Hollywood took a bold political turn at the Golden Globes this year, as celebrities hit the red carpet wearing striking anti-ICE pins in memory of Renee Good, who was fatally shot in her car by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer last week in Minneapolis.
The black-and-white pins featured messages like “BE GOOD” and “ICE OUT,” bringing activism to the forefront of an awards show that was notably quieter on politics last year, per the Independent.
Mark Ruffalo was among the first to be spotted wearing one, with others expected to join in the silent protest.
Protests erupt nationwide following ICE shootings
Good's death on Wednesday sparked demonstrations across the country, including in Portland, where a separate shooting involving Border Patrol agents left two people injured.
Tensions have flared especially in Minneapolis, where clashes with police have broken out as ICE conducts what’s being called its largest immigration enforcement operation to date.
“We need every part of civil society, society to speak up,” said Nelini Stamp of Working Families Power, who helped spearhead the pin campaign. “We need our artists. We need our entertainers. We need the folks who reflect society.”
An FBI investigation into the Minneapolis shooting is ongoing. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has stood firmly behind the ICE officer involved, insisting he acted in self-defense, believing Good was about to hit him with her vehicle.
Just days earlier, another fatal shooting involving ICE drew outrage. In Los Angeles, an off-duty officer killed 43-year-old Keith Porter, leading to local protests demanding criminal charges.
Behind the scenes of the “ICE OUT” campaign
The idea to use the Golden Globes as a platform came together in a flurry of late-night messages between Stamp and Jess Morales Rocketto, executive director of the Latino advocacy group Maremoto, per Cosmopolitan.
The pair knew the spotlight of a major cultural event could shine attention on the growing outrage over ICE-related violence.
It’s not Morales Rocketto’s first foray into awards-season activism. This marks her third year organizing efforts tied to the Golden Globes, having previously rallied Hollywood to speak out against family separation policies under the Trump administration.
Stamp said she draws inspiration from moments like the 1973 Oscars, when Sacheen Littlefeather famously declined Marlon Brando’s award on his behalf in protest of Hollywood’s portrayal of Native Americans.
“There is a longstanding tradition of people who create art taking a stand for justice in moments,” Stamp said. “We’re going to continue that tradition.”
A grassroots push to keep Renee Good’s name alive
The campaign has gained momentum in the lead-up to the ceremony, with organizers attending private events, handing out pins, and getting them into the hands of influential guests.
Labor activist Ai-jen Poo, known for walking the 2018 red carpet with Meryl Streep to promote Time’s Up, was among the early supporters contacted by the team.
“They put it in their purse and they’re like, ‘Hey would you wear this?’ It’s so grassroots,” Morales Rocketto said, describing how the pins are being passed around among attendees.
Organizers say this is just the beginning. Their mission is to keep Renee Good and other ICE shooting victims at the center of public conversation throughout awards season.