[Column] ‘Be Good’ and America’s democracy

By Hahn Chae-yoon, activist with the Korean Sexual-Minority Tradition and Rights Heart

This yr’s Golden Globes awards ceremony was held in Los Angeles earlier this week. Whereas “KPop Demon Hunters” taking dwelling two trophies made headlines in Korea, there are a couple of different issues price noting concerning the occasion. 

Mark Ruffalo of Hulk fame and Jean Sensible, who gained a Golden Globe for her position within the comedy present “Hacks,” and different celebrities might be seen on the awards ceremony donning a white pin with the phrases “BE GOOD” written in black letters. 

A couple of Korean retailers translated the phrase into one thing like, “Be a superb individual.” That’s not improper, but it surely’s not precisely proper both. On the similar ceremony, pop star Ariana Grande wore a pin that learn “ICE OUT.”

The “GOOD” on Ruffalo’s pin commemorated Renee Nicole Good, who was shot and killed by an ICE — quick for Immigration and Customs Enforcement — agent in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Jan. 7. It was additionally a rallying cry to defy US President Donald Trump’s authoritarian reign and his unjust mobilization of power towards the general public. 

Renee Nicole Good was a US citizen, a lesbian in a same-sex marriage, and was on her approach dwelling after dropping off her son in school when she encountered an ICE crackdown. When she stopped on the highway to dam ICE autos, she was approached by ICE brokers in black masks. After a quick alternate, she tried to drive off, solely to have an agent fireplace three pictures into her car. Shockingly, ICE brokers did nothing to attempt to save her life as she bled out.  

A physician who occurred to be on the scene tried to assist, however the brokers prevented him from even approaching her automotive. No sooner had Good died than Trump, in the course of an interview with the press, claimed that the agent had acted in self-defense. At that time, just a few blurry movies taken by witnesses had been circulating.  

If that weren’t sufficient, Vice President JD Vance ridiculed Good, calling her a “deranged leftist” and suggesting that she was a terrorist with none proof. 

Then new footage got here out that confirmed Good within the moments earlier than her loss of life. “That’s effective, dude. I’m not mad at you,” Good mentioned with a smile on her face. The footage was taken by Jonathan Ross, the ICE agent who shot and killed her. 

In different phrases, Ross was filming along with his cellular system with one hand whereas holding a gun within the different. Is that the way you tackle a malicious terrorist? Simply so we’re clear, what occurred is {that a} federal agent, reasonably than fireplace a warning shot, fired straight into the face of an unarmed civilian. 

This was not an extreme use of power in self-defense. This was nearer to punishment primarily based on disdain. In his personal footage, Ross may be heard calling Good a “bitch” after he shot her.  

Good’s spouse, Becca, was additionally on the scene. As an alternative of apologizing to Good’s widow, Trump referred to Becca because the sufferer’s “good friend” — a deliberate selection of phrases aiming to low cost Good’s same-sex marriage. 

The US Justice Division determined to not indict Ross, the agent who shot Good. Fairly, there has reportedly been a push to analyze Becca for doable ties to anti-ICE teams.  

4 prosecutors from the Justice Division’s Civil Rights Division resigned in protest of this unjust determination. Inside the US, protests in reminiscence of Good and resisting the Trump administration are spreading. 

That is what it comes right down to. Being good doesn’t imply obeying these with energy. It means being type and pleasant to one another, no matter pores and skin shade, nation of origin, or sexual orientation. It additionally signifies that we’d like to withstand and battle till the very finish to defend these values. 

I hope that the rallying cry to “be good” may be the guiding power for defending American democracy. I’ll always remember the phrases of Becca Good in an announcement issued from the depths of her grief at having misplaced her spouse: “We should work collectively to construct a world the place all of us come dwelling protected to the folks we love.” 

Please direct questions or feedback to [english@hani.co.kr]