The 2024 Golden Globes ceremony, held on Sunday, became a platform for political protest as several prominent celebrities adorned their attire with distinctive black-and-white pins. These accessories bore slogans such as "BE GOOD" and "ICE OUT," serving as a tribute to Renee Good, a woman who was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Minneapolis earlier in the week. This act introduced a pointed political statement into the glitzy awards show, marking a shift from the previous year's relatively apolitical tone.
Stars Amplify a Grassroots Campaign on the Red Carpet
The movement to bring the issue to the Golden Globes red carpet was a meticulously organized grassroots effort. It began with a late-night text exchange between organizers Nelini Stamp of Working Families Power and Jess Morales Rocketto, executive director of the Latino advocacy group Maremoto. Recognizing the power of high-profile cultural moments, they reached out to their networks. This outreach included labor activist Ai-jen Poo, who had previously walked the Golden Globes carpet with Meryl Streep for the Time's Up movement.
Their strategy involved allies attending pre-awards parties and events, personally distributing the pins. "They put it in their purse and they're like, 'Hey would you wear this?' It's so grassroots," Morales Rocketto explained. The campaign successfully reached A-list attendees, with actors including Mark Ruffalo, Wanda Sykes, and Natasha Lyonne prominently displaying the pins. Organizers expected more celebrities to join the symbolic protest as the evening progressed.
Nationwide Outrage Following Fatal ICE Encounters
The pins directly referenced the shooting death of Renee Good in Minneapolis on Wednesday. The incident has triggered widespread protests across the United States, with demonstrators demanding accountability for Good's death. The protests in Minneapolis have been particularly intense, coinciding with what ICE describes as its largest immigration enforcement operation in the area to date. The unrest is not isolated; it follows another controversial shooting in Portland where Border Patrol agents wounded two people, further fueling public anger.
Congressional members have promised an assertive response, and an FBI investigation into Good's killing is currently ongoing. The Trump administration has staunchly defended the ICE officer involved, asserting he acted in self-defense, believing Good would hit him with her car. This incident occurred just a week after an off-duty ICE officer fatally shot 43-year-old Keith Porter in Los Angeles, an event that also sparked significant local protests calling for the officer's arrest.
A Continuing Tradition of Activism in Awards Season
For organizer Jess Morales Rocketto, this marks the third year of leveraging the Golden Globes for activism, having previously rallied Hollywood against the Trump administration's family separation policies. Nelini Stamp drew inspiration from historic moments like the 1973 Oscars, where 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 stated. "We're going to continue that tradition." The organizers have pledged to sustain the "ICE OUT" campaign throughout the entire awards season, aiming to keep the names of Renee Good, Keith Porter, and other victims in the public consciousness. Their goal, as Stamp emphasized, is to mobilize every part of society, including artists and entertainers, to speak up for justice and accountability.
