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Tuesday marked six months since a federal immigration agent fatally shot Renee Good in south Minneapolis — and the colorful memorial to Good lives on along the street where she was killed. 

Good’s face smiles out on Portland Avenue from posters in many neighbors’ windows. In the place where she was 

shot as she sat behind the wheel of her car

, a garden is growing along the curb. Orange cones form a pathway in the street along a row of art, stuffed animals and Pride flags. 

Warren Opfer visited Tuesday from Washington state. He said he and his wife were shaken by Good’s killing, and frustrated that federal agents have not been charged. They made a plan to come see the memorial. 

“There’s a lot of people that care about life, liberty and pursuit of happiness,” he said. Good “was not given a chance to fulfill her life.”

Memorial caretaker Fabiola Rodriguez says she still meets many visitors from other states and countries. She hopes preserving Good’s memory shows that the neighbors still care — and still want change.

“This is an example of teaching our kids that we don’t want the same thing in the future for them,” she said.

This spring, Rodriguez used some of her own money to start a garden at the memorial. She said she’s seen visitors find peace there.

“I had a lady that — she just came out, sat down, and started crying,” Rodriguez recounted. A minute later, “a very beautiful butterfly started flying in front of her. I saw her, how she smiled to the butterfly. I was like: See, my way of bringing flowers over here — I feel like it does help people to get them to smile, or to at least feel a little bit better.”

Rodriguez said she plans to maintain the memorial to Renee Good for the long term. She made sure to plant perennials — so the garden will grow back next year.

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Immigration enforcement in Minnesota

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Estelle Timar-Wilcox

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A memorial garden, artwork and tributes to Renee Good remain along a south Minneapolis street six months after her death.

Estelle Timar-Wilcox | MPR News

A mosaic cross bearing a photo of Renee Macklin Good

Six months after Renee Good was killed, memorial lives on along south Minneapolis street

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