‘Peace, peace, there is NO peace in Minneapolis:’ MN Conference responds to fatal ICE shooting

United Church of Christ General Minister & President/CEO, The Rev. Karen Georgia A. Thompson, has spoken with MN Conference UCC Minister, Rev. Tanya Sadagopan, in the aftermath of the ICE-involved shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis, offering prayer and support for the ongoing response.

“We will hold fast to love in places where hate invades. We will hold fast to compassion when cruelty reigns. We will hold fast to justice when power flaunts violence.” -Rev. Dr. Tanya Sadagopan, Conference Minister

You can read the entire statement below:

They have treated the wound of my people carelessly, saying, “Peace, peace,” when there is no peace. They acted shamefully; they committed abomination, yet they were not ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall…Thus says the Lord: Stand at the crossroads and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. —Jeremiah 6:14-16

I have just returned from the vigil for Renee Nicole Good, beloved witness who came out to protect her neighbors today during an ICE raid in South Minneapolis near the corner of 34th and Portland. I stood on icy ground, slippery and wet with thousands who came to mourn with broken hearts and determined holy rage. There, near where she was shot, on this winter’s night in Minneapolis, the people of the Twin Cities showed up to end this unholy occupation of terror and turmoil. As we mourn this loss of a 37-year-old woman, who could have been you or me or any one of our clergy who respond to the call for witnesses when ICE is in the area, we also confront how empire still oppresses God’s people by wielding violence and death.

The Minnesota Conference of the United Church of Christ finds reprehensible the actions of ICE today. Jeremiah says, “They committed abomination, yet they were not ashamed.” Even as we stand in the aftermath of their shame, we are undeterred. We renounce their culture of cruelty. We believe in the teachings of Jesus who holds the love of God and the love of neighbor above all other commandments. We honor the good that Renee Good was doing on this fateful day. She stood for the good in people.

What are we to do? We must do our part large and small to stand for decency and to follow in the ways of Christ.

We will hold fast to love in places where hate invades.
We will hold fast to compassion when cruelty reigns.
We will hold fast to justice when power flaunts violence.

ICE’s actions today do not reflect our American Christian values. We do not need to be saved, or protected in Minneapolis, nor in our whole state where Good Minnesotans dwell.

Know this, scripture tell us agents of empire will fall.

In the meantime, stand at the crossroads like I did today, where the good way lies, and walk in it. There, my friends and colleagues, we will find rest for our souls because God meets us there. Our redemption lies in our work to faithfully and humbly love our neighbor on every corner.

Renee Good was her name, at the crossroads of 34th and Portland.
That is where mercy met a movement.

Rev. Dr. Tanya Sadagopan
Conference Minister

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