Celebrities protest ICE on Golden Globes red carpet with ‘Be Good’ pins

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA: Celebrities made a pointed political statement at the Golden Globes on Sunday, January 11, wearing anti-ICE pins to honor Renee Good, who was shot and killed inside her car by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer earlier this week in Minneapolis.

The gesture marked a notable shift from last year’s relatively apolitical ceremony, bringing immigration enforcement and police accountability into the spotlight. 

Anti-ICE pins dominate Golden Globes red carpet

Black-and-white pins with slogans such as “BE GOOD” and “ICE OUT” were spotted on several attendees, including actor Mark Ruffalo, and comedian Wanda Skyes, who prominently displayed one on the red carpet. Other celebrities were expected to wear the pins during the awards ceremony. 

The pins were organized as a tribute to Renee Good and as a protest against ICE actions, introducing activism into one of Hollywood’s most high-profile cultural moments.

Nelini Stamp of Working Families Power, one of the organizers behind the pin campaign, said the goal was to push civil society to respond. “We need every part of civil society to speak up,” she said.

“We need our artists. We need our entertainers. We need the folks who reflect society.” Stamp and co-organizer Jess Morales Rocketto, executive director of Latino advocacy group Maremoto, said high-profile events like the Golden Globes can introduce social issues to millions of viewers.

Activism rooted in Hollywood tradition

Stamp and Morales Rocketto said the idea for the “ICE OUT” pins began with a late-night text exchange earlier this week.  

They drew inspiration from past moments of Hollywood activism, including the 1973 Oscars when Sacheen Littlefeather declined Marlon Brando’s award to protest the 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.”

According to Stamp, allies distributed the pins at parties and events leading up to the Golden Globes, ensuring they reached celebrities and attendees. Organizers pledged to continue the campaign throughout awards season, aiming to keep public attention on individuals killed by ICE agents and maintain pressure for accountability.

Protests erupt nationwide after Renee Good killing

Since the shooting on Wednesday, protests have erupted across the United States, demanding accountability for Good’s death. Demonstrations have also referenced a separate incident in Portland where Border Patrol agents wounded two people. Some protests, particularly in Minneapolis, escalated into clashes with law enforcement, as ICE carried out what officials describe as its largest immigration enforcement operation to date.

Congressmembers have promised an assertive response, while the FBI opened an investigation into Good’s killing. The Trump administration defended the ICE officer involved, stating he acted in self-defense and believed Good was about to hit him with her car. The case has further intensified debate over immigration enforcement and the use of force by federal officers.

Good’s death followed another fatal incident just a week earlier, when an off-duty ICE officer shot and killed 43-year-old Keith Porter in Los Angeles. That shooting sparked protests in the Los Angeles area, with demonstrators calling for the officer responsible to be arrested. Organizers say these incidents underscore the need for sustained public attention.