286) Renee Good: In the words of her wife, Becca
Becca Good’s statement, on the death of her wife, Renee. …. I sincerely hope humanity can learn from this. May her death lead to positive change. May those responsible, up to their Commander in Chief, face justice. And may our society finally evolve.
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“First, I want to extend my gratitude to all the people who have reached out from across the country and around the world to support our family.
This kindness of strangers is the most fitting tribute because if you ever encountered my wife, Renee Nicole Macklin Good, you know that above all else, she was kind. In fact, kindness radiated out of her.
Renee sparkled. She literally sparkled. I mean, she didn’t wear glitter but I swear she had sparkles coming out of her pores. All the time. You might think it was just my love talking but her family said the same thing. Renee was made of sunshine.
Renee lived by an overarching belief: there is kindness in the world and we need to do everything we can to find it where it resides and nurture it where it needs to grow. Renee was a Christian who knew that all religions teach the same essential truth: we are here to love each other, care for each other, and keep each other safe and whole.
Like people have done across place and time, we moved to make a better life for ourselves. We chose Minnesota to make our home. Our whole extended road trip here, we held hands in the car while our son drew all over the windows to pass the time and the miles.
What we found when we got here was a vibrant and welcoming community, we made friends and spread joy. And while any place we were together was home, there was a strong shared sense here in Minneapolis that we were looking out for each other. Here, I had finally found peace and safe harbor. That has been taken from me forever.
We were raising our son to believe that no matter where you come from or what you look like, all of us deserve compassion and kindness. Renee lived this belief every day. She is pure love. She is pure joy. She is pure sunshine.
On Wednesday, January 7th, we stopped to support our neighbors. We had whistles. They had guns.
Renee leaves behind three extraordinary children; the youngest is just six years old and already lost his father. I am now left to raise our son and to continue teaching him, as Renee believed, that there are people building a better world for him. That the people who did this had fear and anger in their hearts, and we need to show them a better way.
We thank you for the privacy you are granting our family as we grieve. We thank you for ensuring that Renee’s legacy is one of kindness and love. We honor her memory by living her values: rejecting hate and choosing compassion, turning away from fear and pursuing peace, refusing division and knowing we must come together to build a world where we all come home safe to the people we love.”
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Deep breath.
I hope this stays with people for a very long time, the fact that such a person was lost to this world, and for nothing except hatred.
This system of violence MUST NOT be allowed in our society any longer. State violence simply cannot be tolerated. Dictators simply cannot be tolerated. The entire system of lies, corruption, greed, and militarized “authority”, simply cannot be tolerated.
Her last words, spoke with a friendly smile to the man who killed her, were “That’s fine dude, I’m not mad at you.”
Then he shot her, point-blank, three times.
His last words in this horrible scenario, murmured with spite as she was dying beside her wife, were “Fuckin’ bitch.” Then either himself or fellow ICE thugs prevented a doctor on the site, from tending to her.
The differences between these human beings could not be more stark and horrifying. People like the ICE agent, full of hate, full of violence, should not be given authority, should not have power over others. And sure as hell, should not have a uniform, a mask, and a gun.
This has to change.
Rest in peace, Renee. May your children see the world change for the better.
