UCC participates in calls for justice in rallies in Washington, D.C., and Minnesota in response to Renée Good shooting

More than 50 faith leaders including those from the United Church of Christ gathered outside the White House on Friday, January 9, in response to the fatal shooting of Renée Nicole Good in Minneapolis on January 7 by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer on a suburban street. The United Church of Christ Washington D.C. Office participated as part of a powerful and prayerful public witness organized by Faith in Action.

The UCC joined with interfaith partners to mourn the loss of life, offer prayer, and call for moral accountability from the Trump Administration and urgent action to address the ongoing abuse of power at the hands of ICE.

The Rev. Michael Neuroth, Director of the UCC’s Public Policy and Advocacy office spoke to those gathered along with other UCC leaders. “Our hearts go out to Renée Nicole Good’s family and friends, and the United Church of Christ stands in solidarity with those protesting ICE violence across the nation,” he said. “Here in Washington D.C., and in so many cities, we know first-hand of the violence and the fear tactics being used by ICE in Minnesota. They are shameful, cruel, and, in some cases, illegal. In July, our UCC General Synod decried these actions as no less than “domestic terrorism.”

Neuroth shared, “In 2025 alone,  2.5 million immigrant neighbors were deported or intimidated to leave. Citizens protesting these cruel polices are being labeled by the state as ‘terrorists’, opening the door to more violence and potential for more loss of life. The vigils held outside the White House this past week make it clear: the faith community does not accept this. The administration’s xenophobic polices and inhumane tactics go against our values as people of faith to welcome and love our neighbors. In the UCC we will keep pushing against these policies, extending love to our neighbors, and proclaiming together that “Love Knows No Borders!” 

 The gathering was covered in a story by the Religion News Service. The Rev. Holly Jackson, associate conference minister for the Central Atlantic Conference of the UCC, spoke to attendees.

“ They want us to be scared and to give up. They want us to turn in our neighbors. They want us to cower when they come knocking on our doors,” Jackson was quoted. “ They want us to worship a God of white supremacy and stop preaching about the dignity and worth of every human being. They want us to deny that this is a land built by immigrants where justice and equality are supposed to be for all.”

But, she said, “ in Renée’s name and in the name of countless others whose lives and families have been destroyed, we cannot and we will not give up.”

Neuroth gave a closing prayer for the event, (the livestream recording can be viewed HERE) and said, “May God bless us, bless you with anger, as the lies emanating from our government, lies disputing the humanity of Renée Nicole Good, the humanity of peaceful protesters in Minnesota, Chicago, Portland, Washington and so many cities.”

He continued, “May God bless you with outrage, outrage at the blood that flows in our streets, outrage at injustice, at oppression, at the exploitation of people in Venezuela, the imperialist illegal US attacks in Nigeria, Iran, Yemen, and so many other nations. May God bless you, bless us with compassion. Bless us with tears to shed for those in detention today. For their families. For their children who live in fear and uncertainty. May God bless us today to fearlessly keep speaking out about injustice.” 

The day before, on January 8, members of the UCC participated in another event in Washington, D.C. called “Stop the Inhumanity! Be Artisans of the Beloved Community” organized by The Society of Christian Ethics, to speak clearly against the injustice faced by those on the margins, to uplift the power of radical love, and to ground us in our Christian call for justice. While it was planned before the murder of Good, speakers took the opportunity to raise awareness and outrage about her murder, as well as the many other abuses endured at the hands of ICE and the Trump administration.

Meanwhile in Minnesota, where Good’s murder occured, there were gatherings over the weekend to protest as well. The Rev. Jill Sanders, pastor of the First Congregational UCC, joined after driving hours from Alexandria, Minnesota. She was quoted in a Religion News Service story on the gathering, “We need to do something,” she said. “I am heartbroken at the way so many churches are applauding the kinds of abuses that we’re seeing. And it just seems to me like it’s important for the faith community to show up and show that we’re not all Christian nationalists.”

The Reverend Tanya Sadagopan, Minnesota UCC Conference Minister said, “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.”

Read the entire Minnesota Conference response to the shooting death of Renée Good HERE.

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