Protesters gathered in Modesto to rally against ICE, the killing of Renee Good
Protesters waved flags, held up signs and chanted while gathered at the busy intersection of Crows Landing and Hatch roads in Modesto on Saturday afternoon to rally against ICE immigration enforcement and the recent killing by a federal agent of 37-year-old Renee Good in Minneapolis.
About 70 protestors gathered and were chanting a refrain that pleaded “ICE out of NorCal. ICE out of everywhere.”
One sign read “Migra out of the Central Valley now,” and another read “Justice for Renee Nicole Good.”
The rally was organized by Central Valley BIPOC coalition and was primarily set up on the northwest corner of the intersection in a shopping center with a supermarket, pizza restaurant and donut shop, among other businesses. There was a small sound system that played a continuous stream of cumbias and other Spanish-language music.
A handful of protesters also stationed themselves on the other three corners.
Kelly Gepley, a single mother of two from Modesto, attended the rally with her two boys, ages 3 and 6. She held up a sign that read “Subaru moms against ICE,” and one of her boys held up one that read “Stop hurting start helping.”
“We’re here to promote the message, and the message is that families are being torn apart and if we don’t speak out, then everyone is going to be suffering. And so if I don’t do it now when I’m not a target, I won’t get a say later on, and I’d rather stop it now,” Gepley said.
The rally received honks in support from many vehicles driving by, including passenger cars, trailer tractors, and delivery trucks. Some passengers in cars held up signs, held out an upraised fist or waved.
Earlier in the day, a smaller group of protesters gathered with signs on the K Street overpass overlooking Highway 99.
“I’m a product of Modesto. I live here. I work here. And we’ve got to support our families,” said Armando Mendoza, 46, of Modesto. I know they’re intimidated to be out here, so I’m out here representing them as well.”
Mendoza talked about his family members, who he said have been in the U.S. for 20 years, but have not been able to finalize their legal status. He said they follow the rules, yet he fears they could easily be separated from their children.
He held up a United Farm Workers flag signed by labor leader and activist Dolores Huerta. He said his grandparents had worked in the Central Valley as part of the Bracero Program, which allowed agricultural workers from Mexico to work in the U.S temporarily.
“I carry the legacy of Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta. It’s a symbol of unity. … We’re still fighting for basic human rights,” Mendoza said.
While Stanislaus County has had few large-scale immigration enforcement activities, Angelica Foreman, 42, of Modesto, wanted to remind her fellow residents that they should remain vigilant and aware that the ICE enforcement activity seen in other parts of California and the country could eventually happen here.
“If some of us are not safe, we’re all not safe,” she said. “... I’m sure Renee Good, when she left her house that morning, did not think that she was going to get murdered in broad daylight. That just goes to show that, literally, none of us, it doesn’t matter the color of our skin, is safe.”
This story was originally published January 10, 2026 at 5:30 PM.