Key Takeaways
- Celebrities wore anti-ICE pins at the Golden Globes to tribute Renee Good, who was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer
- The pins displayed slogans like “BE GOOD” and “ICE OUT” to introduce a political angle into the awards show
- Protests have broken out across the country, calling for accountability for Good’s death and a separate shooting in Portland
- Congressmembers have vowed an assertive response, and an FBI investigation into Good’s killing is ongoing
- The Trump administration has defended the ICE officer’s actions, maintaining that he was acting in self-defense
Introduction to the Issue
The 2026 Golden Globes ceremony took a political turn when several celebrities donned anti-ICE pins on the red carpet, paying tribute to Renee Good, who was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis. The black-and-white pins displayed slogans like “BE GOOD” and “ICE OUT,” introducing a political angle into the awards show after a relatively apolitical ceremony last year. Celebrities such as Mark Ruffalo, Wanda Sykes, and Natasha Lyonne wore the pins, while Jean Smart and Ariana Grande donned them once inside the ballroom. Smart had the pin on her dress as she accepted the award for best performance by a female actor in a musical or comedy series.
The Protests and Reactions
Since the shooting, protests have broken out across the country, calling for accountability for Good’s death as well as a separate shooting in Portland where Border Patrol agents wounded two people. Some protests have resulted in clashes with law enforcement, especially in Minneapolis, where ICE is carrying out its largest immigration enforcement operation to date. The organizers of the anti-ICE pins, including Nelini Stamp of Working Families Power, have emphasized the need for every part of civil society to speak up against the actions of ICE. Congressmembers have vowed an assertive response, and an FBI investigation into Good’s killing is ongoing. However, the Trump administration has doubled down in defending the ICE officer’s actions, maintaining that he was acting in self-defense and thought Good would hit him with her car.
The Organizers’ Push
The idea for the “ICE OUT” pins began with a late-night text exchange between Stamp and Jess Morales Rocketto, the executive director of a Latino advocacy group called Maremoto. They know that high-profile cultural moments can introduce millions of viewers to social issues, and they have been working to bring attention to the issue of ICE violence. This is the third year of Golden Globes activism for Morales Rocketto, who has previously rallied Hollywood to protest the Trump administration’s family separation policies. Stamp said she always thinks of the 1973 Oscars, when Sacheen Littlefeather took Marlon Brando’s place and declined his award to protest American entertainment’s portrayal of Native Americans. The organizers began calling up the celebrities and influencers they knew, who in turn brought their campaign to the more prominent figures in their circles.
Grassroots Movement
The organizers have been attending the “fancy events” that take place in the days leading up to the Golden Globes, passing out the pins at parties and distributing them to neighbors who will be attending the ceremony. They have been using a grassroots approach to spread the word and get the pins to as many people as possible. “They put it in their purse and they’re like, ‘Hey would you wear this?’ It’s so grassroots,” Morales Rocketto said. The organizers have pledged to continue the campaign throughout awards season to ensure the public knows the names of Good and others killed by ICE agents in shootings. By using the platform of the Golden Globes, they hope to bring attention to the issue and push for accountability.
The Broader Context
The shooting of Renee Good is not an isolated incident, but rather part of a larger pattern of violence and aggression by ICE agents. Just a week before Good was killed, an off-duty ICE officer fatally shot and killed 43-year-old Keith Porter in Los Angeles. His death sparked protests in the Los Angeles area, calling for the officer responsible to be arrested. The Trump administration’s defense of the ICE officer’s actions in Good’s killing has been widely criticized, and many are calling for greater accountability and transparency within the agency. As the protests and controversy continue, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold and what actions will be taken to address the issue of ICE violence.