysis led experts to question the officer’s actions, particularly his simultaneous holding of a gun and a cellphone during the incident. It also highlighted the officers’ lack of perception of Good as a threat, according to experts in law enforcement practices.
The officer involved, Ross, is a 43-year-old Iraq War veteran with extensive experience in Border Patrol and ICE operations. He was previously injured in an incident where he was dragged by a driver evading an immigration arrest.