Tim Walz declares January 9 Day of Unity in memory of Minneapolis shooting victim Renee Nicole Good

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has officially named Friday, January 9, as a Day of Unity to honor the life and memory of Renee Nicole Good

This day serves as a collective invitation for citizens to participate in community service and reflect on shared American values following a period of local mourning.

Tim Walz calls for unity and service in honor of Renee Nicole Good

The proclamation comes as a response to the death of Renee Nicole Good, who was shot by an ICE agent.

In an official statement released by the Office of Governor Tim Walz and Lt Governor Peggy Flanagan, Walz shared his respect for her legacy, stating, “Renee Nicole Good was a loving mother, partner, daughter, and neighbor whose life was defined by compassion, creativity, and care for others.” 

By designating this day, the Governor seeks to transform a moment of grief into a movement of civic engagement and kindness. 

He emphasized that the best way to preserve her spirit is through collective action, noting, "While we cannot bring back Renee Nicole Good, we can honor her life by standing together for decency, democracy, compassion, and our shared values. I invite all Minnesotans and Americans to join me in a day of unity and honoring her with a moment of silence and participating in acts of service.”

Tim Walz issues directive for schools and businesses to observe Day of Unity

The formal proclamation letter, signed by Governor Walz and Secretary of State Steve Simon, outlines the specific intentions behind the observance. 

The letter directs state offices, schools, and businesses to observe a moment of silence at 10:00 am. 

The proclamation effectively writes down the state’s commitment to peace, human rights, and the core foundations of community vitality.

Tim Walz praises peaceful vigils and urges citizens to defend human dignity

Walz also posted a video on X where he talked about the importance of a fair investigation into the death of Renee Nicole Good. 

He praised those who held peaceful vigils and reminded everyone that they have a right to speak up and demand accountability from their leaders. 

To guide the public in showing community strength peacefully, Governor Walz urged citizens to find ways to contribute, stating, "I'd ask each and everyone to find a way to contribute in your community... to show the goodness, to rise up, to make sure that we're being very very clear about this that we expect our constitutional rights to be respected... we expect accountability of our elected leaders... and chief amongst those is human dignity, respect rule of law, all of the things that we know make this country great."