Saturday, members of the North County Resistance gathered to pay tribute to Renee Goode, a woman from Minneapolis who tragically lost her life at the hands of an ICE agent this past week. This solemn event marked a significant moment for Nehalem, drawing a crowd of 70 people, the largest ever seen in the town—to share in their collective grief and outrage.
The attendees voiced their refusal to accept the killing of Renee Goode as well as their opposition to the conduct of ICE agents throughout the United States. The gathering demonstrated the community’s strong resistance to ICE’s heavy-handed tactics, regardless of whether these occur in larger cities or smaller towns. The message from North County Resistance was clear and unwavering: the community says “NO” to ICE.
While some may dismiss the efforts of these 70 individuals, it is important to recognize that their participation reflects the sentiments of many more who may not feel safe enough to attend. For example, a conversation with a woman at the Post Office revealed she avoids public gatherings due to concerns over her skin color. This sentiment underscores the broader climate of intimidation faced by many, though the recent tragedy involved a white woman.
North County Resistance members have witnessed negative responses to their protest, such as trucks passing by in Nehalem emitting black smoke, cars and trucks hugging the sidewalk as they go around the corner, and individuals making hostile hand gestures. These actions, while within the rights of those expressing dissent, are viewed as attempts to intimidate protesters. Fewer people are expressing dissent as they pass by, and we are gaining more protesters each week and we are not giving up.
North County Resistance meets again this coming Saturday, January 17 in Nehalem from noon to 2 PM. Please join us for this peaceful protest. Thank you.
Patty