Labour’s metropolitan mayors showed solidarity with the Mayor of Minneapolis in response to the ICE shooting incident that has caused outrage in the city.
Mayor Jacob Frey gained attention for his swift reaction following the shooting of Renee Good, where he demanded ICE to vacate Minnesota. A recently released video, captured from the perspective of the ICE agent, revealed that Good, a mother of three, was attempting to steer away from the agent when she was shot three times, with derogatory language directed at her.
Contrary to claims by Donald Trump and JD Vance suggesting that Good was intentionally trying to run over the agent, the footage contradicts those assertions, showing a different sequence of events.
In a show of support, Labour’s metropolitan mayors issued a statement endorsing Mayor Frey’s stance. They highlighted the importance of mayors in safeguarding communities and praised Frey and other U.S. mayors for leading with compassion and evidence-based actions rather than fear and aggression.
The statement was signed by notable figures such as Sadiq Khan, Andy Burnham, Steve Rotheram, Tracy Brabin, Richard Parker, Kim McGuinness, Oliver Coppard, David Skaith, Claire Ward, and Helen Godwin.
Protesters gathered outside a Minneapolis hotel where ICE agents were believed to be staying, disrupting their rest with loud demonstrations. Despite claims by JD Vance and Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin asserting that the new video supported the officer’s self-defense argument, Mayor Frey dismissed such claims as baseless.
Law enforcement experts noted that while the video did not alter their views on the use of force, it raised concerns about the officer’s training. Questions were raised about the officer’s actions, including holding a gun and a cellphone simultaneously during the incident.
The video analysis indicated that the officers did not perceive Good as a threat, according to John P. Gross, a law professor specializing in officer-involved shootings. The officer involved, Ross, a 43-year-old Iraq War veteran with extensive service in Border Patrol and ICE, had previously faced an injury during an immigration arrest last year.