From “Your Arlington,” January 14, 2026, by Brynn O’Connor
On an overcast Friday evening, 300 people gathered for an hour outside of First Parish Unitarian Universalist to mourn the life of Renee Nicole Good, who was fatally shot by an U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Officer in Minneapolis on Jan. 7. The parish hosted the candle lit vigil, “From Massachusetts to Minnesota, STOP ICE TERROR,” on Jan. 9.
The large crowd, dressed in warm winter gear and carrying U.S. flags and electronic tea candles, held homemade signs advocating for the abolition of ICE.
In addition to First Parish, the vigil was cosponsored by Calvary United Methodist Church, Park Avenue Congregational Church and the town’s Rainbow Commission. The crowd of mourners heard from voices from each of these groups, along with Rev. Fred Small, who led the group in song, Imam Abdullah Faruuq from the Mosque of Praise Allah, Scott Jones of the town’s Human Rights Commission, and State Senator Cindy Friedman.
The vigil was dedicated to Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, as well as all victims of ICE violence. According to reporting from The Guardian, 2025 was ICE’s deadliest year in two decades, resulting in the death of 32 individuals.
“300 people came together to resist the terrifying rise of fascism we are witnessing in this country,” said Rev. Erica F. Richmond, parish minister at First Parish Arlington.
The country erupted in outrage following the death of Good this month, demanding an end of the violence resulting from the White House’s crackdown on illegal immigration. Hundreds of ICE agents had been deployed to Minneapolis in 2026. Numerous reports claim Good had been blocking ICE agents with her vehicle from passing a residential street.
Videos footage from that day recorded an ICE agents pointing his gun at the driver after she attempted to drive away; at least two shots could be heard.
As of Jan. 9, immigration officers have shot at people 16 times under the Trump administration. At Friday’s vigil in Arlington, Senator Friedman reminded those gathered that they were witnessing a “moral injury, and that anyone who is not outraged right now, should be,” according to Rev. Richmond.
The group, gathered along Mass. Ave. and Pleasant Street, received many honks of appreciation from cars passing by.
“I was glad to see that Arlington as a community supports immigrants, supports inclusion, supports justice,” said Richmond.
At the vigil, the names of the 32 people who died in ICE custody within the last year were read aloud. The crowd responded all together with “Rest in Power.”
According to CNN, Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, had just dropped off her 6-year-old son at school when she encountered ICE agents. The Department of Justice’s civil rights division has decided not to investigate the ICE agent who shot Good, resulting in the resignation of six federal prosecutors in Minnesota, according to reporting the New York Times released Tuesday, Jan. 13.
Jan. 8, Governor Maura Healey released a letter to the private airline companies GlobalX Airlines and Eastern Air Express, demanding they stop providing flights for ICE agents out of Hanscom Field in Bedford for their deportation efforts.
At Friday’s vigil, the group participated in a 20-minute period of silence.
“As a [Unitarian Universalist] minister, I believe that every person is inherently worthy and has the right to flourish with dignity, love, and compassion, and there are no asterisk attached to that, no caveat about race, or borders, or paperwork.” said Richmond.
YourArlington has reached out to the town’s Human Right Commission to inquire about additional vigils or events planned for 2026.
