Renee Nicole Good’s Death Rekindles Debate Over Gun Violence and Public Safety

 

Vigils and memorials are set up on the street where 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good died on January 7, 2026. Photo credit: nbcnews.com

 

The public reaction in the United States to the killing of Renee Nicole Good has been intense, widespread, and overwhelmingly marked by outrage, grief, and deep political division, according to multiple reports.

 

The killing has sparked enormous indignation and grief across the nation. Many Americans are expressing deep grief and rage, particularly community organizations, artists, and civil rights advocates. In Minneapolis and other places, vigils and memorials are held to express disapproval of the shooting and the overall ICE raid.

 

Kidnapped by Armed Robbers: A Journey That Nearly Changed My Life

Nigeria paraded six arrested fake soldiers, kidnappers, and armed robbers in Abuja

One late Sunday afternoon, as soon as I had finished lunch, I took my backpack and set off to visit my cousin living at Alago-Meji, a suburb of Lagos, near Yaba, another suburb of Lagos State. A few minutes from the house, I met Mensah, a friend who lived at Oyingbo, a commercial center in Lagos.

Since both of us were heading in the same direction, we joined the same bus towards our destination. When we got down, along Okpebi road, in Ikeja, a suburb of Lagos state, as we were conversing and laughing, a white 504 Peugeot car suddenly stopped close to us.

Antwerp's Changing Safety Landscape: Concerns, Crime and Community

A night view of the city of Antwerp

The leader of the Vlaams Belang, Philip Dewinter, is distraught over the way Antwerp is gradually changing significantly from a peaceful city into a dangerous city for the inhabitants. 

In the new version of the “Antwerp's Nieuws,” the Vlaams Belang nieuws magazine, Mr. Dewinter openly spoke against the Mayor of Antwerp, Patrick Janssens, and other parties. He disclosed that a report carried out by the Federal Police in Antwerp states that crime has increased significantly by 26.8 percent within 10 years. (2000-2010)

According to the news magazine, "during the tenure of Mayor of Antwerp, Patrick Janssens, and SP.a, N-VA, CDV, VLD -the majority took the recorded crime in Antwerp into consideration as it escalates to tackle the problem, but nothing was done. After the 2006 elections, Mr. Janssens promised to reduce crime by saying "priority of priorities" would be, yet nothing was achieved. 

Unfortunately, today, there is little progress in fighting against crime in Antwerp. On the contrary, the viability of our city is becoming more and more dangerous. According to police figures, much of the crime is committed by foreigners. "Multiculturalism is rapidly increasing and is responsible for many criminal activities." He said.

According to the magazine, it's difficult for the council to link immigration and crime in the city. Mr. Dewinter gave an example of an incident that took place at Handelstraat, in Antwerp-North, when retailers rightly took the law into their own hands, namely the drug dealers and illegal immigrants in the district, by fighting. 

According to Mr. Dewinter, although 90% of drug dealers in the city of Antwerp are illegal immigrants, Patrick Janssens refused to combat their illegal activities. The actions of the retailers of Handelstraat are not only an act of legitimate self-defense but an indictment of life because of the loose safety policies of Mr. Janssens and Co.

I agree with Mr. Dewinter on some of the issues, but not all. In every advanced country, criminal activities are always blamed on foreigners, but most of the nationals are hardened criminals too. For example, in Italy, there exists the Mafia, Ndrangheta, and the Camorra. These underworld criminal groups have ruined the country beyond remedy, but they always blame foreigners for criminal activities in the country.

However, I agree with him on the flexible action on criminals in the city of Antwerp. I have been asking myself time and time again if the Antwerp police are afraid of Moroccans. Amongst foreigners of African origin, if ten criminals are caught, nine would be Moroccan and the other would be a Nigerian or Ghanaian. 

Yet when a Moroccan and a Ghanaian are soliciting for a job, the Moroccan would be accepted. Is it because of their colour, or are people simply afraid of their aggressiveness?

It is never too late. If the mayor of Antwerp wants the inhabitants of the city to enjoy a peaceful, crime-free environment, then he must be tough on criminals. Seriously, something must be done. 

Antwerp is full of criminals because the police are weak. Crime can never be eliminated from any society, but it can be controlled and reduced. Moroccans must fear the police, but not the contrary.