Renee Good Served as a ‘Legal Observer’ — Here’s the Progressive Group That Made the Term Well-Known

Protest Tactics of Renee Good Linked to Established Activist Group

The approach taken by 37-year-old Renee Good before she was shot and killed by immigration officials in Minnesota appears to have been influenced by a longstanding activist organization.

According to various reports, a federal official stated that Good was in the Minneapolis area to oversee Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, referring to her as a “legal monitor.” This term gained traction in 1968 through the National Lawyers Guild (NLG) via its “Legal Observer Program,” which aimed to have members observe police responses to leftist protests at Columbia University. What started as a seemingly legitimate effort has now become common in American activism, especially used among groups like Black Lives Matter (BLM).

Representative Ilhan Omar shared updates on social media regarding the incident, calling for ICE to cease its actions in communities.

The NLG did not provide a comment when approached for a response.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claims that Good attempted to run over an ICE officer with her car before shots were fired. Footage indicates that officers approached her vehicle, asking her to exit, at which point she reversed and then moved the car toward the agents, leading to the gunfire.

Good was reportedly associated with ICE Watch, a group known for aiming to disrupt immigration operations through confrontational tactics, though its members often identify as legal watchdogs. Despite the title suggesting some kind of legal immunity, it really only pertains to First Amendment rights, lacking any formal legal protection.

The concept of “statutory observers” exists so they can document events and provide evidence if needed later on, particularly in defense of lawsuits against law enforcement behavior. This idea can trace its origins to practices of the Black Panther Party in the 1960s, and NLG has even registered the phrase “Legal Observer” as a trademark.

Notably, a group of NLG observers previously filed a lawsuit over their arrests during BLM protests in New York City, leading to a settlement. Meanwhile, another individual faces charges related to the Stop Cop City protests, though the legal situation remains uncertain.