Candlelight vigil in South Bend calls for accountability after death of Renée Good

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The death of Renée Good has sparked calls for accountability from law enforcement, even hundreds of miles away from where she was killed.

Members of the Michiana Alliance for Democracy gathered Sunday evening at Jon Hunt Memorial Plaza in Downtown South Bend for a candlelight vigil honoring Good, who was shot and killed Wednesday by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. Organizers said the vigil was both a moment of collective mourning and a call to action as tensions continue to rise across the nation.

Good was a mother, a poet and an American citizen — identities many in attendance said they saw reflected in themselves.

“That sounds like me, that could be me,” said Carrie Bowie of the Michiana Alliance for Democracy. “It's time for some accountability. We're asking that from ICE, and so we've gathered together to do that.”

As the sun set, a large crowd stood together holding candles, joining in song and sharing moments of reflection. Organizers said simply being together was an important step toward healing.

“Healing is hard to come by when we're not seeing much progress,” Bowie said. “I think that's the saving grace, to be with other people and to know that we feel the same.”

Sunday’s vigil is one of many peaceful protests the Michiana Alliance for Democracy has organized since it was established in 2016.

Organizers said they plan to continue those efforts as the community continues to call for accountability.