Residents of Northeast Florida participated in multiple protests in St. Augustine last week in response to the recent actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minneapolis.
The progressive advocacy group Indivisible organized the demonstrations to protest the death of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old Minneapolis woman who was shot and killed by ICE agent Jonathan Ross, along with ICE’s broader operations.
Hundreds of similar Indivisible protests took place in several states over the past weekend, according to the Associated Press.
“If ICE is overreacting and killing someone who is driving away, they can do it to people anywhere in the United States,” said Suzanna Pavelle, a co-leader of Indivisible’s St. Johns County chapter.
The protests took place on Thursday and Saturday at 2010 A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Byway and St. George Street, respectively. Residents of St. Johns, Clay, Flagler, and Duval County participated in the peaceful gatherings.
Most protesters gathered around St. Augustine’s historic City Gate on Saturday, while groups of three to nine took turns walking down the street while hoisting signs.
The Saturday protest garnered both cheers and heckles.
Counterprotester Chris Smith, 41, waved an American flag near the demonstrators, chanting, “Deport the liberals.”
Smith argued that Good’s actions led to her demise.
“The lady lost her life, and it is very unfortunate,” he told The Citizen. “I would have much rather seen her day in court. She put herself in a situation where I can’t rightfully blame the agent.”
Protester Deirdre Rutledge, 63, felt that the use of lethal force against Good was unnecessary. “This woman was murdered in cold blood; there is plenty of evidence of that,” Rutledge said.
The St. Johns County Democratic Party said in a statement: “The tragedy of Renee Good’s murder should have never happened. We, in this community, have great respect and appreciation for the St. Augustine Police Department and St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. They would never wear a mask and they do not shoot into moving vehicles. They are trained professionals and we are grateful for them.”
Operation Tidal Wave, an initiative that has bolstered collaboration between Florida law enforcement agencies and ICE, has led to more than 10,400 immigration offense arrests since its start in April 2025, according to a press release from Gov. Ron DeSantis.
St. Johns County is credited, along with several other agencies, for playing a significant role in this operation.
Sheriff Rob Hardwick addressed ongoing ICE operations in St. Johns County at a press conference on Oct. 21, 2025, along with several other Northeast Florida law enforcement officials.
A Florida Department of Law Enforcement press release said that this operation’s arrest rates hit a record high of 1,120 people described as “criminal illegal aliens” in one week.
The operation targeted individuals who were classified as significant threats to public safety.
President Donald Trump responded to Good’s death on Truth Social, writing that she was “disorderly, obstructing, and resisting,” and that she “viciously ran over the ICE officer,” adding that “it is hard to believe that he is alive.”
Trump concluded the post by accusing the radical left of causing these incidents and calling for more public support of law enforcement.
Pavelle encouraged people to watch online videos of the incident filmed by observers and draw their own conclusions.
“She was not posing a threat at all, and Trump saying that is an absolute lie,” said Pavelle.
The St. Johns County Republican Party did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the weekend protests.
